The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-11-19

man. What's yoursg''
Just now | am nameless-I prefer
to be nsmeless. The number of this
house?'
This Is IS Jefferson street" an.
swered the man. What do you want
to know that for?"
Il shouldn't mind telling you" smiled
Jerry. but | know exactly what you'd
think after got through. SO I guess
It's lust as well for me TO keep mum"
Hut we should like very much to
know" said the wife.
I'm tell you II you don't think am
crazy. DO appear to be in possession
of my senses?"
You certainly do" laughed Hunt
ington.
There really IL nothing about me to
indicate that am more than a mere
Christmas unfortunate. is there"
You look like you've had your
share OF tough luck. that's all" said
the householder.
Well. I'll tell you why ! want your
name and address. Now. don't laugh:
June. II am alive. you will receive
by telegraph enough money to make
you reasonably independent. shall
not be wearing these rags then. and
my pockets will not be empty. Check
that day on your calendar-just for
the fun OF H."
When Jerry departed from that liz.
tie nest he was determined that they
should receive on the day after his
second year OF absence from New
York enough to pay for that Christmas
breakfast. which he valued al Infinite
ly more than the cost OF the house
and lot.
He stopped at another house. more
pretentious than the little cot he had
left. but had the door slammed In his
face before he finished asking for a
pair OF old shoes.
"Oh. a little thing like that can't
make me unhappy to-day" he said TO
himself. as he went out OF the yard.
I'm be happy even II they sic the
dogs on me-"
II was not long before he was on
one OF the principal thoroughfares.
where he stopped at many OF the at
tractive windows He turned down a
fashionable avenue few minutes be-
fore IL o'clock. his feet almost fro
rem and his face purple from the cold.
He reached a church. from which the
music OF a pipe-organ came TO his ears.
He hesitated a minute and then went
into the temple OF worship. A dapper
young man in a frock coat eyed him
colby and merely pointed TO the last
seat in the last pew. into which Jerry
slid. The church was crowded. but
he had plenty of room.
After the service Jerry trudged
down the avenue until he came To a
mansion on a corner. He turned into
the cross street and looked into a win
dow. There. sitting at n table fairly
heaped with flowers. sat a white-haired
old man. his thumbs together and his
gaze straight before him.
Jerry moved along until he came
TO the gate, and. hesitating q moment
he opened II and went 10 the back
door. His gentle knocking brought
forth the butler.
win you give me something to
eat?"
The servant gave him a frigid look.
told him To wait and closed the door.
He went to the white-haired old man.
There's tramp at the back door.
SIR. who begs for something 20 eat. :"
said the butler.
We'll. wen. give him a bite said
the old man. and send him ON his
way. But walt, Huxley" he went on.
Bring him In here, have eaten
alone on Christmas day for 20 years.
with just that vacant chair at the
other end OF the table. and to-day I
am not going to eat alone. Bring him
In after he has been washed clean"
The surprised Huxley bowed and
went away. He led Jerry to soap. wa
ter and towel. and after the young
man was as presentable as II was pos
sible for him to be. he WIS escorted to
the rich dining room.
Fetch chair 10 my right. Huxley
ordered the old man. 1T shall be the
seat of honor"
Jerry sat down and immediately
apologized for his appearance.
flush. tush." said the old man. Il
don't care how you look. want 10
see hungry man eat"
Il don't think you will be disap-
pointed In that. SIR" smiled Jerry. The
young mans voice. indicating refine
ment and polish. caused the old man
| to lift his brows In surprise.
"Have you always been a tramp"
mo. Always, sir. have seen bet
ter days" .... g..f.
what is your name?"
II prefer not TO tell you. SIR
Proud. Ell? oh, very well. then
How long have you been a tramp"
only few months"
Cant you find work."
Il haven't found more than enough
TO keep body and soul together. sir
up TO date"
The men conyersed throughout the
sumptuous meal. the old man bscom
ing deeply interested In his lone com