The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-08

ance or a countrymen only few hours
from his own feed lots.
When he paid his fare to the con-
duetor he asked that official to let him
Fuller street," exclaimed the con-
ductor. why there's no such street on
this line
The old man dropped his grip and
leaned against the panels of the car
for support. He did not say a word.
Only looked at the conductor in a
dazed and pitiful fashion. That Off
c1al in the meantime was looking
through his guide book for Fuller
street. He could not find it and told
the old man so.
Maybe it's in Kansas City, KAN
suggested the conductor, and the pas
sengers (who were interested in spite
of the proverbial GOODNESS of city
folks) hoped that it was SO. But the
old man shook his head. He was sure
it was Kansas City, Mo-. he said, in
low, hesitating tones. Then he FUN
bled in his coat pocket for notebook
and paved through the pages hunting
for the address. When he found 1t he
handed the book silently to the con-
ductor. Sure enough it was Fuller
street, Kansas City, Mo-, and the num-
Der was 1925.
The car had reached Troost avenue
by this time and was turning south on
the avenue.
want suggested the conductor. A
passenger thought it might be Flora
street. The old man said nothing at
all. He was adrift on an unchartered
sea and 1926 Fuller street, the only
beacon light he knew, had gone out in
the darkness.
There's no use riding out this line, -
finally said the conductor, and he
spoke kindly to make the harsh words
hurt less You better get off here at
Twelfth and take the car at this cor
nor and try Fullerton street. That
car will take you there
The old man obediently took up his
telescope grip and moved to the exit
He paused on the first step after the
car had come to a standstill. s'The
name of the man who lives there at
Fuller street is Boyd he said, in the
hopeful fashion of one who expects a
final suggestion to find way out of
the difficulty
The name Boyd did not seem to help
much, for the conductor began to get
impatient. You must get off the cal" "
he said. you have kept me here too
long. already
Still the old man hesitated. He had
one shot left in his lockers, and he
would try that since all else had fall
ed. cit was F. O. Boyd he said, a
tone of excitement showing in his voice
at last. But this browning piece of in
formation did not help. Indeed, it
the pathos of the old countryman lost
in the city on night of snow and
cold. The passengers did not laugh
at the childish information from the
bearded man on the car steps who still
hesitated in the face of the storm.
You must get off, said the con-
ductor for the third time, but he spoke
gently even though his car was being
held beyond all reason and rules. The
old man climbed slowly down the
steps. He was feeble for all that his
beard had not turned gray
The passengers looked back from
the platform of the car as 1t moved
away and caught last glimpse of a
| bowed figure, his greatcoat tapping in
! the wind, as he made his way slowly
under the CLEAN of the arc light to-
| ward the designated corner where he
was to catch a car for Fullerton street,
and his friend Boyd, F. o. Boyd Who
knows? Or cares? 1t was a bad
night and everybody was in hurry to
get home The old man with the teie-
scope grip was only one of the many
| pieces of jetsam that float to and fro
upon the troubled waters of the city S
tide Of affairs. Some reach port at
night and others go down in the dark
ness and they never see again the
harbor light on these earthly coasts.
But there are invisible shores beyond
] the waters where the lights never
grow dim.