Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-14

~ ERCY me, what's that?"
Nat Davis looked up through bit
W. ter tears of despair and pain, ant
made out dimly, in the light of thu
night the figure of broad-shouldered bo,
about his own age. coming down the tract
toward the city. Mats sobbing had evident
ly checked him just as he was about to wall
over the PROSTATE form.
I'm terribly hurt. l fell from a train
Both my legs are broken. Help get mt
somewhere-no, it's no usei" and Nat closes
his eyes with a groan.
His courage had reached its lowest ebb
He had exaggerated his fororn and friendles
condition, his past misdeeds and his presen
failure. Aside from this he had desperate
conviction that somehow a judgment ha'
come upon him. and he would go through thu
rest of his life a helpless cripple.
"Fell from train-phew" spoke th'
strange boy, in sympathetic voice. CAR
you sure you're badly hurt? Where do yot
live? Where are your friends?"
"Nowhere-got none."
"We're in the same box then," said the boy
'Don't go to crying; maybe you're worse
scared than hurt"
"Me scared!" choked out Nat, Indignantly
''You don't know me. I'm awfully hurt, ant
know it, and wish I'd been"
Easy, my young friend Don't talk non
A<S~'
that hurt"
He had leaned over and gently touched on'
"Yes," responded Nat. 81 can't move it
Oh, my-dont! don't!"
''That leg isn't broke if the other is" al
most smiled the boy, '..or it wouldn't hurt so
and you couldn't pull it up. Look here
youngster, I'm an utter stranger here. M,
name is Sam Taylor. and | come. from thu
country. / don't know where there's any
houses There's some lights over yonder
across that field. If you could manage to limI
that way, I'd venture to wake the people up
if there's any there"
81 can't move, l tell you," declared Nat
"Then I'll carry you. Take hold of me-
Nat made desperate effort to help him
self
Sam Taylor seized him under the arms and
lifted him.
breath from the exertion, stout as he was
"Rest on one foot little, can't you?"
Nat did SO, but with a shrek of pain.
''Now, cling tight around my neck" said
his new friend. "Can you hold on"
'1'll try to-" almost sobbed Nat overcome
at his helplessness.
He could feel drops of perspiration fall from
Sans brow upon his clasped hands, as the
boy sturdily crossed the track and started
toward grassy waste beyond which, here and
there showed what seemed to be the lights
and struggling structures OF the extreme limits
of the city.
Sam never rested until they had proceeded
nearly a quarter Of a mile.
The lights seemed as far away as ever. AL
around them was a green, level stretch Of
land.
"Hurt's, eh?
"Yes," replied Nat with faint moan. g!
can't even straighten my leg now. I wish
could lie down and rest"
Sam advanced to what he found to be pile
of old boards and gently lowered his burden
so that Mats limbs rested free from the
ground. ~
He looked serious as he wiped the perspira
ton from his forehead and glanced at Nat
and then at the leaden sky.
A few drops OF rain came patterlng down
What seemed to be some kind of rude strue
ture showed in outline little distance away
Sam went toward it.
1t proved to be a. large sign, announcing
that the land around it was for sale. The
support, and it lay slanting, and as Sam no
ticed a similar sign fiat on the ground, neal
by, he started to utilize this waste lumber
for shelter.
He dragged the second sign to the first one
and placed the tops together, proping this
1t would at least keep the rain off, and Sam
hurried back to where he had left Nat.s
He carried Nat to the board shelter and
placed the boy inside.
Nat uttered sigh Of relief and satisfaction
Feel r. leibea better an now now p! asked I ssm u
eyes, much better" replied Nat, as heart
trouble with me-"
"That's all right. Now see here
"Nat's my name-Nat Davis"
"Well, then, Nat, I've got nothing to do e
take me away from here, unless ] can dc
something for you. If your leg is broken il