Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-20

N
bleak canyons and gorges mAde
"A beautiful by the blue haze that cest-
ell upon them. Nearer, on either khnd,
the great California desert, it9 yellow
sands and alkali flats giving lack the
intense heat of the summG day in
radiant pulsations. No ay.imals, no
birds, no life anywhere. save for the
little gray lizards that ba6k in the sun
and lazily blink their beadlile eyes in
such dreamy reflection as a lizard
knows.
Across the valley of iesolation the
double iron line of the railroad
stretches southwark and eastward, and
ill-betide the man who Journeys there
on a summer day. Through the closed
doors and windows, the almost impon-
derable alkali dust penetrates and
STILES him, ana the passengers gasp in
the heat that cannot be excluded.
Stand at the little station, with its
huge water tank, its tiny agents
shanty, and two or three scrubby trees
breaking the deadly monotony of the
desert and look northward along the
track. At first you shall see nothing
except that double line bisecting its
kingdom of loneliness, but as you con-
tinue to gaze, tiny, toiling spec will
gradually reveal itself to you; a spec
that sometimes pasues as If it might
toll no further, and then again adj
vauces very slowly toward the point
where you stand.
That toiling spec is man, and the
man once was known as William
Graves. 1t has been years since he
has responded to that name, and if
you We're to call him by it now it Is
doubtful if he would for a moment
recognize that he was addressed, but
such was The name that was recorded
in the register Of the little church
where he was christened long before
he met the world and was crushed by
1t.
The man. dust-stained and perspir-
ing, with the blood running like fire in
his veins, toiled slowly onward until he
came to a place where the track
crossed a small gully that had been
worn by the infrequent rains of Win
ter. There he paused and looked, first
toward the station, now scarcely 4
llile away, and next at the gully. At
last he shook his head and muttered
to himself
'If | go in now l probly won't get
anythin' to eat, an the agent'll be
sure to spot me if l try to get out to-
night. Better wait till evenin'. There s
some shade in the gully, anyhow"
In the shade on the side of the ravine
nearest to the westering sun the man
took Il drink of hot water from the
battered canteen he carried at his
side, and then laid himself at length
on the ground, the tattered coat he had
carried on his arm serving for a pill
low For long time he lay there rs
immovable as if he had been carved
of stone. So motionless was he that
the lizard, frightened by his coming,
had scurried across the gully, gradu-
ally drew nearer to investigate the
strange intruder. Scared by his own
temerity, the little reptile occasionally
whisked away again, but as the III,
vader still lay immovable, he drew
nearer and nearer after each retreat
until he reached Il point where he
could Investigate the poorly shod foot
eXtea ded toward him. He was thus
Satisfying his reptilian curiosity when
the man for the first time spoke.
"Nothin to be 'fraid of in me-" he
said; were partners in misery,
judge, but if you'll give me n pointer
on how you get a square meal out hero
on the desert I'll be 'bliged to YOU"
A childish shout followed close on tho
remark, and at the unexpected SOUND
the lizard skurried away to a distance
he considered safe, while the mar
started to a sitting posture.
'See him runw said the voice.
IN the sand, at two or three rod,
distance, stood a boy, trimly-built
nnd daintily-clad little fellow, at WHOM
the man gazed in amazement before
he found voice to say:
"Wellw
"Wellw There was no suggestion
of fear in the response.
Don't you think you're a long wa!
from homer"
Eyes. I'm discoverin', like Robinson
Crusoe."
A recollection of the tale of childhood
beat through the world-confused brail
of the man, and he continued the child
ish conceit:
"And you've found Friday, haven
you"
"Are you Friday"
81 guess you might as well call M
So"
"All right, an I'm Robinson Crusoc
Only that isn't my real name; my rea
names Arthur Henry Fulman, an In
riding in the car with my pa"
"Who is your pa, Robinson Crusoe"
"He's the Central Man'ger, an W
had to stop here till tonight. Come OF
now, let's go an find the goats"
you forget about my condition, Rof
inson."
"What's the matter with itT'
"Well, of course, you remember the