Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-12
By Rex Beach
and a crew had gone up the river e
ref out q raft ~ nfIes =
Copyright 100
~ Harper 4 Brofh0

and a crew had gon up h river to
get out a raft OF piles.
On the morning after the arrival e
the last ship Emerson and his COM
p~anions were treated TO q genuine Sur
prise. Cherry had come down TO
site as usual-she could not let . day
go by without Visiting the ~place-and
Clyde. after a tardy breakfast, had
just come ashore. They were watching
Big George direct the launching OK a
scow, when all Of q sudden they heard
a familiar vofcS behind Them .
cheerfully:
Hello, white folks, Hero we are. all
together again"
They turned TO behold a ~vilIanous-
looking man beaming benignly upon
them. He was dirty, his clothes weEe
In rags, and through q rfotous hristle
Of beard that hid his thin features a
NANCY patch showed on either cheek
II was undeniably "F1ngerless" Fraser,
but how changed, how altered from
that radiant flower of Incidence they
had known! He was psliid, emaciated.
and ~bedraggled; his attitude showed
hunger and abuse, and his bony joints
seemed about to pierce through their
6NA0A1a Ii AZ AAOr
speechless with anlazement. he made
his Identification complete by protrud-
ing his tongue from the corner Of his
mouth II grsvely closing one eye IN
a wink of exceeding wisdom.
"Fraseri" they cried in chorus, then
fell upon him noisiIy, shaking his
griny hands Shaping his back until
he coughed weakly. Summoned BY
their shouts Big George broke IN upon
the incoherent greeting. and at sight
OF his late comrade began to laugh
hoarsely.
"Glad to see you, old mani" he cried.
but how did you get here?"
Fraser drew himself up with injured
dignity, then spoke IN dramatic ac-
cents. 81 worked my way" He
showed the whites OF his eyes, tragi-
cally.
you look like you'd walked in from
Kansas George declared.
Yes. sir. 1 worked Net
How? Where"
"on the bloody wind -jamner" He
stretched a long arm toward the lar
Dor in a theatrical gesture.
But the police?" queried Boyd.
"oh, ! squared them easy. It's you
they want. Yes, sir. I worked" Again
he scanned their faces a~nxiously. I'm
q scullery-maid."
What"
That's what I said. I've rustled gar
bage-cans till the smell of food gives
me a cold sweat I'm as hungry as q
starving Cuban. and yet the sight of a
knife and fork turns my stomach" He
wheeled suddenly upon Alton Clyde,
whose burst of shrill laughter offended
him. Don't cry. Your sympathy un-
mans me-"
Tell us about IT, urged Cherry.
What's the use?" he demanded, with
a glare at Clyde. That bone-head
wouldn't understand"
GO ahead" Boyd seconded, with
twitching lips. You look as II you
had worked, and worked hard"
Hard? I'm the only man in the
world who knows what hard work Isl"
Start at the beginning-when you
were arrested"
We'll. l didn't care nothing about
the sneeze. he took up the tale, for I
figure it out that they can't slough me
without clearing you, so 1 never take no
sleepins powders. and, sure enough.
about third drink-time the bulls spring
me. and I screw down the main stem
to the drink and get Jerry to YOUR
fade-
Tell it straight, interrupted Cherry
"9ThPy don't understand IL