Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-20
THE PROMOTION OF
WILLIAM GRAVES.
BY ALFRED j. wATERHOUsE.


"Of course"
"Thats it! I knew you'd make that
mistake. Can't you see yourself what
trouble it would make?"
"N-n-n-o."
"Well, it would. You'd say, 4 want
some food for Friday and the cook
would say, For whoY and you'd say.
For Friday and he'd say:
"'What, that old savage| You see,
he doesn't know that you are going to
have me for good servant and like as
not he wouldn't believe it,"
"What had l better do bout it?"
"Well, think you'd better not say n
word to let him, or anybody, know that
you've found Friday. What do you
think"
"All right"
GAIL right. How soon will you be
back?"
"Pretty soon."
"Well, I'll be waiting for you, an I
guess the goats won't be much seat
tered by that time"
After Robinson Crusoe had gone, Fri
day again lay down, and before long
the lizard timidly renewed his investi-
cations. The man lazily watched the
little creature for a time before ha
again spoke:
ut may not work, partner; but If it
does I'll see that you have a square
meal for once. This desert air must
get kind O. unsatisfying to you as
reg'lar diet sometimes"
At the sound of human voice the
lizard again slid away, and the man
arose to look down the track. Robin.
son Crusoe was coming. and that he
had been successful in his mission was
Indicated by the fact that he was alone,
while parcel was tightly clutched il
one of his chubby little hands.
Now, then, Friday" he announced
Immediately upon his arrival, you eat
this and you'll feel better. Then we
must hurry after the goats, for the
cook said that he would ring the bell
for me to come before very long"
1t is much to be regretted that Fri
day, who at first ate so ravenously as
to astonish Robinson Crusoe, finally so
delayed the eating of his supper, as
well rs the spreading of repast for
the lizard, that the bell rang for the re-
| turn of Robinson Crusoe before the
search for the goats had begun. This
was fact that greatly disturbed Mr..
Crusoe, but he regained a certain
amount Of composure when Friday,
who did not seem to be greatly grieved,
assured him that he probably would be
! there If ever Crusoe should return.
When No. g. with the General Mana
| gers private car attached, pulled out
of the little station that night it bore
an unsolicited and unticketed passen-
| ger in the person of Mr.. William
| Graves, more recently known as Fri
! day. 1t had been a trying task to
hide behind the tank and reach the
brakebeam of the private car unseen,
but Friday was Il past master in STRAIT.
eSy along that line, and, after various
narrow escapes, he had succeeded
As the train sped eastward Il cease.
less storm of cinders beat upon him
and the dust blinded his eyes, but he
| pulled his frowZy hat as low as possi-
bic, and consoled himself with the re-
Election that each hour was taking him
further from the country of absolute
desolation. In his comfortable bed in
the car above him slept Robinson Cru.
soc and dreamed, perhaps, of Friday
and captured goats, and as the worn
wayfarer beneath him pictured the lit
tie fellow there a tender smile tried to
make itself visible through the CRIME
that hid his countenance.
On flew the train. Brady's had been
passed. and ShirrelTs; then came a
stop which the man on the brakebeam
could not understand. There was no
station here; this he knew, and, even
If he had not known, the glance he
stole from his hidden point of obser-
vation would have convinced him. He
had protruded his head as far as he
dared in order to obtain q better view
when a succession of shots and the
sound Of hurried footsteps caused him
hastily to withdraw it.
Some of the boys after the stuff on
board" he muttered to himself. "Well
let 'em get it. They won't have any
'casion to bother me-"
With this pleasant reflection Friday
settled back to the enjoyment of the
qualification he found in temporary re
lief from the flying cinders. He was
thus pleasing himself and at the sam,
time trying to imagine just what stage
the outside proceedings had attained
when two shadowy forms passed by
his retreat and the low murmur of con
versation came to his ears.
81 tell you there is the biggest kint
of money in it."
"The old man will be wild. lie thinks
his is the only kid that ever lived"
$50 much the better. We won't sc
a cent less than fifty thousand ran
SOM"
; Hell have every officer in the Stat
out after us"
what good will it do him? Give IL
n two hours start, and we are certail
of more than that, and the best poss
that ever chased a man can't get u.s."