The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-01-14

the Santa Fe Railroad at the Union
Station in Kansas City, just ahead OF
large portly gentleman carrying a |
heavy grip, and. thinking her to be in
his company, the brakeman took her
in his strong arms and lifted her to !
the platform Of the chair car. The |
train was far out from the city, and
rushing swiftly through the Kansas
wheat fields, when it became known |
that the dark-eyed little girl sitting |
so close to the window was alone.
The conductor, who passed her seat
several times, was attracted by the
large eyes, dark and brilliant, that
looked steadily out Of the window at
the landscape whirling past. At last
with smile on his face he placed his
hand beneath her chin and raised her
face to his saying: "Well, whose lit
tie girl are your
She looked at him steadily for mo-
ment, and then as the tears gathered
she answered in a voice SO sweet and
low that he scarcely heard her, I'm
Bills girl"
Bill is my brother and I am going
to him down in Texas" she said.
But who are you withY' asked the
Nobody" she answered.; and then
! as she seemed to realize her position
she buried her face in her hands and
| sobbed as though her heart would
| break. There was troubled look on
! the face of the conductor as he seated
| himself beside her, and, taking one of
! her little brown hands in his said:
Don't cry, little one; don't cry; but
tell me all about it; what your name
is, and where Bill lives
| my name is Mabel Harder and Bill
lives down in Texas she said.
But your father and mother, where
are they?" he asked.
|; In heaven she replied, and then
the tears came thick and fast. After
while she Gained herself and contin-
ued: Bill was home once, ever and
ever so long ago, and 1 liked him so
much; he was so big and strong; he
would take me in his arms and toss me
up and catch me and call me his girl.
And then one day he went away and
have never seen him since. Then mama
took sick and died, and they buried her
by papa's side out in the big graveyard
where the white stones stand so thick
Then I was all alone for no one knew
where Bill was, so I went to live with
with some folks that lived close to our
Id home. h
Il missed my mama so much that I
cried for long time whenever I
thought of her. Mama was always kind
to me, and every night after I said my
prayers at her knee, she would take me
in her arms and put me to bed and
;. ask God to bless and care for her darl-
ing. Don't you think if she knew up in
heaven how lonely I was she would ask
God to help me find Bill? I don't like
| the folks I have been living with, they
get so drunk and curse me, and make
me beg on the street, and work so hard
| and make me sleep in a cold room away
| from the fire. Do you think it's right
| to treat little girls like that? A few
days ago I heard them talking about a
| letter they had got from Bill and the
| woman said not to tell me; that Bill
| would never know if they got the let.
| ter or not. But I watched the woman
/ hide the letter. and when she left the
I room I stole it. My mama always sale
] it was wicked to steal; but think Goo
will forgive me when I tell him al
| about it, and how bad I want to see
| Bill. I took the letter to Terry Smith
= a newsboy, and he read it for me. Bill
said in the letter he had just heard OF
} mama's death, and he wanted to know
where I was so he could send for me
I told Terry that if I knew how to gel
where Bill was, I'd go. Then Terry
said that if I wanted to 60 to Higgins
that's where Bill is; Terry had me say
it over and over, so I wouldn't forget
it; he would show me a train thai
would take me there if the conductor
didn't put me off. But you won't put
me off, will you? You'll let me ride az
! you would a little girl of your own
and I guess God will bless you for be-
| ing kind to me-
J. The tears were shining in the conduc
tors eyes as he told her story, and a.
she finished he placed his hand on he
head and said: God bless you, littl
one. God bless you. No, I'll not pu
you off; to me your ticket reads, t.
Higgins, Texas. You will ride wit
me as far as wellington, and there Jir
Thorpe takes the train. Jim is big an
rough, but he's got tender place /
his heart for bit of girl like you. T.
tell him about you, and 1 think he
let you ride, and put you off at Hig
cheer up, and be happy in the though
that every minute that goes by bring
you nearer and nearer to Bill"
She had dinner with the conducto
at Chanute and at wellington in tn
evening she ate supper with him in tn
big dining room near the sta ion The
he led her back to the car, and, plat
ing her in her seat, he babe her good
bye and wet out to hunt up Jim Thor
In few moments the train was NOV
ing again, and with a feeling of desc
lation at her heart, and fearful of wha
Jim Thorp might do, she knelt by he
seat and lifted her face heavenward i
prayer. And then Jim Thorp big, roug
Jim Thorp, coming down the aisle {
the car with his lantern in the hollo7
of his arm found her. In his man
years of service he had seen nothin