Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-02


want. You have planned and depend.
| ed on his strong young arms to exc.
cute, but you have been hard task.
mistress.
You have been a taskmistress, but
not mother A mother would have
sought new bonds Of sympathy with
every passing day. links In q chain
which should have been endless. A
! mother would have studied the desires
OF his heart and ministered unto them
A mother would have given him love
and approval to sweeten his daily
tasks"
The voices were relentless and left
her no loophole OF escape. She arose
next morning feverish and unrefresh.
ed. The skies were gray and there
was raw wind blowing, with rapid
dashes of rain. The tears filled her
eyes as she wondered If Joe was com.
Portable. He had breasted the storm
for her many times, and she mad not
thought it of any moment, she accused
herself.
The boys met her with anxious
Questionings which she did not at.
tempt to answer She had ceased to
expect Joe. He had gone out of her
life to enter life of his own. 1t was
his right.
The village seemed particularly dull
to Joe, especially for Saturday after.
noon None of his chums were in
town, and he wandered down tne
track, presently. and sat down on a
pile Of discarded ties. The discomfort
Of the last few weeks seemed to have
eliminated today, and his mind was in
turmoil of unrest which demanded a
change of scene and surroundings II
only he might get away from it ALL the
daily grind OF toll which was growing
so rnonotonous and distasteful! No
such pleasant changes ever came into
his life as other boys enjoyed.
! He had wanted to go up to Twin
Lakes for O weeks hunting, but
mother would not hear of it. If he
wanted to go anywhere he always had
! 10 walk, because the horses were
worked SO nard they had to rest. He
never had any time to rest, not even
on rainy days. Mother always had
some Job saved up.
! A slight stir in the underground be.
| side the track attracted his attention,
and q stranger rose and came toward
him.
Hello! Seem to be down on your
luck. Lost your job?" he asked.
Joe shook his head. Never had any
to lose" he said, sullenly.
well, you're lucky, now. There's
nothing like being free and independ-
ent. No bosses for met"
| Joe looked at the man curiously.
He was not exactly prepossessing in
appearance. There was sort of hang
dog look in his face and furtive
shifting of the eyes, despite his jolly
manner; and his clothes, although
bearing none of his marks of honest
toll looked decidedly the worse for
wear. Still Joe felt attracted by his
I easy familiarity and evident sym.
pathy.
"You see," he explained, 1--WE had
the boss without the Job"
The stranger nodded good-humored-
ly.
II see. Made up your mind to cut
| it out, Ell? Well that's good! 1t Is
what I'd do myself. What do you say
to going out with us tonight on that
parlor car yonder?" He indicated an
empty freight car side-tracked some
distance away.
"That is going out about ten tonight.
and me and my pard is going out with
her If our plans don't miscarry. That's
the way to see the country"
The boys face lighted up with new
interest. Here was variety, and vari-
ETY. was the spice of life, so he had
| heard
Hello. Shorty! Everything favor
able?" the man asked, as a second
stranger came out of the woods near
by.
Shorty" nodded GAS far as !
know he replied.
Here's a chap as wants to strike
the pike with us tonight. What do
you think?"
Shorty looked Joe over critically,
then he nodded good-humoredly. "All
right. Jake. Looks as though he could
stand his hand all right Glad to help
anybody that's up against 1t; been
there myself, you See"
Joe followed them into the woods;
he had nothing else to do. The small
camp kettle Of savory stew and the
steaming coffee smelled appetizins,
and the rudy glow Of the campfire
lighted up the early shadows pictur-
esquely. 1t was a new experience for
| Joe ana dLlTaCtSu lliIll CT WIN. A1S iiuA
always longed to camp out" After the
meal he sat and listened to the two
men tell tales Of adventures. which
fred his imagination and held him
spellbound, until at last they arose to
go.
Guess our train is goin' to start on
schedule this time," Shorty remarked
Joe followed them irresolutely. He
would see them off at least OF course
he need not go unless he chose. The
car stood in the shadow and Joe looked
into it curiously, then he stepped in
side.
plenty of room; we shan't be
crowded It's combination parlor and
sleeper, you see,' Jake explained, face
tiously. Suddenly he stopped and lis
tened, then he drew Joe back into a
corner. A step crunched on the gravel
outside and the door of the car was
pulled shut. Joe started forward, but
Jake laid OBTAINING hand on his
shoulder. Ssh. not peep, young fell
ler You're in Tor keeps, seer Shorty
| {t,D ,,ff $50