Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-06

terance. He looked Rossiter up and
down, and finally let his eyes rest
upon the Migrants countenance, GOV,
cred with ten days growth of
beard, the forehead grimy and
streaked with perspiration, the hair
hanging in greasy elf-locks from beg
meath torn cap.
well, if you amt beauty!" he
exclaimed, with an amused chuckle.
Rossiter's hand went up to his face
as he moved on. He searched his
pockets for what served him as a
handkerchief, pulled it out, and
mopped his forehead, cheeks, and
neck. Then he paused an instant
and endeavored to smooth his hair a
| trifle, but without much success. The
mans words had affected him more
| than such a speech would usually
have done. He had received too many
kicks and cuffs and oaths to heed
them much, as rule, but somehow
the rebuff with which he had Just
met stung like a sharp blow upon
an open wound. Heretofore he had
associated with 1llica nothing but
pleasant things. Whenever he had
Visited it formerly from the small
town less than dozen miles dis
tant where he had passed his col
lege days, he had always been treated
with very marked favor. To Illica the
students frequently sojourned for
their half holidays. 1t was there they
attended the theater, had their din
ners, and sometimes joined in social
functions. Among the young men of
| his time at Monroe college, as the adj
| joining institution was called, no one,
visited Illica more frequently than.
Rossiter. With plenty of money at
his command, possessed of bright
manner and ready wit, and being
withal quite prominent as an athle,e,
he had once had number of friends
and many acquaintance in the staid
but pleasant inland city.
He supposed that he had buried
shame; he had told himself that he
had worn out regret; but both now
rose to torment him. AS he moved
| in the direction of the square, he
passed one of the station windows
| and glanced in. A clock high upon,
the wall informed him that it was
quarter past eleven. -
81 must have beer, if it takes my
last Nickel" he said, moistening his
| parched lips with his tongue. -
Presently he rounded the corner Of
the station and stood in the full glare
of the electric lights. There were
few men seated upon the hotel
steps, and at the upper end of the
open space trolley-car was putting
down passenger, otherwise there
was no indication of life. Rossiter
| plunged a hand into one of his trons-
ers pockets and drew forth four
coins, a fve-cent piece and three pen
MES. He knew that it would be folly
to attempt to enter the hotel, so he
started along the north side of the
or lower, he himself had sunk, but it
now carried with it an unwonted rer
proach. 1t revealed to him with pain
full vividness his own position in the
| world, and he cursed the fate that
had caused him to leave the freight
| train. Illica was potent in rousing
the unwelcome spectre Of the past, in
| stirring memories that he had fancied
dead or SO somnolent that they would
never waken to plague him, in
kindling longings that he had for
many day resolutely banished.
AS Rossiter drew near, and it be-
came evident that he was seeking the
saloon. the two loungers stepped back
to allow him to enter, scanning him
with ieering curiosity as he walked
toward the bar. With one hand he
tossed his little bundle of clothes
upon the polished slab behind which,
in trousers and gauze undershirt, q
close-cropped, red-faced Irish-Amer-
lean was standing, and with the other
cast down his last precious nickel.
"a glass of beer, for Heavens
sake!" said he.
The saloon-keeper shot an amused
glance at him, seized beer mug,
turned spigot, held the mug
up, cycling its contents critically