Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-05-07
The ELEMENTAL
By Edaoard S. Pilsaoorth.

"Hell of game" he NUT
tered, as he scrambled to his
feet. "To take mans last four
cents and then can him off. |
wonder where | am" When dis
covered by the trainman, Bill
lings was asleep in an empty (;
his offer of four cents was ac-
copied, then he was bounced.
The day was bitingly cold, and
every snarling gust of wind
searched a fresh hole in his
clothing; the snow chilled his
feet; his teeth ratified against
each other. Night was falling,
and he had no resting-place.
SCOT to get somewhere" he
muttered. "Wish | had some of
that coin I blowed. Well, here
goes for luck"
He struck away down the
railroad track, intent to find a
farmhouse, the snow percolat-
ing through the rents of his
shoes upon the dirty toes, and
his feet slipping on the ties.
Drawing the dilapidations of his
garments tight around him, ne
shuddered in their insufficiency,
as his responding figure SLOUGH
ed along. The jeering wind cut
in between the abortive collar
and his neck, and Billings in
dulged in commensurate pro-
family.
After little he stopped and
gazed around. The distance was
hazy with hoar, for it was too
cold to snow. A thin ripple Of
smoke filtered up to the dismal
skies. For a while he stood,
then plunged into the snow to-
ward it. A sunken fence wire
caught his toe and pitched him
headlong; the barb heightened
the rip in his right shoe, and
more chilly flakes insinuated
themselves. He arose and strug-
gled forward, falling into ditch
es and staggering wildly over
stubble. Once, as he trod on de-
ceptive ice, it broke and let him
down; when he scrambled out,
he was wet to mid-thigh, and the
splintered ice had plowed a jag
ged furrow in his leg; he
bound his neckerchief around it,
he blood staining his dirty fin
gers.
He whimpered as he dragged
himself along, cold and hungry,
almost frozen; but the house
was looming closer, and with it
food and shelter. His feet were
void of feeling, and his hands
numb, as he ratified with his ell
bow on the door.
A woman, thin and faded, of
colorless individuality, opened
it, She carried child, about
fifteen months old, in her arms,
and Billings could see she was
very near her trouble.
WELL" she harshly queried,
what do you want?"
"Tm a honest man, lady," he
answered, with his professional
whine, out of work, and cold
and hungry. Could you help me
to a bite to eat and let me sit by
your fire to warm MYSELF"
sNo," replied the woman.
s"We don't want no tramps
around here" She said it more
with indifference than animos-
ity. II amt got nothing for
you," and shut the door.
Billings experience was cath
olic, and he should have been
prepared, but the woman i'm
pressed him with such a terrible
forlornness, that he had expect
ed better things. When he
heard the lock click as she turn
ed the key, despair obtained the
mastery, and he sat on the
steps, his head in his hands.
He was aroused by a tapping
on the window and, with hope
reawakened, raised his head.
The woman was motioning to
him, and he went close to UNI
derstand.
Lady" said he, "I'm starv-
ing, and I'll work for what you
give me. Help a poor man to a
little food, missis."
go away" she ordered.
"I'll do the work first" said
he desperately. "Christ madam,
do YOU want to murder me?"