The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-06-11
,eenlr broken by the distant voice Of

4 cnllu Gaming. Inc man oh eho
ground raised his head, as Il by force
n habit. TO listen. The voice came
ssarer.
Papa! papa' Mamma wants you,
Let me up. that's my kid"
Norton jumped up delighted.
"P0pa! Mamma wants you to come /
60 her"
"Ilcre, Counic."
The man in the peajacl,et sat up on
the snowy curb, crying to rid himself
D; the wae.s Of his rough-auG-tumb'e
Ia the snow. Norton was picking up
his tall hat when a little girl in Il print
;rock emerged from the darkness 81
the street. The little girl appeared to
forget that 10 was cold night and
SHAT her black woolCn shawl thrown
over her head was n very slender pro-
lection The shawl was trniling be-
kind her as she ran to her papa, and,
soAbiug, threw herself into his arms.
"Oh, papa, she didn't mean Imam
1la didn't mean for you to &" away
aud never come back! Won'tyoucome
- her now, please, papa?"
Norton, brushing his silk hat, felt
once more moved to laughter-per-
haps not the laughter of a merely
humorous apprecia ion, but still laugh
ter. Taught by his late experience, he
moderated his laugh to hardly auc-
ible chucklc, and then, as that excited
no fresh outbreak on the part of Con-
nie's papa, he spoke up.
YES. Connie'-he had caught the
little ones name-"papa's going home
| But YOU mustn't catch cold, little girl
Herel"
He was taking Off his own overcoat
to throw over the child when her Ia
ther, still sitting in the snow huggihg
her to his peajacket, looked up ana
caught him in the act.
"If you take off that coat, you IL
cotch your death of noomony, mister
he said.
II shall not have time for that, part
ner. Why not? Because I'm gong to
send YOU home with Connie while go
the other way" He nodded in the di-
rectiou of the river. II have no home
where I'm wanted, and no little girl
TO run about in the snow looking ior
me"
Conni. looked up at him over he1
papa's shoulder. Amt you got--no-
body at ALL
"Nobody at all, Connie. Here, let me
see if the coats too hong for YOU"
Her papa rose and gathered up the
trailing btack shawl. Run on home,
baby" he said, wrapping it tight about
her. Run on now, just as fast as you
can. and tell mamma I'm coming right
away-soon as l set through talking
to this gentleman on business.
Morton took something out OF hrs
pocket, stopped, and transferred the
something 10 Comics hand, whisper
ing to her, and she, after ono puzzled
stare, disappeared up the street. lie
looked after her a moment, and then.
turning away with chuckle' said;
"You must lave been clean off your
head, partner. And you tried TO make
out was. l wish you'd tell me what
the tr T., l c~-S.t, anyhow, 1 know
nov, ,t Ss,p,.l,n 7 1.t,. ~ Ss->>-.-> for
wanting to jump into the rive.
Think so, eh? How would you Ike
it if you worked hard for ten years,
and then had to see your things all
sold out-horse and wagon and every
thing-and your wife saying you're
no kind Of USE
That's enough" Norton interrupt
ed. It's only money with you. BY the
way. what's your name? McCorkle?
AL right McCorkIe. just want 10 tell
you that You don't know when you're
well ot,. Come on, McCor4le; I'm go-
Ing 10 put of thst swim with the ice
cakes until tomorrow night. Ugh!
II surely is good deal more comfort
able with this coat on. Hope ! didn't
seriously hurt your arms just now"
The two late combatants began to
plod together through the snow in the
roadway. "Now. see here. McCorkls,
In putting of my plunge just for one
thiny-just 10 write check 10 your
order. You agree 70 take that check
and use 1t? You won'tr AL right
then. Good night" lie turned back
and began 10 unbutton bis Goa, again.
McCyrkle was really doubtful abou:
the suicidal intention Il this top-hat
ted man who had jDterfered with his
own iu.pyls. in :hst direction. He
SraId raLe NO EiEks.
"-;oa. FREDDIE, e and L.ss your IL
. le fwce'Lrart and nais il up" said
. ere%C: p mother.
"Ao. won't"
"Go and tell ier bow much you love
Ier and hos sorry you are"
"Ho. ! won't. pa lays ne got into a
breach Of promise case by teilin' girl
! that, and had 10 marry the old hing
I "uut run any risks, ] won't."-Iit'
: Bite.