The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-01-24

with four rooms four rooms" lower
ing bis voice little and looking abou
the car.
But that VIII only take very smal
part Of your money" suggested tn
drummer. what viii you do with al
tie rcstT'
Put II aside" answered Georgia
promptly. None o my family eve
had any money put aside"
"You must have n pile" remarked .
portiy man. glaDcing little enylousl,
nt the bulky packages and at the sam'
time comparing his own comfortable
need for money and appreciation ol
II with this backwoodsman's evident
prlmitlyeness.
"A pile! Yes, sir: that's what keel
asayin' over TO myself" agreed Geor
gia. Il 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 bad tapped impa.
tiently upon bis window. and the other
had fumble2with 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 vicissitudes. 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 engaged?" he asked
mo" removing valise from the
seat to the floor and then folding bis
newspaper as a preliminary to conver
sation.
"Golng farr
ITO Georgia."
"Reallyr In feigned surprise "why.
I'm going there myself"
The miner In front turned eagerly
and gazed into their faces, but appar.
emily they did not notice him.
Most nquisitive set OF people in this
car | ever met" one OF them remarked.
"Yes, anything but boring strangers
with questions, | 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
notleeably long and white and nery-
Gus.
Il believe your tickets ran out at the
last statlonF' 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. Wen pay the difference"
'H'mv' the conductor said coldly
'Whers Z 1sds !, to- e., =. -
The miner whlrled with his mouth
open and his eyes bulglng In eager
ness. As soon as the conductor moved
lway he blurted out.
"Doggone II, stranger, that's my
place Who mout you beY'
Smith and Robinson. My names
BILL"
GeorgIa's face beamed with pleased
recognition.
"Why. know heaps O Smiths an
he cried, reaching over
Ind shaking hands with first one and
hen the other. Il reckon you all are
Iome o. the family who went west
when boys. There was Tom an Seth
In Ike an'-nn'"
MY friend here Is named Ike"
dandy.
aye don't say" delightedly. '"Then
ne an him was old friends when we
vas boys. He's changed, though"
ooklng the man over curlously. but
hen, folks do as they grow up. Well.
veil, I'm plumb glad"
There was no more reserve. Georgia
alked freely and was met with cor
liallty that delighted his simple heart.
At last, rs the shadows began to
larken In the car, the train slowed up
i small unpalnted building which o
brakeman introduced to the passengers
IS Breshtown.
The men helped Georgia or with his
,aggage and then piloted him to
arrlage which they had telegraphed
head TO have In readiness. He lived
TX miles from the station. he had told |
hem, and had frankly added that the |
way led through n wild, almost unin-
abited forest At this their eyes had
frightened hopefully, and they had as
ured him that II would be unnecessary |
or him TO order carriage. Theirs |
you'd be large enough for all three.
ncluding his baggage. and they were
DING directly his way to their old
ome
Georgia was hilariously exuberant
Ie laughed and sang and cracked jokes
hat he remembered to have been time
onorcd in the old neighborhood. and
hey sang and laughed with him until
hey came to a lonely place in tn.
woods.
Then the carriage was turned quietly
nto the bushes, and Georgia felt the
old muzzles OF two revolyers pressing
gainst his temples
NOW turn over your money" one OF
he men ordered sternly. "and be quick
bout i'll"
Georgia looked at them In dnzed won
er TO see II they were In earnest
"Ain't you my old friend Iker' he de-
handed
mot much. Out west we've got names
hat would make you shake IN roUr
.onts IN henr Rut that don't matter |