The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-01
"A Story Of
Graustork
GEORGE BARR
M'CUTCHEON

slept, How tired they were! whence
had they; come?8
: Why should he 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-
ionglngs-Hnf ancient violin case,
stout walking stick goodly sized
pack done up iIf gaudy cloth, a well
worn pair Of sandals with long, frayed
iacings. 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. s,. ..E,.ss
With a determined stake of his head
and new flash OF the eye. he calmly
seated himself and began 10 open his
ragged pack 1906 - anei7s-d5' } p.
At last his small store of food lay
exposed. Without hesitation he divid-
ed the pieces Of smoked venison, CIV
ing one part to himself. two to the
sleepers. then the miller's bread and
the cheese and the bag Of dates he had
bought the day before. t-
Again he blew kiss to the prettiest
girl he had ever seen. Snumng his
candle, he dropped to the ground and
closed the door against all spying. un-
civil eyes.
Daybreak found him at the wharf
gates.
Coming to an empty fiat car direct
from the quarries, he resolutely seated
himself upon Its edge and, with amia-
BILE resignation, set about devouring
his early meal, all the while casting
longing, almost appealing, glances 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 a thin shrek
Of greeting, past the freight houses
It was then that Sir vagabond sat up
very straight, look Of mild interest
in his eyes. Interest gave way to per-
plexity, perplexity to concern. What's
this-leaving the city? He wasted no
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. A hearty peal
of laughter scared from his lips. The
joke was on them. 1t was rich. The
more he thought of their astonishment
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 I'M
seemly mirth. With tears in his mer-
ry black eyes he related the plight Of
the pretty slumberers. They piled him
with questions. He described the cou-
pie, even glowingly. Then the SIMS
ter fellows smiled. More than that,
they clapped each other on the back
and swOre splendidly.
And SO it was that the news spread
over town at o'clock that Truxton
King was where he could do no harm.
1t was well known that the train
would make forty miles an hour down
the steep grade into the lower valley.
When TruXton King first awoke to
the fact that they were no longer
lying motionless In the dreary yards
he leaped to his feet with a startled
shout of alarm. With frantic energy
he pulled open the door, For a min
ute he stared at the scudding walls of
stone so close at hand. uncomprehend-
ingly. Then the tcuth burst upon him
with the force of a mighty blow. He
staggered back. his jaw dropping, DIS
eyes glarinS.
"Great God, Lorraine! We're going!
We're moving he cried hoarsely.
She shot to her feet and lurched to
his side. Don't fall out" she almost
shrieked. s.
Suddenly the train shot out into the
open, farm spattered valley. Truxton
fell back dumfounded.
1.-THE countryy' he exclaimed. We've
been carried away. God In heavenl
The prince-he is lost!' He was be-
side himself, raging like a mailman.
He had shouted to her that he must
get back to the city.
"You would be killedw she cried,
clutching his arm fiercely. you never
can jump, Truxton. See how we are
running. II you Jump shall follow.
won't go on alone. l am as much to
blame as you"
"A small station flew by. Rom, sew
en- kiIometers to Edelweiss." He look
ed at her in despair.
a'sWe're going faster and faster" be
/ grated. jas5 *
Just then his gaze alighted on the
pathetic breakfast. He stared as u
| hypnotized. Was he going mad? An
instant later he was on his hands and
knees examining the mysterious feast
! She iOined him at once. No two faces