The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-03-14

the car.
"But that will only take very smal
part of your money" suggested tn
drummer what will you do with al
the restT'
"Put 1t aside" answered Georgia
promptly. "None O. my family eve
had any money put aside"
"You must have pile" remarked
portly man, glancing a little enviousl,
at the bulky packages and at the sam'
time comparing his own cOmfortabl,
need for money and appreciation Of
II with this backwoodsman's evident
primitiveness.
"A pile! Yes, sir; that's what keeI
a-sayin' over to myself" agreed Geor
gla. II reckon there'll be enough fol
all Of us. None o. my family II ever
need any more"
All this time the two recipients Of
the conductors scowl had been appar-
ent uninterested spectators Of what
was going on. One had tapped impa-
tlently upon his window, and the other
had fumbled with his newspaper. But
even In their indifference they had OBJ
served that the two miners who sat
together were strong. keen eyed. reso-
lutte men, apparently able to hold their
own In all sorts Of vlcissltudes. while
the man from Georgia was simple, un-
sophisticated and in possession Of all
his baggage.
Presently another significant look
was exchanged, and the one who had
been tapping upon the window rose
carelessly and crossed over to him of
the newspaper.
'Is this seat engagedr he asked.
mo" removing vallse from the
seat to the floor and then folding his
newspaper as a preliminary to conver-
sation.
"Golng farT
ITO Georgia"
"Really?" In feigned surprise. "Why,
Pm going there myself"
The miner In front turned eagerly
and gazed into their faces, but appar-
emily they did not notice him.
Most inqulsltive set of people In this
car ever met" one of them remarked.
"Yes, anything but boring strangers
with questions, I say"
Georgia turned away, but his ears
remained vigllant.
At length ON one of his rounds
through the car the conductor stopped
beside the two men whose fingers were
notlceably long and white and nerv-
GUS.
II believe your tickets ran out at the
last stationf" he said inquiringly.
"Yes, but we've changed our minds,'
one of them answered easily. Last
night | ran across this man, an old
friend Of mine whom hadn't seen In
twenty years. Now we're going on to.
gether for visit to our old home In
Georgia. Well pay the difference"
"H'm!' the conductor said coldly.
where TOT" g
"Breshtown, Ca
The miner whirled with his mouth
open and his eyes bulging in eager
ness. As soon as the conductor moved
away he blurted out:
"Doggone 1t, stranger, that's my
place. Who mout you beT'
Smith and Robinson. My names
Bill"
Georgla's face beamed with pleased
recognition.
why, know heaps o. Smiths an
he cried, reaching over
and shaking hands with first one and
then the other. II reckon you all are
some O. the family who went west
when boys. There was Tom an Seth
an Ike an'-an'"
my friend here is named Ike"
blandly.
"Ye don't say" dellghtedly. Then
me an him was old friends when we
was boys. He's changed, though"
looking the man over curiously, "but,
then. folks do as they grow up. Well,
well, I'm plumb gladw
There was no more reserve. Georgia
talked freely and was met with cor.
diallty that delighted his simple heart.
At last, as the shadows began to
darken In the car, the train slowed I'D
at small unpainted building which
brakeman introduced to the passengers
as Breshtown.
The men helped Georgia Off with bis
baggage and then plloted him to
carriage which they had telegraphed
ahead to have In readiness. He lived
six miles from the station, he had told
them, and had frankly added that the
way led through wild, almost unin-
habited forest. At this their eyes had
frightened hopefully, and they had as
sured him that 1t would be unnecessary
for him to order carriage. Theirs
would be large enough for all three,
including his baggage, and they were
going directly his way to their old
home.
Georgia was hllariously exuberant.
He laughed ana sang and cracked jekes
that he remembered to have been time
honored In the old neighborhood, and
they sang and laughed with him until
hey came to lonely place in the
woods.
Then the carriage was turned quietly |
nto the bushes. and Georgia felt the
old muzzles Of two revolvers pressing
lgalnst his temples.
Now turn over your money" one of |
he men ordered sternly, "and be quick
bout itr'
Georgia looked at them In dazed won-
Ter to see If they were in earnest.
"Ain't you my old friend IkeT he de-
IAI