Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-07
BY Louis Tracy,
COPYRIGHT. 1904. EDWARD j.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Author Of ''Winss of the Mornins, 1.-THE Pillar of
Lsht," Etc.

Philip tested it with vigorous pull
ing against his knee.
'Excellently," he said. LET me pay
you for It,"
"Arrah, go away wild We! And, be
the powers, isn't the poor lad cowld
an famished? Luke here, now. In
five minutes I'm goin' to have a cup
O. tay"
II am awfully obliged to you, but l
could not touch a morsel l am in
hurry"
"Are We goin' a journey? Have We
got a job!"
II think so. 1t looks like a pcrma-
nency. Goodby."
"Goodby. an good luck to We. Sure
the boy looks mighty quare. TITS grief
for his mother has turned his head en-
tirely"
No words could more clearly express
Philips condition than this friendly
summing up. Since his mothers burial
he had been half demented. His curt,
disconnected answers had lost him two
places as an errand boy, which he
could easily have secured. His small
stock of money, ridiculously depleted
by the generosity with which he met
the open hints Of the undertakers as
sistants, barely sufficed to keep him in
food for n week. Then he sought en-
ployment, but with such stiff upper lip
and naughty Indifference to success
that he unknowingly turned those
against him who would have assisted
him.
For two days he was chosen to act
MS van boy for n parcel delivery firm.
He earned few meals, but in fit Of
alteration induced by the sight of
lady who was dressed In costume
similar to one he remembered his moth
er wearing at Dieppe, he allowed
ham to be stolen from the rear Of the
van. This procured his instant dis
missal, with threats. Then he sold
newspapers, only to find that every
good site was jealousy guarded by a
gang Of roughs who mercilessly bullied
any newcomer. Personal strength and
courage We're unavailing against sheer
numbers. His face was still swollen
and his ribs sore as the result of being
knocked down and kicked at Ludgate
Circus. AT Charing Cross next day he
was hustled under the wheels of an
omnibus and narrowly escaped DEATH
So he was driven into the side streets
and the quiet squares, in which. during
three or four days, lie managed to
earn an average Of eightpence daily,
which he spent on food.
Each night he crept back to the poor
tenement in Johnson's News, his bleak
"home" amid the solitude of empty
stables and warehouses. The keeper Of
coffee stall, touched one night by his
woebegone appearance, gave him some
half dried coffee grounds in paper
together with handful of crusts.
Put 'arf that in pint Of water
he said, looking critically at the sod
dened mass of coffee, '.an' when it
comes to bile let it SETTLE It'll sur
prise you to find 'ow grateful an COM
fortfn' it tastes Oh a cold night. As for
the crusts, If you bake 'em over the
fire. they're just as good as the rusks
you buy in tins.'
This good Samaritan had repeated
his gift on two occasions, and Philip
had fairly large supply Of smaM coal,
sen. to his mother by the colliery com.
pany. SO his position, desperate enough.
was vet Dearabie had lie but sought to
accustOm himself to the new condi
tons of life. There was chance thai
his wild broodings would have yielded
to the necessity to earn living, and
that when next a situation was offered
to him he would keep 1t, but the oc
currences of this stormy night had
utterly shaken him for the hour. Hi
was on the verge Of lunacy.
AS he passed through the dark arch
way lending to his abode, the desolatc
stable yard was fitfully lit by lightning
and in the distance he heard the faint
strife was beginning again. This was
the second and more disastrous out.
break Of the evening of March 10.
Although wet to the skin, he was
warm now on account of his long and
rapid walk. When he unlocked tho
door another flash of lightning re
vealed the dismal interior. He closed
and locked the door behind him. Or
the mantelpiece were farthing candle
and some matches. He groped TO,
teen and soon had a light. On othc.
occasions his Ecyt task was to light {,
fire. BY sheer force or habit he gath
cred together some sticks and bits oil
paper and arranged them In the CRATE
But the task was irlisome to him. II
was absurd to seek any degree of com
fort for tie few minutes he had t.
live. Better end 1t ut once. Moreover
the storm was sweeping up over tho
East End with such marvellous speed
that the lightning now played through
the tiny room With dazzling brilliancy
and the wretched candle burned Will
blue and ghostlike feebleness. Thu
cold of the house, too, began to strike
chilly. He was so exhausted from
hunger that II he did not eat soon III
would not have the strength left tc
carry out his dread purpose.
He sprang erect with Il mocking lit
tie laugh. picked up the candle and thu
piece of rope and climbed the stairs
He paused irresolutely Mt the top, but
yielding to overwhelming desire, Wen
on and stood at the side of the bed OF
which his mother had died. He fan
cied he could see her lying there still
with smile on her wane face ant
unspoken words of welcome on he,
lips.
A flood of tears came and he hem
bled violently.
Il am coming to you, mother" Ii,
murmured. you told me to trust II
God, but ! think God has forgotten
me. l don't want TO live. | want t,
join you, and then perhaps God vii
remember me-"
He stopped and kissed the pillow
Nesting his face against 1t, as he WA;
wont to fondle the dear face that rest
ed there so many weary days Thel
he resolutely turned away, descended
four steps of the laddcr-like stairs ana
tied the clotheslinc firmly to Il hoo
which had been driven into the ceiling
during the harness room period of til,