The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1910-03-19

r1occ 90 so, I'm sure. Good-Dy.
hope the rest will do you good"
Thanks" and Bushnell pulled
himself 70 his feet Tho two men
shook hands. "Good-by," he said.
Bushnell dropped back into his
chair as the door closed. His head
fell forward upon his hands. and the
bitterness and futillty Of II all weight
cd him down. The rush and roar OF
the street drifted In through the win
dows and filed the room. but he did
not hear Il, for he was far away. He
had left that little village In the
Catskills full OF hope and purpose
II was not long ago in time. but how
long in events-and for a space Il
seemed he was to win his battle
against the street. For he had dc.
termined to win. II had come upon
him suddenly-this fever TO show the
stuff that was In him-and he had
thought IL all out one moonlight night
away up on the side OF Wy Mountain,
lie had laid his plans carefully and
had dreamed OF millions. But the
odds had been too great, and he had
been caught IN the ruins OF the edi.
fee which his own brain had built
and crushed utterly. But the bitter.
est thought of all was that he must
go back empty-handed, when he had
hoped to take so much. It was not
for himself alone he had hoped to
win.
The station at Shandakin, long,
low, grimy structure, was almost de-
serted as Bushnell stepped OF the
train the next afternoon. Only the
stage was there, as 1t was every day.
ready for the ten-mile journey over
the hills to Lexington, and he graspvd
the hand of the old driver with real
warmth.
I'm glad to see you, JIM he said.
How are all the folks?"
"Oh, they're all right, / reckon. But
you look kind er peaked, Mr.. Blsa-
nell. Been workin' too hard, ]
'spect."
Bushnell laughed.
i'Tnat may be IT," he said, Amy.
way, decided that week or two
back here IN the hills would do me
good"
80 twill nodded the driver, AN
the folks viii be glad to see YOU
reckon. Got any luggage7"
"Only this, and Bushnell held UP
the grip he cIrried in his hand.
"All right. pile in. You're the only
passenger"
Bushnell "Llled in" accordingly.
Jim clambered to the front seat,
clucked to the horses, and they were
of. The road sor the first few miles
wound through wood OF stately
pines, and Bushnell Icy back In his
seat and took great breaths OF tho
fragrant air, AMI felt his pulEe beat
ing with renewed vigor. Up and up
climbed the coach toward the notch,
a mere dent in the chain OF noun
tains, and the air grew cool and brac-
ing. A brook FLASHED along by the
side OF the road, and Bushnell re-
membered with peculiar viyidness
how many trout he had caught In u
when he was boy. He felt his
hands itching to get hold or a pole
again, and the nostalgia Of asphalt
and crowded streets, which had been
on him for the past two years, slip
ped from his imperceDtibly.
The sun was dipping behind the
range OF hills in the wOst, as they
reached the summit Of the notch, ana
stopped to get a drink from the
spring which bubbled from beneatn
s, great rock at the roadside. An Ola
fruit can was the only drinking yes
SER but Bushnell took a long draugnt
OF the sparkling water He felt mis-
brain clearing. his nerves growing
steadier. and the great city, with It's
crush of money-hunters, seemed very
e.. oruav