The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-03-11

as this rakish individual. His clothes
barely hung together on his iauk
frame
Long, thin lips curled into smile Of
delicious regard His sides shook with
the quiet chuckle Of understanding
He was thinking Of other days aud
nights and OF many maids il faroff
lands and of countless journeys in
which he. too, had had fair and gentle
company-short journeys, yes, but not
to be forgotten.
He lighted the stub Of a tallow can
die. All, how enyied this greac. sleep
ing wayfarer. How beautiful his mis-
tress. How fortunate the lover. They
slept. How tired they were. Whence
had they come?
Why should be stay here to spoil
their waking hour? No. He would
surrender his apartment to them.
Softly he tiptoed to his own corner
Of the car. He gathered up his be
longings-an ancient violin case, u
stout walking stick, a goodly sized
pack done up in gaudy cloth, a We'll
worn pair Of sandals with long. frayed
lacings. AS gently he stole back to
the door. He tossed a kiss to the
sleeping girl, his dark gypsy face
aglow with admiration and mischief.
and was about to blow out the light
Of his candle. Then he changed his
mind.
With a determined shake Of his head
and new fash Of the eye he calmly
seated himself and began to open his
ragged pack.
At last his small store of food lay
exposed. Without hesitation he diyld
ed the pieces Of smoked yeniSOn, Civ
ing one part to himself. two to the
sleepers. then the miller's bread aud
the cheese and the bag of dates he had
bought the day before.
Again he blew kiss to the prettiest
girl he had ever seen. Shutting his
candle, he dropped to the ground aud
closed the door against all spying, IN
civil eyes.
Daybreak found him at the wharf
gates.
Coming to an empty fat car direct
from the Quarries. he resolutelE seated
himself upon its edge and. with anna
bic resignation, set about devOuring
his early meal, all the while casting
longing, almost appealing, chances to-
ward the next car but one. Busy lit
| tie switch engines began chugging
| about the yards. The railroad at least
| WAS exhibiting some signs Of life.
| Down through the maze Of side
| tracks Whisked the little train, out
| upon the main line with il thin Shrek
| Of greeting, past the freight houses
! 1t was then that Sir Vayabond sat up
very straight. a look OF mild interest
| in his eyes. Interest gave way to per
| plexity, perpleXity to concern. What's
| this-leaving the city? He wasted nc
time. Clutching his belongings to his
side, he vaulted from one hand, nimbly
| landing safely on his feet at the road
| side.
He thought of the luckless pair in
! the empty box"
Suddenly he stopped, his chin up
his hands to his sides \ hearty pea
Of laughter scared from his lips. The
| Joke was on them. 1t was rich. The
more he thought of their astou.Shmen1
on awakening the more he laughed.
His immense levity attracted atten
| ton. Four or five men approached
him from the shadows of the freight
houses, ugly. unSmiling fellows: They
| demanded of him the cause Of his un
seemly mirth. With tears in his mer
~ black eyes he rela ted the plight OF
the pretty slumbererS. They pied hin
with questions. He described the cou
pie. even glowingy. Then the SIMS
ter fellows smiled. More than that
they clapped each other on the bacl
and swore Splendidly.
And SO it was that the news spread
over town at o'clock that IruxtoI
| King was where he could do 10 harm
| 1t was we'll known that the train
would make forty miles an hour dowl
! the steep grade into the lower valley.
When Truxton King first aToke {
the fact that they were 10 longe
| living motionleSs in the dreary yard
he leaped to his feet with 4 startlet
shout of alarm. With frantic energ,
| be pulled open the door. For min
| ute he stared at the ScuddinS walls o
| stone SO close at hand. Incompetence
ingly. Then the truth burst upon hin
with the force Of a mighty blow ii
staggered back, his jaw dropping, HI
eyes glarin..
Great God, Lorraine We're going
We're moving he cried hoarSely.
She shot To her feet and lurched [
his side Don't fall out" she almos
Shrieked.
Suddenly the train shot out into tn
open. farm spattered valley. TruXtol
fell back dunfounded.
The country, he exclaimed. "Wev
been carried away. God i'll heaven
The prince-he is lost" He was be
side himself, raging like Z ma Imam.
He had shouted 10 her that he mus
get back to the city.
You would be killed. she cried
clutching his arm 1iercely. You neve
| can jump. Truxton. See how We ar
running If You jump shall follow.
won't go on alone. | am as much {
blame as YOU
\ small station few by. Rom, sey
! en- kilometers to Edelweiss." He look
ed at her in despair.
We're going faster and faster" b
grated.
Just then his gaze aiighted on th