Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-06-03

Bannard's eyes had dropped thought
fully upon it as he am out Of the
door at the top Of the street steps
and paused to decide what to try
next. Hundreds OF hands, thousands.
yees. e of thousands Of hands, must
have touched that iron rail, going up
or down.
Thousands OF other job-hunters, just
like himself. the young fellow thought,
with that heavy feeling under his ribs
which people call sinking Of the heart
thousands Of other had come here
and gone away again. all looking for
the chance to earn a living. most of
them departing disappointed, as he
was departing. The clerk inside had
told him coldly that they could not
place a quarter part of their appli-
cants, an unusually frank statement.
So 1t was a sort Of Bridge Of Signs,
this little stairway with the iron hand
rail, with the last depository for a
fellows vain hopes at the top end
of it..
He looked out at the passing crowd.
It was made up of men mostly, young
and old men, passing, passing, pass
ing below him. They were all bust
ness and professional men. They had
work, every one of them, from that
big, f~ine-looking fellow with the silk
hat just alighting from the motor by
the curb, who evidently was a person
of consequence in the bank across the
way, to the little chap with the t1ashy
tie and the green fedora VINO was just
coming out of the haberdasher's next
door, on his gleeful way to the lunch
counter.
1t was the twelfth day since he had
first stepped into the Chicago streets,
and they had been the most miserable
twelve days of his life. 1t would have
been bad enough to be homeslck for
the quiet Michigan home if he had
been sehind somebody's counter or at
somebody's office desk where he could
carr his way. 1t was tough" as he
whispered under his breath. to be
homesick "on nothing a week"
1t was the luncheon hour-at least,
1t seemed to be for most OF these men.
He had been trying not to think about
food for himself. Indeed, it had be-
come a serious question with him
whether he could afford such a luxury
at all to-day. He fingered one last
small bill in his pocket. and remem-
bered that his roon rent would be
due again on Monday-rOom rent for
another week in advance. This was
Friday. eff the folks at home knew
he thought, wouldn't l get fed up
this noon!"
" Somebody had come out of the door
behind him and was standing at his
side. Something in the quiet pause
of the other made Hugh look up
quickly. He looked into a pair of
pleasant, friendly grey yes that were
regarding him with interest through
the glasses hat covered them.
well, did you get a job?'
The man was not young. He was
tall and rather slender. erect, out with
the ooh Of years upon him. His hair
was white. He was sm~ooth-shaven ex-
cept for a grey mustache and a small
goatee, which somehow at once sug-
gested the old soldier to the boy.
ooh, no, I didn't" Hugh said,
lightly.
Neither did t. said the man.
care you looking, too?" Hugh asked.
His eyes went over the other again
involuntarity. There was something
hne about the man. His face and his
hands, as Hugh saw them now. had
the peculiar silvered look that old
peoples faces and hands show some
times, as If the skin were turning a
satin-grey, too, like the hair. He was
so straight, so quiet. so self-con-
tanned. and yet the n of his eyes
were wrinkling with a smile that
opened his lips also in a frank sort of
c~omradeship. go
"Oh, yes" he answered. 1--WE been
looking quite a while. Nobody seems
to want an old man"
He laughed a little, and Hugh vas
forgetful for an instant Of his own
troubles.
They don't seem to want boys.
either" he said, slowly. I've been
standing here watching all these men
go by. and wondering why they all
have Jobs. They're like you and me,
aren't they?" .
Many of them are like you, said
the old man. Not many like me-"
Hugh felt a little choke coming into
his throat. "A good many OF Sem
must know of other jobs tina. would
do for both of U.S. he went on. has
lily. IF we could only let them know
that we need iobs-let 'em all know.
I feel like shouting 1t out at them
now. from the steps here, and waving
my arm and telling them that l can
work., too-that we al work"
The older man was the first to
move. Well" he said. II must be
going on. Well find a job all right.
Keep a stiff upper lip" Suddenly he
held out his hand. Here's luck" he
said. the genial smile coming out
again clear.
Here's luck to you" said Hugh.
seizing the extended hand with boyish
heartiness.
A moment later they had separated
IN the crowd, Hugh walking slowly
toward the corner OF the street. the
other taking the opposite direction.
The boy could still feel the touch Of
the mans hand on his. Such cour-
ass! II hs bad only been in . post
~ t3A Jl.
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