Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-07-31
THE vAGABoND.
llp his hat


I'm not going to harm the child he
said in his sullen way. Il happened to
see him here in the hammock an came
little closer. amt going to touch
him. You needn't look at me So
zoo mustn't look at Dim So cried
the boy. Poor Dim. He amt dot any
muvver to make him wash hisself.s And
the little face was turned to the stranger
with deeply sympathetic expression.
A duller red covered the yagabond's
face
George said the young mother
warningly.
That's all right, ma'am,'. said the
vagabond quickly. "An' it's true. /
had mother. but there were too many
of us, an she was always too busy. No
doubt needed a father more chan did
a mother. But he ran away from u.s.
He paused and twisted his dingy hat
in his grimy hands.
The boy, his big eyes expanded
stared at the big man wondarirgly. and
a deep flush crept into the mothers pale
cheeks.
My farver is tummin' home pity
soon," said the child
The yagabond saw the young woman
and she seemed little more than a girl
Lay her thin hand over the chiId's
chubby fingers and bend over him.
why, mamma" said the child. zoos
cryin'!" He reached up and stroked the
pale cheek. Then he looked around at
the vagabond. bad man." he threaten.
ingly said, 100 made mamma cry!''
The yagabond drew back He kept on
the beaten path but a moment or two.
Then he turned into little used road
that branched to the left through the
woods. At 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
tall, well-dressed young man was in the
roadway and when the vagabond APP
peared he started eagerly.
Where's the child?" he demanded
The vagabond came forward. but he
made no reply.
Cant you hear met" the young man
cried. where is the boy?"
The vagabond stopped and looked
hard at the young man, and his look
was not a pleasant one.
The boy is where he should be- he
quietly answered; with his motherp
What do you meaH the Young nan
harshly demanded. Didn't you find an
opportunity"
'sAll the opportunity needed" re-
turned the yagabond, and his voice was
quiet.
The other mans anger suddenly
blazed up.
you cur he cried, "why don't you
speak?"
The vagabond drew quick breath.
"I'm a cur, all right" he answered,
"a dirty eur, but even at that I'm
cleaner at this very minute than you
for all your shine an Emery
His tone was harsh and Insulting.
The young mans face famed with rags.
He took a step toward the vagabond.
you scoundrell" he Hammered.
The vagabond drew himself up. His
hands were thrust into his coat pockets.
A dangerous glitter came into his ewes.
STEADY" he growled You don't
want any trouble with me. I'm gettin'
just ugly enough to hammer you to .
pulp and delight in dom it. 1t would
do me goodand l reckon it's Just what
you need"
The young man glared at the yaga-
bond but he came no closer
Whats 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 wen
then" he replied. 1--WE found out I'm
not as big a backyard as you took
me TO be- That's one thing. I may
be tramp an drunkard, but | ain't
low enough yet to kidnap child from
its mothers arms
He drew long breath and frowned
blackly.
Pm the father of the child" said the
other man. 81 wanted him. | hired
you to bring him - me. You have
nothing to do with the merits of the
case"
The vagabond laughed scornfully.
TIL merits of tn case he repeated.
Il like that TIL merit of takin' a 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 ~
ish. You want to hit her in way That
hurts her most-through the child. That
Is tn kind of brave man you are. lou
hired me to do the dirty end of the
work. No doubt | meant TO 70 il. You
tempted me. But after | saw til Guild
and tn mother, / woulln. have hariaed
either one, if you gave me as many
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 Hes 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
Rave away" he said. 1--WE heard
quite enough of this"
The vagaboDd sprang forward.
Stay where you are" he cried. I'm
not through with you yet. You'll hear
me out" He moistened his Inns. Il
4 N,.bx~ lnFs