Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-12-04

/ had giyt1 him Tor a 0lrIhuay present
The farmer did have soft spots in his
nature. but they were for me and
mine" He gave 10 further thought
to the wretched. disheartened man hf
had repulsed, for he did not believe
that to step aside is human.
The hobo lay on the side Of hill
far enough away to be unacceptable
and ate Mrs Carriers bounty in a semi
savage mood.
Cattle, curse him. what is he? ia
like TO make him suffer-yes, | would
Oh, | could die happy just TO see that
man In my place.
Between every mouthful he devoured
would recur some anathema of speech
as he lay and watched the man he
hated, but he divided his attention.
His bloOdshot, vindictlve eyes We're
| fixed now on the splendid barn that
had cost the farmer 50 much money,
and was the pride of the surrounding
country. The fellow writhed with I'M
patience.
Il hope he'll read the writing on the
wall and know the tramp's hand.
hope he'll-ha!-it's working, curse
him."
He saw thin spiral of smoke rising
like crooked fore6nger from the roof
of the barn. The farmer, sitting with
his back turned, did not see It. The
tramp watched 1t and smiled as Gain
might have smiled when he slew Abel.
| He gesticulated fiercely. as II to sus-
tain himself In some awful deed; then
another look came into his face as he
turn his horse loose, and, carrying his
saddle on his arm, disappear inside the
| building.
! One-two-three minutes passed.
Nothing had changed except that thin
spiral of smoke. 1t was now a column
cut off from the roof by a blaze that
the sunlight shielded. Jonathan Carter
was asleep in his chair. The tramp
rose 10 his feet. His expression and
the evil purpose that had possessed
! him changed to a look of keen pur-
pose. His form seemed to expand and
grow taller, but he stood rooted to the
| hills.
The farmer was aroused now His
wife and daughter were running wild
| ly here and there shrieking fire, and he
was calling his men to aid him. But
there was no help that could save the
smoldering mass, and no man that
could enter that fiery furnace.
Let 1t burn shouted the farmer:
"thank God we are all safe here-no
life will be lost"
At that moment his eve fell on his
sons pony grazing In the field near
by. "Alfredr he shouted; where Is
Alfred? Is he In the house"
At that moment man darted past
him and disappeared in that seething
mass of smoke and flame. The group
paid no attention to him, the father
and mother running distractedly
about calling for the boy who was the
pride of their lives. Then there came
a cry from the blazing barn, a smoth-
cred cry. caught up and re-echoed In
anguish by those outside as they rec
ognized the voice.
1T is my boy-let me get to himw
shouted the farmer, struggling in the
arms of his men; Il will save him or
die with him."
But they could see the shadow of
a man who walked like Shadrach of
old in the fiery furnace, but, unlike
! him, there was the smell of fire upon
his garments, and If the Savior of men
walked with him their eyes were
holden that they could not see. He
carried burden that he had coy
cred with his tattered coat. The fire
fought him and wound Its long ten
! drills around him. 1t put out the light
| in those bloodshot eyes forever He
was literally blazing when he gathered
up the last remnant of his failing
! strength and threw his safe burden
TO those who met him half way. Then
there was a roar and a crash and
never did man have more glorious
| funeral pyre. He who had lived an
outcast had died hero.-Chicago Rec
ord Herald.