The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-15

Ronald, With a laughing Here you
are" tossed him half crown; and
Smithers. pretending to throw it in
to a purse, passed it cleyerly up
his sleeve. then offered 10 restore
1t to its owner; but Ronald shook
his head
oh, keep it," he SAIL; you've
earned it fairly. You do it we'll
That's what the police said; too
well" observed Mr. Smithers. touch
ing his cap. Thank you sir lie
looked at the coin attectionately.
That's the first 'arf-crown I've seen
for precious long time. Id ave II
framed if | could afford it. Where
was /? Oh, ah, After the cheap
jack business came To sudden
end, went into the coster business;
but my voice wasn't strong enough
for II. People don't believe yer
things is any good unless YOU can
uOHeI lOuu tuOuSH W h'"''H ''H'
and it's my belief that most Of the
time the women is eNasperated into
buyin', Just to stop yer row for "A
minute. When my voice broke down
/ took on a lamplghter's Job; but
I'm poor shot, and allus poled
;he stick through the glass 50 |
chucked il aad engaged myself to an
undertaken as mue-One of them
coves as stands afore the door when
there's funeral, with a sash round
is at and sticl, with a bit o.
Grape on top of it in Is and; but
got the sack afore the week was
out; the guE'nor said as | was too
cheerful lookin nough to make the
corpse rise up and Taught"
What made you 80 into the coun-
try?' asked Ronald.
We'll, | card a good deal about
'goin back to the land, sir said
Smthers, with cheerful gravity; and
so | thought I'd give it try, but
it seems as 'ow you couldn't get
back to a thing you'd never been at,
and, if you try it on, you'll make
mess of it. Did you ever notice
what a slippery thing cabbidge is,
sir?"
Cant say I have" replied Ron.
aid.
Nor more did |, sir, till | fell
off the top OF wagon!load OF EN-.
Seemed to me, while was lyin' in
the 'osp.tal, that the sooner | got
back from the land, the better; so |
set off to pad the hoof to Lunnon,
and, seem thai they wanted a little
'elp at the sidings, | offered my
valuable assistance; and ere | am.
as the bhurglar said when he fell
through the skylight into tea
party"
You seem to have retained your
good spirits through all your trou'
bles." Ronald observed appreciative'
ly.
Smithers emitted queer little
laugh from the corner of his lips
which was not occupied with the
Guilty.
whats the good of repining?' as
the song says" he responded. Some
;hing II turn up some day or toher.
Hullo, ere we are"
The train stopped noisily; and
Ronald, slipping a tip into the
guards hand, got out on the EN-
bankment. SmitheIs followed him,
and Ronald looked round hesitat-
ingly, for the place was new to
MIN.
(Which way might you be goin',
sir?" asked Smithers.
Up West" replied Ronald. Which
way are you?"
Smithers looked about him and
then up at the sky vaguely.
I'D give a whole penny if some
| bodqy would tell me-" he said, with
d kind of dogged cheerfulness.
There being no offers, / may as
well show you the way out OF this
rum place. | know it well enough;
for I've often slept inside one OF
the empty wagons | couldn't get
one with cover to it,
Ronald followed his strange guide
as he threaded his way across the
! lines. amongst innumerable trucks,
UP narrow and squalid streets, and
so into a busy and grimy thorough
fare lined with warehouses and Of
fices.
Ere you are" said Smithers;
you'u be able to git keb ere l
wish you good afternoon, sir.
Ronald took a sovereign out OF