Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-12-23


quickly for man on the point of sui
eide. See here" he said Il don't
know that feel so keen about 1t as |
did Just now. The bays always here
| guess"
Il suppose you're like me-" said the
man In spectacles. Not red cent in
the world"
Three days ago | blew in my last
nickel" said Joe; the very last nickel
I'm ever likely TO touch. You see.
never had no chances when was Il
kid. ] was raised in the silly. old fash
ioned way-taught TO be honest and
tell the truth and not to cinch the wild
ow and orphan. Say. old fel.er. Tor
men in our fix it's the hay or san ouen-
tin, and guess we've made tie right
choice"
And l." said his companion-"T could
Kill a man for a loaf of bread. | could
fight II dog for the dirty crust of one
| thought tonight of taking Il paving
stone and holding up the beanery over
there. Yet I'm so weak and trembling
that girl could knock me over. Good
by, Joe" he added swiftly. You're a
fool TO stay. I'm OF"
Joe seized the slight figure in his
powerful grasp. "No. no. he cried.
when we go we shall go together"
The man struggled for moment and
then fell to crying on Joe's shoulder
like child.
''Brace up. ole man." said Joe, chat
ing the Icy hands. We will come out
all right Its Christmas night, and
somewhere or other I'll bet there's a
spread even for the likes of u.s."
His companion slowly began to come
round. He shook himself free from
Joe and stood up.
"IIave you any bounce left in your
asked Joe. Would you go TO a turkey
dinner if | got you an invite?'
what do you mean?'
81 will a tale unfold" said Joe. 81
was walking down Market behind some
folks, and somehow, | hardly know
how. got listening to what they were
talking Of Says one: Sad about Mrs
Gleeson, amt it? Never heard from
her son Irving in Alaskan, not for two
years It's her only son. says the
other Harry got killed In New Mex.
ico Where's the ole lady living now!
says one. oh, she's at 2I19 Banning,
says the other. No. 21l9 was the mum
Der of my girls home east, and it stuck
to me. Now, see here. partner. have
you the gall to come with me and fetch
the ole woman some news from Alas
| kar? | saw on the bulletin that the
! Portland was expected every minute
from st. Michael's. What say?'
Leave me alone" said the other
Cant you see I'm done and only want
| to die?'
Never say die" cried Joe. Brace
up ole man, for we're going to tramp
from Klendike to 21l9 Banning street
and as for this pocketful of rocks
which | guessed would help me drown
| I'll Just leave 'em as pleasant sur
| prise for the harbor commissioners.
And with that Joe unloaded his pock
! cts OF road metal and passed his arm
through that of his unresisting com
! panion.
whats your name. partnerT asked
Joe
The other hesitated. There's no rea
son why ! should be ashamed to tel
you" he said at last. ITS Sampson
Lyle"
"All right, Sampson" said Joe. 'Jus
keep your mind ON that dinner, for by
gum, we're going to have it,
Weak and famished as they We're, il
was slow work to struggle all the way
to Banning street, and Sampson Lyle
gave out repeatedly. Again and agail
he rested on some dark doorstep, while
to fresh exertions. At last they begaT
to draw near the block for which they
We're searching. a long row of cheal
one story frame houses facing n stone
yard full of unlettered tombstones
Joe stepped up to 2710 and knocked
loudly at the door.
1t was opened by an old woman will
lamp In her hand who barred til,
door aggressively with her bent an,
slender figure. She studied the pai
with prim disfavor What do yol
want?' she asked sharply.
For one instant Joe was taken aback
He said not word. The woman low
cred the lamp and made a motion a:
though to slam the door in their faces.
Hold on" cried Joe. "Aint yo,
Mrs. Gleeson? Amt you Irving''
maw?"
The old woman turned white as 1
sheet and the lamp began to shake il
her withered hands.
'"The Portlands just in went OF
Joe Irving said we We're to scoot 70
you first thing"
The old woman seized Joe by th'
arm "Take the lamp; take it before |
drops! Oh. my boy, my boy" sh
gasped, staring into the darkness.
That's Sampson Lyle" said Joe.
"Oh, come In, come in, both of YOU.
cried the old woman, recovering her
self little, her sallow face flushing
and paling "Oh, what Chrlstma
night for me, my poor, wet boys
Still holding ,Joe's arm us though sh
could not bear to let him go, Mrs. Glee
son led him and poor, shabby Samp
son into the warm, well lit parlor. |
was bare little room, sparsely fur
nshed and betraying in half hundred
ways the pinch of decent poverty Bu
to our brace Of heroes it was palace
indeed, new come as they were from
the wintry street and fog no icie
| ~. l,ni