The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-05-02


backed up against the platform with
loads Of oranges and truck; idle ne.
groes slouching contentedly about
bantering talk with any one who
would notice them, and ieering such
of their number as had accepted Job
and were hurrying through il with an
.@S&nSerated show of zeal and activ.
~X\pting razorbacks and NANCY
cursESuting favored positions I'M
der tho platform, or moving listlessly
across the hot open sand between
the station and the isolated outlying
stores
Presently there was a perceptible
Fastening OF movements and the
loungers in front OF the store came
leisupeiy across the open space and
ranged themselves comfortably about
the platform. There was a roar and
culver, and the great, gasping en-
CINE rushed by and came TO slow
stop as the passenger cars glided OBJ
posite the platform.
Among those TO alight was q young
girl Of IL or Is, plainly but expensive
~ dressed, and with bright, eager
air of expectation. A quick glance
about the platform brought a shade
of disappointment to her face. Aft
'er moments hesitation she APP
preached a man with broad, low
Tapping hat, who was leaning against
some orange boxes he had just fin
ished marking.
Can you direct me 10 Mr.. John
Austin's place?" she asked
"Mr.lJohn-A AUSTIN" he repeated
reflectively; why. no, l don't-oh,
yes, Of course; Booty John He
stopped abruptly, as he noticed the
inquring look on her face. Eyes. /
reckon | know. Are you some o his
kim"
II am his daughter" she replied,
wondering a little at the startled
whistle which came to his lips. and
which she noticed he choled back
apologetically. II have been at
boarding school ever since / was
little girl. This is my first visit to
Florida"
An does your paw, Mr.-John-
Austin know you're comin'?" He
spoke in evident perplexity, and with
a look Of consideration on his good
natured face.
No; but / haven't heard from him
in almost a year. Father doesn't |
like to write, but he never allowed |
my letters To go unanswered so long |
before. l feared something might |
be the matter with him or the boys. |
and he would not write. / just had |
to come. ! am glad you know him"
She hesitated, and then asked i'm |
lower voice, as though she feared |
her question would be answered in
the negative, us he--well?"
Yes, fur as sickness goes. Your
paw is one o. the ruggedes' and heal
thes' men know. l low he and the
boys never had sickness in all their
born days. They're puffectly well,
all on EN-. I know, for their place
ines mine" lie spoke rapidly, as
though glad 70 - .ti-.. - sa,r .hat
much, but his eyes royed uneasily
about the platform, and never by any
chance met hers.
"Why, really?" Her face grew
radiant. "rheir nearest neighbor!
And YOU know the boys and all about
them? Dear little fellows! IL seems
strange that I should never have
seen them. You see, when we left
town, father sent me TO the board
ing school and then came south.
That was II years ago, and i have |
been at the school ever since. Little |
Tommy is almost nine, and Predict |
me see-Fred is seven. Is the place
far eagerly.
about half n mile"
And are you going out soonP"
"Arter the train leaves
"Well.of course. can go with you.
I'll 90 and see about my baggage
and he back directly. Won't they be
surprised" And, leaving him star
ing at knothole in the platform,
fhe hurried away TO look after her
trunk and valise.
Half minute passed, then the man
raised his head with dismal, eN-
pressive whistle. II was echoed by
another, equally expressive, from the
other side OF the orange boxes.
"WaA xau're in for IL now, for
fac 1Fsu '~hbwner of the second
whistle sartaRically. what are you
goin' 20 do bout it2'
Goodness only knows groaned
the man in reply Reckon mebbe
IN have 20 tell her"
"Reclson mebbe you WILL" dryly.
"You better have told her plumb
straight la the fust place"
How could ~" Indignantly; an
sheYhImost the same age as my
Cindy. Lord sake alive, mani dye
s'pose | was such a brute as to tell
her that Mr.-John Austin wasn't no.
body but 'Boozy John not fifteen to
bc father TO nobody, an that he'd
been sent 90 prison most year ago
for stealth an that the boys was IN
the poorhouse, an that the place
want with the bringin' out OF an
auctioneer 90 sell ~? For goodness
sake. Thompson, tell me what am