Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-07-20

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but when he caught sight of the elder
~ mans placid face he paused, and,
with satisfied smile, sat down.
1T neither requires cultivated mind
nor a high moral character to enable
one to call another a liar," said the
elderly man gently. II will undertake
to settle this matter in a different way
You will return to that kind gentleman
his money"
eyes, I will" sneered the conductor.
"Who are you?'
''The president of this road. You
may look at these credentials, if you
like"
The conductor stood staring at his
superior, unable to utter word.
''You will return the money"
Mechanically the conductor obeyed
the order.
II will wire the division superintend-
ent from the next station. You, Of
course, understand my meaning. You
can take the train through to the end
Of your division, being careful to full
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 a
round of applause.
Gimme yer hand ola 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 I saw you didn't need
me. Didn't he wilt! Oh! didn't he
wilt! The puppy! Insult an old lady!
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,
1T kind of rifles me to think of any,
ones mistreating an old lady. I have
mother myself-or I hope I have"
ee added more softly; "and just to
'hink of her being treated that way!
Why, l haven't seen mother for 20
years; ran away from home in 40,
when was boy and went to Califor-
mia; went in rough and tumble to
make money-made some, most
enough. But I tell you used to lie
awake nights thinking of mother;
if she would look much
Older, and wishing I hadn't run off,"
He was sitting on the arm of his seat
the mild-eyed railway presi-
dent. The passengers were intently
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 a 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,
difidence. Her hair was
white, and her face, beautiful even in
old age, was glorified by the luster of
her gentle brown eyes.
did you say you are from Califor-
MAJ" she asked.
For moment it seemed that the
big fellow was going to choke, but
whatever his affection may have been,
he overcame it Immediately and re-
piled that he had lived in California
for some time"
II wonder If you knew my boy?"
she said eagerly. II have boy in
somewhere-or l did have
once. Don't you know him?'
Il have known great many men in
California. What was his name?"
"Oh! certainly-1 forgot to tell his
name! My boys name was George"
But there are 80 many Georges, he
answered, strange expression on his
bronzed face.
20 sir! you must excuse me, but
there is only one George in 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
he turned his face away, then,
looking into her anxious eyes, said:
Il do remember him now. Used to
five in B., didn't he?"
EYES," she answered eagerly.
left 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 home!"
eyes, he's we'll; and he's coming
home, too. He'll be home pretty soon.
Saw him in Frisco just before I 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 too much for you,
and said he wished you could know
he was coming home so as to be pre-
pared in your mind. don't believe
you would know him, though"
"Oh! I would know George any
where!" she exclaimed.
o1@ %1o&
change. He isn't boy any more, but
a great big man, big as am, with
great, rough beard, rough as mine"