The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-11-21
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The Boy He Was Looking For.
...s.a.'.'.H.H.H..'.'.'.H.H.'.H.'..E.,.'.i.a.'.1
By CHARLES FREDERICK GOss.

shops that / want to recommend to
your attention." said the superinten-
dent of the Eureka Manufacturing
Company, as he and the president
came down the steps of the Office, at
the noon hour.
What about him?" asked that
shrewd old gentleman.
''He has an inventive turn of mind,
and mas already made several sug-
gestions that have saved us a lot of
money"
How old is he?"
Fifteen"
Fifteen? He is a mese child"
but he has a mans head on his
shoulders. There he is now--the lit
tie fellow that just threw that hand
spring. He's the queerest possible
combination of childhood and man
hood that I ever saw. What in the
world is he up tor"
AS the superintendent paused. a
fair-haired, slightly built lad olsen
tangled himself from a crowd of fifty
or sixty workmen who were hurrying
into the street, and hid behind cor
ner of the building, peering keenly
toward a figure coming slowly down
the road. The object of his attention,
a man of almost gigantic mould, was
dressed in his working clothes, hav-
ing evidently just come out of the
rolling mill, where he had, no doubt,
been pudding iron. In spite of his
dirt stained garments, he presented
not only an imposing but attractive
appearance. His great head was fine
ly poised upon his broad shoulders
His features were strong, his blue
eyes keen, and his heavy shock of
hair so fiery red that his shopmates
called him the Volcano.
The boy permitted him to pass the
corner, and then with an agile spring
bounded onto his huge back and
flung his arms around his neck.
"You little imp" the two observ-
ers heard the giant exclaim, and then
saw him hoist his evidently not un-
welcome burden across his shoulders
and start down the street on run,
the boys musical laugh ringing out
on the air, and the crowd cheering.
That's his crony-Mike McGin-
MIS-" said the superintendent,
"Queerly mated pair" the presi-
dent replied.
Perhaps you never heard how
they became friends"
"No."
"Well, this little shaver's name is
Alfred Atherton. He lived in little
town up the State somewhere. and
when his parents died couple of
years ago, struck out for himself and
came down to Cincinnati. For few
weeks he sold papers; then got into
the messenger service, and finally
landed here. He Was good-natured
and clever, making many friends;
but exciting some hostility by his in
domitable teetotalism.
while he was not aggressive about
his temperance ideas, it became per-
fectly evident that he dlsapproved OF
his shopmates' habits of rushing the
growler.' They resented this, OF
course, ridiculing, abusing and tempt
ing him cruelty. Nothing could move
him, however, and they resorted to
the scurviest trick you ever heard
about.
"Eight or ten of the biggest and
toughest boys in the shop devised q
scheme to inveigle him into one OF the
saloons and either persuade or force
him to drink a glass of rum. Some
how or other, they got him inside
the door, and failing to make him
obey-.-them voluntarily. began tC
threaten. Wen pour it down your
throat they said. You will?' ht
cried. with flashing eyes. Wen seel
and / promised my mother on hel
dying bed that I'd never drink {
drop Now make me break thai
promise If you can With thest
words still on his lips the little shaver
flung off his coat and set his bael
against the wall.
I'm a jiffy the crowd was on him
and he went down, but fighting lik,
Wildcat Several of them held hi
hands and feet; others prled his
mouth open, and one was just goinl
to pour the whisky into it. when thi
same big Irishman sprang from hi
chair, and selling them one after an
other, flung them across the room a
II they had been five-pound bags o
salt. When he came to little Ather
ton at the bottom of the pile, h
picked him up; set him on the bar
slapped him on the back. and said L
him, You little spalpeen, you max
me want to sign the pledge.
Then do 1t, said Atherton.
But ] can't keep It,.
You can. with the help of God
the boy replied.
There was something about tn
honest look In his eyes. and the clea
ring in his voice hat made the CLAN
trembie. He had been terribl
man, you understand. having take
TO drink on account OF the death ,
a little child. He was the best put
dler In the city. earning eight or 10
dollars a day, but spending IL all
weekly drunks, and going home ;
abuse the sweetest and most patlcr
little woman In the world.
ser moment McGinnis looks