Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-10-08
A DOUBTFUL AFFAIR.

side.
Tom stood at the door, having closed
his hampers to check the draught for
there was an hours interval at 6 o'clock
and the chief snnbbed you ii he came
round and found the steam roaring off,
10 watch a big coal steamer coming in to
the opposite quay. Nearer and nearer
she erept swerving to a spin OF her
wheel till parallel with her berth The
weighty bights We're carried along and
made fast; few feet farther glided the
great tramp steamer then, with a surly
backward swish of her screw, she came
to rest
A little waif, the kind of boy that
haunts all waterside localities Of large
towns, also watched the arrival from
his post on the top OF a pile of timber,
and now, clambering down, came cham
bling. aimlessly along the quay.
Burton transferred his attention to
the mkempt, grimy mortal as it moved
here and there. The boy was happy. it
seemed. for he whisted as he wandered:
brave blue eyes he owned, too: they
shone finely when he faced the sunlight,
although his checks were pinched
From the deck Of the tramp a stoker
also watched the boy, contemplatively.
Presently a banana shot over the inter
vening strip of water aud skidded at the
youngsters feet. He lodged after it
and made short work of devouring it.
peering across and laughing the merry
little imp, when he caught sight of the
form that leaned carelessly over the rail
of the steamer
Hungry, sonny 2" called the stoker.
av.1- TOD a.
eomaging glE.
Yes" answered the boy, his eyes
IgIistening.
Catch. then!7
Over flew another ripe banana. The
boy rushed forward to catch it. slipped
and fell There was splash
and shrill cry. There were two big
ger splashes Immediately after. ana
Enumberless whirIs of Crime and dfrtv
bubbles and dark, liquid lanes. marking
where the two men had plunged i'm and
the black mud of the bottom been dis
turbed Together they brought the boy
to the boiler house, and there were
many encouraging shouts from those on
board the steamer who had heard the
splashes and crowded to the side.
Bedargled and painting they were but
their burden looked half dead and very
white He had not been in the water
more than minute, perhaps. but his
reserve of lifeforce was too evidently
very scanty. Tom kicked open the fur
mace doors OF one of the boilers. and
dragged the bench in front of it, wrap
ping sack tenderly round the quiet
form. The rich, strong glow of the huge
fires beat straight on the boy making
| his soaked odds and ends steam steadily
betraying, as the men went through the
necessary movements to restore him. the
lptiful thinness of his arms. the leanness
of his poor body.
His face, which had shown false
ruddiness in that warm illumination. bv
and by was tinged with shade of real
color from within, and he opened his
| eyes. just then there was a sound of
running feet, and woman, hardfaced
untidy, stood silhouetted in the doorway
against the outside radiance
oh. my Gawd!" she cried, seeing them
| bending over the listless form. "Oh,
my Gawd is he dead?' And she reeled
to heap of coal in the corner, sat there
planning, repeating her exclamation.
wringing her miserable hands The two
men took but little notice of her, striv.
ing to fan the tiny, pickering life.hame
into steadier burning Toms tea-can
had been placed in corner of the fur-
mace close to the door, in two minutes
its contents were nearly boiling; the hot
liquid revived the boy, and he came
round quickly.
| Now then. misses, you'd better take
| him home quick, an keep him warm.
Tom said, grufily. for he did not like the
| look of her. Can you carry him?7
Apparently she could not. for even as
she stood waiting she swayed ominously
her eyes staring her lips mutterino I'M
ineligible words. So the boy was set
upon his feet, quaint. sad little spec
| tacle. TO take the woman's hand The
two men stood at the doorway watching,
| compromising dimly a tragedy of life
hat might he worse than the avertei
tragedy of death. She led MN Oft Her
words came back to them thickN and
indistmetly as she jerked him along bv
The wrist
All, you little devil you" The boy
bcrsA 10 oty quietly.
rom and the stoker of the tramp ex-
changed understanding gances. and
stood for while talking, frowning. fol
lowing with their eyes the two who shut
fled along in the sunshine The snarl.
ing syllables gradually became mecog-
niZahle as words.
A bell tangled in the boiler house be- |
hind. Tom disappeared in the gloom to
slice his fires, to open his hampers and
to change his steaming oyeralls: while
his companion, glancing thoughtfullv az
the red sails of trawler that was run.
ming out on the freshening wind. lit a
short shabby pipe, Presently he turned. |
mattel"
"Helloi" answered Tom. pausing and /
looking up in the act of clearing out |
the clipkers, bathed in the fierce heat.
"Betterve let the kid drown p'raps.s
shouldn't wonder" shouted Tom. |
slicing away vigorously The other with !