Arizona republican., 1910-06-16

your aunt might be there and peraps-we perhaps she might appreciate music"
 She wouldn't" Shirley laughed except Onward, Christian Soldiers or Old Hundred"
 (Which, unfortunately are not in my repertoire" he laughed in return May walk by your side for few steps?"
 , "Why not?" the girl answered There is reason really" he said in return "The road has no conventions"
 We are three" she said, smiling. "you. your pal, and myself You may walk with me as far as the cross roads; there by the big willow you shall play for me again, and then you go your free way and will go back to my conventions" she ended little sadly
 Shirley scanned his face in swift glance. "You look dferent-a great deal better she said
 am no longer Ill., he told her; and then went on, speaking rapidly, T think will tell you part of my story. at least" he said It will take only few mo- ments. should like have left you that June day with better opinion of me- but as 1t was only an ex- pertinent l didn't think l ought to. I am not a tramp real hobo, he told her, but very ordinary man in the disguise of l am Willard Baker newspaper man, at your service"
 And l am Shirley Baker, schoolmstress" she said.
 Yes, know" he answered Il found out by a few discreet questions back there in the village to-day did do for curiosity but because wanted to know the of the person who in all my wanderngs, has treated me like equal A flannel shirt and khap5ac1 make lots of difference don't they:" he said trle bitterly
 "Its like this" he went on "While CT story one day in the New York slums contracted typhoid fever had 1t for seven months and when finally got on my feet again they about all had left The doctors in the hospital said my heart and lungs sha and A.. mountains and that sleep of doors possible As had just fifty dollars to my name-the paper had kept the payroll long they decently could the thing looked preposterous. But I didn't intend to let little thing like the lack of money keep down after fighting for my life all those months So thought out the plan of coming up here in the Berkshires and tramping it for while. l studying music and could play fairly we'll and 1 could draw in a sap-dash sort of way. I thought the two combined might food enough, though l should have preferred the more muscular sort of work. I'd have sawed wood that day, you know, he added quickly he wanted to explain something particularly, if had been able
 "You see," he concluded. the experiment has been a success. I'm on my way back to the city again The paper will give job, it's shoulder and for ward march until the next onslaught of fate.
 "T I'm SO gladi" Shirley said, her eyes shining | knew all the time, someway, that you weren't that extraordinary tramp you told to think you. l used to wonder how you getting and shudder nights when there was a hard storm"
 "You needn't have worried, he replied smiling back at her l would lie in barn those nights and wonder if you would give strawberries and cream when l came your way agaln
 Hardly" laughed Shirley, in September"
 The old brown fiddle brought into again. and this time its music bridge between hearts young with joy and rich with hope
 Promise me-" the player said, when he had finished that may this way again and play for you. I'll get acquainted with the village preacher, l get him to introduce us-for Aunt Luella's sake he smiled {" Can you promise?"
 "I promise said Shirley smiling, and now good night" She held out her hand him and he took for "a brief second and held it in his own Then she started homeward in the dusk
 From far down the road strain of music waited back-a joyful, happy tune to which the words Of old nursery rhyme had been set: ]. Bobby ShaftoS gone to sea- Silver buckles on his knee;
 He'll come back and marry me,
 Little Bobby Shafto"