Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1904-07-26
HOWARD MANSF.ELCS
FIRST JOURNEY

SOU du\ zee. ana WIFI Id;F allow
ance Of fruit, candies and luncheon.
Howard Mansfield started on his first
journey. 1t was his first long trip.
and he was going alone. He felt
elated by it. The plan had been for
his father to ta',a him na!t way. and
tor his aunt to meet him and accom-
pany him to his journeys end. This
had fallen through, however. Mr.
Mansfield was detained by important
business, and tloWarG's au:,t teIe
graz he'd that She was not able to
leave home.
You will haze to stay at home.
they told Howard at first but he
c0aNed to go and finally gained con
sent. He was Going 10 spend two
months with his granIparcnts in 4
western town. Heretofore the visits
had always been fror tie grandpa
rents. They had mace q good impress
soin on Howard having been liberal
with money and other good things.
and taking an evident pride il him.
q guess III run things to salt my
self out there, mNsed Howard as lie
settled down TO compaceut thoughts
oi his journey and the visit that lay
at the other end OF it.
"There's no trouble about travelling
ahne. he thought. All you have to
do is just to sit here and let the coun-
try go by you: the engine does the
rest
He looked out the window until he
was tired, ate banana and halt box
of chocolates took several drinks of
water, went to sleep and woke UP
again.
"Gracious. | wonder if we've got
there." he thought as he awoke with q
start. Then he remembered that h
had to travel all night and all the
next day and another night before he
could reach his journeys end. 1t was
getting dark, and the porter was mix
ing up berths. II guess you may tiS
mine,' said Howard, YEARLY.
"All right. sab. in minute, sab.
replied the porter and went on making
all the other beds.
"Slow, amt it," said young man
who was waiting to have his berth
made up.
Eyes, it is" replied Howard. remem
bering the caution he had received
about speaking to strangers. yet yearn
ing for companionship.
Going far?'
We'll. guess SO! I've got to SLEEP
on this old train another night yet"
"Only one? You're lucky! I'm going
through to the Pacific coast. I've
been over the road so often, though
that it's an old story with me-"
The young man, who said his name
was Paul Rollins, was very interesting
and friendly. After Howard had talk
eG with him a little while he made up
his mind that he was perfectly safe
person. and thought how lucky anc
discriminating he had been to pick Out
such travelling companion.
''You want to watch out for your
money! he warned Howard as the!
were about to part for the night.
cpl do that"
81 keep mine in my pocket, because
that's the last place they look for it.
81 should think that would be the
first place"
Paul Rollins laughed heartily. "No
at all" he replied; they always ex
pect you to hide It,"
"Well, any way, I'm going to keeI
mine in the bag that ties around my
neck. My mother made it for me-"
"You may be right" admitted Pau
; Rollins.
In spite of the noise and the joltins
and the STIFFNESS. Howard got t.
sleep. A sharp. sudden jolt threw
him from his berth AS he pitched
forward he felt a hand on his breas
and heard a smothered curse. In
stinctively he put out one hand ant
with the other clutched at the has
that was suspended around his neck
In a flash it occurred to him that i
was Paul Rollins hand that had beer
in contact with his money bag. bu
there was such instant confusion ant
everyone was thrown or leaped from
his berth; women were crying anf
men were demanding to know wha
| was the matter.
Dazed and bruised, Howard joinet
| those who were pressing toward the
door
Its all right" cried the conductor
You're all safe. There's a wreci
ahead and we had to pull up witt