The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-10-09
CHAPTER III.
On the Road.

CHAP ER III.
On the Road.
That's number 18, and the
red" said the cropier behind the
roulette table. raking in the checks.
Round went the ball again with a
whirr though there were no fresh
stakes placed.
In fact, Elliott had no more to
place All his checks were ,ex-
hausted and he had no mind to
buy more. That's enough for me
tonight" he remarked, affecting I'M
concern.
Outside, he was filled with dis
gust at his folly and weakness.
| Finding that he had come to St.
Joseph upon fruitless quest, he
had gone to the gaming rooms with
one of the reporters In his de-
preston and WEAKNESS he had
played. He had won largely; then
luck changed
Crossing the railway tracks, he
walked out upon the long pier that
extends into the river and sat
down upon pile of planks. He
\ turned out his pockets. Ten dol
lars and So cents was the total
amount he found.
| Remembering the promises he
had made to Margaret Laurie, he
shivered with shame and self
reproach, and he realized more
clearly than ever the truth of her
words. He was wasting his life,
his time and his none; and al
ready the endless chase of the
rainbow's end began to seem no
longer desirable. Suddenly in his
mind there arose vision Of the
old city on the Chesapeake bay.
That was where Margaret was 60
ing.
One of the men with whom he
had worked on Baltimore paper
had within the last year become
its city editor He had written
Offering Elliott position should
he want it. Elliott decided to
write to Grange for the job that
night. No, he would start for the
east without writing-and then he
was chilled by the memory of his
reduced circumstances. A ticket
to Baltimore would cost $35 at
least
That night he laid out his rough
est suit, and it was still early the
next morning when he tramped out
of st. Joseph. His baggage was in
the hands of the express company
to be forwarded C. o. d. to Balti-
more After three days of rough
ing it along the railroad, catching
rides on freight trains whenever
possible, Elliott reached the levee
at Hannibal. There was a general
lack of activity about the steamer
wharves.
Sitting upon stack of cotton
bales, he perceived young man Of
rather less than his own age; he
wore a flannel shirt and black tie,
and his clothes were soiled with
axle grease and coal dust. Elliott
took him for an amateur vagrant
like himself.
do you know when there's a
boat for st. LOUISE he asked,
pausing beside the cotton bales.
The lounger took stock of Elliott,
keenly but with good nature.
There ought to be one leaving
about 6 o'clock, but | don't see any
sign of her yet" he responded. Go
ing down the river?"
81 thought I'd try it. Do you
reckon the mate would take me on.
even if it was only to work my
passage?"
Don't try it," advised the
stranger. These river boats are
floating bells. The crew is the
toughest gang of pirate in Ameri-
ca. They knife a man for a chew
of tobacco. A white man wouldn't
last any longer in that crowd than
an icicle in hell
1.-THE deuce!" said Elliott, discon-
certed.
| I'm going to ST. Louis said the
stranger, after a pause. Il expect
| to get there in three hours and
don't intend that it shall cost me
a cent. To tell the truth, Pm in
something of the same fix as you
are"
How'll you manage it?' Elliott
inquired with much curiosity.
Ride a passenger train on the
top. I've just come from Seattle
that way; did 1t in six days. My
names Bennett" he continued.
Come with me in the morning, If
you're game. and I'll guarantee to
land you in ST. Louis by o'clock. ="
''Oh, I'm game all right" said FL
lott, after he'd introduced himself.
eff you're sure | won't be troubling
you"
| After a few short hours of sleep
in a cheap lodging house Elliott
! arose and met his new acquaint-
ance at the station. Shortly after
3 o'clock the express rolled in and