The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
THE VAGABOND.
The vagabond picked up his, hat.

said in his sullen way. 81 happened to
see him here in the hammock an came
a little closer. [ amt going to touch
him. You needn't look at me 500
800 mustn't look at Dim so,' cried
i the boy. ''Poor Dim. He amt dot any
muvver to make him wash hisself." And
the little face was turned to the stranger
with a deeply sympathetic expression.
A duller red covered the vagabonds
i face.
"Georgie,' said the young mother
warningly.
"That's all right, ma'am,'' said the
vagabond quickly. can it's true.
had mother. but there were too many
of us, an she was always too busy. No
doubt [ needed father more than I did
mother. But he ran awa,v from u.s.
/ He paused and twisted lis dingy hat
in his grimy hands.
The boy, his big eyes expanded,
stared at the big man wonderirgly, and
deep flush crept into the mothers pale
cheeks.
MY farver is tummin' home pity
soon,' said the child.
! The vagabond saw the young woman
and she seemed little more than girl
lay her thin hand over the child's
chubby fingers and bend over him.
"Why, mamma" said the child. COOS
cryin'!' He reached up and stroked the
pale cheek. Then he looked around at
the vagabond. "Bad man." he threaten.
ingly said, 800 made mamma cry!"
| The vagabond drew back. He kept on
the beaten path but moment or two.
Then he turned into a little used road
that branched to the left through the
woods At a short distance from the
highway he paused and came forward
more slowly.
A fine looking horse attached to a
| light carriage stood at the roadside. A
roadway and when the vagabond ap-
peared he started eagerly.
"Where's the child?" he demanded.
| The vagabond came forward, but he
made no reply.
Cant you hear me?" the young man
cried. "Where is the boy?"
The vagabond stopped and looked
hard at the young man, and his look
was not pleasant one.
"The boy is where he should be-" he
quietly answered; with his mother"
'What do you mean?" the young man
harshly demanded. Didn't you find an
opportunity
'sAll the opportunity I needed" re-
turned the vagabond, and his voice. was
quiet.
The other mans anger suddenly
blazed up.
"You cur" he cried, "whv don't you
speak?"
The vagabond drew quick breath.
"Im a cur, all right" he answered,
ga dirty cur, but even at that Pm
cleaner at this very minute than you
for all your shine an Emery"
His tone was harsh and insulting.
The young mans face fame1 with rage.
He took step toward the vagabond.
"You scoundrel!" he atamInered.
The vagabond drew himself UP. His
hands were thrust into his coat pockets.
A dangerous glitter came into his eyes
STEADY" he growled. ''you don't
want any trouble with me. Pm gettin'
just ugly enough to hammer you to .
pulp-and delight in doin' it. 1t would
do me good-and 1 reckon it's just what
you need"
The young man glared at the vaga-
bond, but he came no closer.
"What's wrong with your" he pres
emily demanded ''You were keen for
the job when you left here"
The vagabond nodded.
Il didn't know myself quite so we'll
them" he replied. Give found out I'm
not as big BLACKBOARD as you took
me to be. That's one thing I may
be tramp an drunkard, but I amt
low enough yet to kidnap a child from
it's mothers arms
He drew a long breath and frowned
blackly.
"Im the rather of the child said the
other man. 81 wanted him. I hired
you to bring him 10 me. You have
nothing to do with the merits of the
case"
The vagabond laughed scornfully.
9Th merits of tn case," he repeated.
'I like that TIL merit of takin' little
child away from tn mother who bore
him an for what? To crafty some low
feelin' of revenge, no doubt. You want
to hurt the woman you swore to ch sr-
ish. You want to hit her in a way that
! hurts her most-through the child That
is tn kind of brave man you are. You
hired me to do the dirty end of the
work. No doubt I meant TO 10 it. You
tempted me. But after I saw tll' child
and tn mother, wouldn't have harmed
either one, if you gave me as mary
dollars as there are hairs in your
schemin' head.''
The other man had drawn back a lit
tie and the angry flush was paling from
his face
"The child is mine," he muttered.
"The child is yours, sure enough"
said the vagabond '.He's got your looks
there's no questioning that. But he's
got his mothers truthful eyes,"
The other man laid his hand on the
reins.
Crave away" he said. GIVE heard
quite enough of this"
The vagabond sprang forward.
"Stay where you are" he cried. "I'm
not through with you yet. You'll hear
me out" He moistened his lips. II
don't know why you left this woman.
Some foolish scrap, no doubt. No doubt,
too, you was in tn wrong. You try to
disgrace her by leavin' her. an then
you try to hurt her by stealin' her child.
"Why she should care for you heaven
only knows he said. "But she does.
Why, she's even taught the kid to pray
that you will come back soon. What do
you think of that! The mother teachin'
tn kid to pray for you, an you plannin'
to steal tn kid" The other man sud-
lenly turned so that his face was hid
len. can she cries when you're men
ioned--cries when the kid speaks of
'apa-cries when she thinks of you