Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-03-09
A GUARDIAN ANGEL.
PpLITENESS THAT DIDN'T SEEM
NATURAL.

Farralloe, who had been sent by his
uncle TO conduct the store at Carliu.
vile until such time as a buyer could
be found, was just locking up the 9th .r
night when he received a telegram
summoning him to Chicago.
Walters will be there in the morn
ing to take your place Come horne
tonight"
That Is the way the message read
and the young man had a premOnition
that he was going to receive good
hard lacking up though he knew 10
reason to expect criticism But instead
of roast" he received promotion.
"You have done well, Mr.. Farralloe, y
said the head Of the big firm. Come
in again at three o'clock We have
something better for you"
So that he was in pretty good tenn
per as he sauntered down the street.
He had no definite programme for the
next few hours, and the two months
in country town made him observe
the unusual number OF cOuntrymen in
the streets He knew they had come
to attend the stock show, and he won
dered what was their point of view
these hard-headed. thrifty fellows who
had never before seen a great city.
At NJ street he overheard one
farmer saying to another, as the two
clogged the stream of passers:
And there's one Is stories high
yes, two OF them, one right after an
other
Farralloe paused and sized up the rur-
al group. What wonders there were
for them in this unknown land-if onlt
some one who knew should guide
themi
"Why not?" said Farralloe to him
self. Then he said to the nearest
farmer: ''Been out at the stock show:
EYES," said the farmer, not very cor
daily, yet without repelling.
''Big town, isn't it?" pursued Farral-
loe
"Yes-pretty big"
81 have been living down at Carl1n-
vile, and T. always looks bigger to me-
when l come back"
I'm from Macoupin county myself, -
said one Of the farmers.
"Then we're neighbors," exclaimed
the city man. q run store down
there for my uncle. Used to be the
Enterprise. You may know about it."
'|I've heard of it, said the first
farmer.
He had them.
"Have you seen the new post office
building?" he asked.
"No.''
s'Well. have a little time, and |
don't mind showing you around a lit
tie. Next time you are in Carlinville,
go to the Enterprise"
The three started with him, but as
he turned south again Farralloe ran
plump against stocky, red-faced man,
who didn't try very hard to get out OF
the way, and who stood there, looking
after the quartette in that aggressive
insolence so hard to ignore.
It was an odd thing. Farralloe was
conscious OF that-conscious of the eX-
cessive clumsiness of his companions,
of their absolute inability to get any
where. Particularly now that they
were looking at points of interest as
he pointed and explained, he noted how
slow they were to grasp, how hopeless
in compromising.
And yet, when he repeated something
about The big federal building, and did
not quite duplicate details:
"I thought you said post Office and
courts" interjected one of the three.
Then he realized they were getting
all of it; that they were SLOWING
away impressions, and would unfold
a new memory every day for year
They weren't dull.
He ''knew the way" and got the GUS
todian's permission to go to the crown
of the dome, and from that great
height the three farmers looked over
imperial Chicago.
He explained the elevated railways
and the loop; the river and the pig
canal; the parks, and that growing
marvel Of earth east Of the tracks, and
extending from Randolph to Twelfth
street. It was a revelation.
Then he led them over to the public
library building-and, oddly enough.
ran plump for a second time into the
stocky, red-faced, insolent man. He
had grown to respect his guests by this
time, and told them much of the Ii
brary and its uses.
He showed them the tunnel, and
they wanted to believe it ran under the
river, but he could see they were ex-
ercising world of politeness. Then
he gave them half an hour in the
board of trade-and babe them good
by.
They were very grateful.
He had had good time.
AS he started down the street the
stocky, red-faced man got in front OF
him.
"Well?"
"Wel,!" Farralloe echoed
whats your game? I'm a detec-
tive He displayed genuine star.
"And you have been playing guard
ian angel for those men, have you?"
Farralloe said. He laughed slowly as
he flshed a card from a leather case.
well, haven't any game. l was idle
for an hour, l saw them on the street,
and it occurred to me I could do them
a heap of good And, old man, l De-
lieve I did. If you discover anything
wrong come up to the store. Good.