The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-04-03
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.

ana shaded MS eyes as ne looked
down the road. AS the approaching
Agure came little nearer, he under
stood the oddity of its appearance.
There were two men, and one of them
was carrying the other on his back.
When they reached the pastor the bur.
den bearer paused. He was stout
fellow of more than medium height.
''Howdy, sir" he said In deep
voice, 81 trust you are quite well?'
"Quite we'll, thank you," the young
pastor replied
The burden on the stout mans back
squirmed uneasily. ''Lemme down,
Tom" it said
The stout mans voice suddenly soft
ened. you amt a bit heavy, Phil
Don't you get down unless you're tired
q riding"
'T am tired" said the burden.
"F'riend of mine who's little bit
nnder the weather." the stout man ex-
plained Got a bit tired coming up
Ahat long hill, and that's how l hap
pened to be toting him"
The pastor looked at the stout mans
friend He was only boy of eigh
teen, perhaps, whose appearance
showed the ravages of wasting dis
ease.
"Phil amt what you'd call pretty ro-
bust" the stout man somewhat hastily
explained. Hes a little shaly about
the legs and wants fleshing up bit.
All he needs is a breath or two Of
this mountain air, and a plateful of
good country feed.
The boy shook his head.
atom knows better" he said in his
Aoarse tones. 81 amt a-goin' to get
well, an he knows it. It's my lungs"
The stout man gave the boy play
4ul shake
1--WE want to find boarding place,
Phil and l. Just quiet house where
the air Is good and the feed is good,
and where we can see the sun rise and
set. And we'll pay we'll for It,"
The pastor reflected for a moment.
81 think the place for you is the
Widow Langley's," he answered. "She
has plenty of room and l have no
doubt will be glad to receive you. She
1ives just beyond the turn in the road.
You can see her chimney through the
trees there"
'Thank you," said the stout man.
Come, Phil"
The pastor stood in the roadway
watching the two strangers until .hey
passed around the curve. The stout
man was merrily whistling and keep
ang step to the music. The sick boys
head dropped upon his bearers shoul-
der.
That evening the pastor had caller.
nt was the stout man. He came up the
walk a little diffidently. The pastor
was on the broad porch. Come up"
ne said cordially. 81 am glad TO see
you again. Take this easy chair"
The stranger hesitatingly accepted.
.-Thanky," he said. "You are very
good. You see," he hesitated again,
~you see thought it would be well to
AuUW SOluCDOuJ III lnO hCl5hDOl LOOu
and 1t struck me the parson was the
very one l ought to know"
1.-THE boy is In a critical state" said
Ahe parson.
Eyes, he Is"
There was little silence.
'Do you wish me to recommend
Aoctor?"
The stout man shook his head.
mo. The boys had all the doctor
ang he can stand. Hes going to take
Mis tonic out of the mountain air"
"Have you come far?" the pastor
asked.
From Amityville. My partners
there at the hot springs trying to boil
out his rheumatism. We're all show
people, you see," he presently added.
"And is the boy in the show bust
ness too?" the latter asked.
Eyes, he was born into 1t. His
father was a trapeze performer and
his mother a bicycle rider. The lad is
a leaper and tumbler. Father and
mother are both dead and since the
hoy got so sick he couldn't work, my
Rartner and l have been looking after
Dim"
The sight of the boy Ginging about
the neck of the stout stranger arose
before the pastor.
"You are a fine fellow" he said, 81
am glad to know you"
The stout man flushed.
"None o. that" he abruptly said.
I'VE knew his father and mother.
They were worthy people, Nand the boy
rs good boy Neither my partner nor
ihave been married, and the youngster
sort o. seems like son to us. There's
mo question about money-we have all
that's needed"
There was brief sllences.
81 don't think that ever met cir