The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-07-14

-.en 20 the end
VA your division, being careful to fNl-
fill all your duties to the letter, re-
Numbering that criminal courts are
sometimes more rigorous than railway
companies
Retribution so swift and from a
source so unexpected was too much for
the already excited passengers, and
the condutor had scarcely passed to the
next car before they broke into q
round of applause.
Gimme yer hand, old boy-Oh! ex-
cuse me-Mr. President" cried the
Californian. 81 was going for him
myself for calling you liar, but some
how or other saw you didn't need
me. Didn't he wilt! Oh! didn't he
wilt! The puppy! Insult an old lady!
l thought when I left California that
was coming to Gods country, but
this kind of thing is new to me. Do
you know what he'd be in five minutes,
out our way? No? Crow-bait!" He
thrust his big hands into his pockets
and laughed fiercely to himself "You
see," he went on, recalling his auditors,
ut kind of rifles me to think of any
ones mistreating an old lady. have
a mother myself-or hope l have"
he added more softly; '.and just to
think of her being treated that way!
Why, haven't seen mother for 20
years; ran away from home in 40,
when I was boy and went to Califor-
mia; went in rough and tumble to
make money-made some. most
enough. But I tell you I used to lie
awake nights thinking of mother;
wondering If she would look much
older, and wishing hadn't run off,"
He was sitting on the arm Of his seat,
addressing the mild-eyed railway presi-
dent. The passengers were .ihtently
listening, but he went on unconscious
of them, driven by the force of his
long pent-up emotions: "I'm- going
home to mother going to finish up
being q boy-if she is alive! and I'm
going to take care Of her as long as
she lives"
!, Just then the deep poke" bonnet
turned and the old lady looked around
at the burly stranger with anxious,
embarrassed difadence. Her hair was
white. and her face, beautiful even in
old age, was glorifed by the luster of
her gentle brown eyes.
did you say You are from Califor-
nia? ?" she asked. \. #&
i For a moment vt seemed that the
big fellow was going to choke, but
whatever his affection may hsve been,
he overcame it Immediately and re-
piled that he had 'lived in California
for some time" s..s
II wonder IT.. you knew my boy?"
she said eagerly 81 have q boy in
California, somewhere I did have
once. Don't you know hfm?'
!, Il have known great many men in
California. What was his name?"
ooh! certainly forgot to tell his
name! My boys name was George"
But there are SO many Georges, he
answered, strange expression on his
bronzed face s.
20 sir! you must excuse me, but
there is only one George III all the
world to me. His name is George Ben
son.
How eagerly she watched his face!
George Benson? George Benson?'
he repeated slowly as If trying to re-
call the name. Somehow that does
sound familiar. But then, I've known
so many men in California" For a
moment he turned his face away, then,
looking into her anxious eyes, said:
81 do remember him now. Used to
live in B. didn't he?"
Yes she answered eagerly.
81 eft home in 40, didn't he?"
Eyes, the tenth Of April. Oh, it must
be my boy!"
.sure as you live, it's George-no
doubt Of that said the big fellow
cheerfully.
'When did you see him? Tell me
all about him-that he is well-and
! that he is coming houle!"
"pes, he's well; and he's coming
home, too. He'll be home pretty soon
Saw him in Frisco just before ! left
and, God bless you, you ought to have
heard him talk about his mother;
couldn't talk about anything else. You
must try to compose yourself. He was
afraid it might be tod much for you
and said he wished you could know
] he was coming home SO as to be pre-