The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-01-09

"All right. How soon will you b'
back 2"
Pretty soon"
"Well. I'll be waiting for you, an
guess the goats won't be much scat
tered by that time"
After Robinson Crusoe had gone. Fri
day again lay down, and before Ions
the lizard timidly renewed his invests
cations The man lazily watched the
little creature for a time before h.
again spoke:
1T may not work. partner; but IL il
does III see that you have square
meal for once. This desert air must
get kind O. unsatlsfying 10 you as o
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 In
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
10 astonish Robinson Crusoe. finally so
delayed the eating OF his supper. as
well as the spreading OF n repast for
J the lizard. that the bell rang for the re-
turn OF Robinson Crusoe before the
search for the goats had begun. This
was n fact that greatly disturbed Mr.
Crusoe. but he reganed certain
amount OF composure when Friday.
who did not seem 10 be greatly grleved
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 IL bore
an unsolicited and unticketed passen.
ger In the person OF Mr.. William
Graves. more recently known as Fri
day. II had been n trying task to
hide behind the tank and reach the
brakebcam OF the private car unseen.
but Friday was past master in STRAIT.
cgy along that line, and, after various
narrow escapes, he had succeeded.
AS the train sped eastward cease.
less storm of cindcrs beat upon him
and the dust blinded his eyes. but he
pulled his frowZy hat as low as posi-.
bic, and consoled himself with the re.
Election that each hour was taking him
further from the country OF absolute
dcsolation. In his comfortable bed I'm
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 tender smile tried TO
make itself visible through the CRIME
that hid his countenance.
ON flew the train. Brady's had been
passed. and Shirrclrs. then came a
stop which the man on the brakcbeam
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 ohScr-
walton would have convinced him. He
had protrudcd his head as far as he
dared In order to obtain n better view
when n succession of shots and the
sound Of hurried footsteps caused him
hastily to withdraw II.
Some Of the boys after the stuff on
board he mutterod to himself well
let 'em get II. 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 dying cindcrs. He was
thus pleasing himself and at the same
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
vcrsation came to his ears
IL tell you there is the biggest kind
of money in it,"
THE old man will be wild. He thinks
his is the only kid that ever lived"
80 much the better. We won't get
n cent less than fifty thousand ran
som"
Hell have every officer in the state
out after us"
What good will il do him? Give us
two hours start. and we are certain
of more than that, and the best posse
that ever chased man can't get us"
How'll we do IT."
Easy. You an Bill take the front
door OF the car. ana Jack an me will
take the rear. II he tries to do any
shooting. drop him"
AS the footsteps retrcatcd and the
voices died away the man on the brake.
beam started rs II 10 emerge from his
retreat. at the same time muttcring To
himself, well. | don't know" Then
he took second thought and settled
back again.
1t was a critical time i'm the life OF
William Graves. foot tourist and man
Friday. as he lay there and thought.
Neither the prccept nor practice OF his
later years of living had tended in the
direction of heroism. yet he lay there
! and contemplated the doing of n heroic
deed. Not that he considered the deed
in that light; probably his entire
thought was best expressed in his own
muttered words: The little chap was
good TO me: he fed me when | was
hungry" But heroism needs not TO be
labeled such i'm order to make il so.
AS lie lay on the brakebcam and
| thought. dozen little things made IL
| evident to the man that matters on the
| outside OF the car Merc rnnidlN nrn.