Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-02

shall in the service of Uncle Sam. and
the sultry heat OF a June afternoon
In Arizona lay heavily upon the land
On the previous night we had both
been present at an entertainment OF a
social kline that was somewhat un-
usual IN Tucson. inasmuch as one OF
the principal features had been the
address delivered by a lecturer from
Boston, who had seen NJ to dwell upon
the evils OF intemperance and indulge
In hearty denunclation OF King Bar
leycorn and his followers.
1T wasn't bad talk" responded
nnally, but l imagine he went above
the heads OF his audience somewhat
by dropping into poetry.
Maybe you're right" returned
Eames, but TE4 not thinking about the
other folks. A college education
hasn't done much for me in one sense.
but all re same I was glad to hear
--isSat chap talk last night. lie quoted
a couple OF lines from Tennyson that
made me think some. tell you. DO
you remember when he said:
A man may rise on stepping stones
or his dead self TO higher things?'"
! nodded assent and Eames con-
tinued: Well. Reno. he told the truth
there. Years ago. when was young
fellow. there wasn't a more worthless
cur stranded in the west than yours
truly. I'm not saying that I'm so
much now. but the Lord knows I'm
prince compared to what / used 70 be.
And it's all owing 20 one man that's
dead and gone long ago. II you want
to listen. I'll tell you all about IT,"
Consequently il was with feelings
OF more than ordinary interest that /
leaned back in my chair and mo-
toned TO my companion to 20 ahead.
In substance the tale that he narrat.
ed ran as follows:
On a certain summer afternoon.
when not a single cloud showed itself
In the expanse OF blue sky. a train
was passing. at the moderate speed
betting severe grades, over a little
narrow-gauge road and literally climb
Ing into the recesses of the Sierra
Aadre. 1t had glided over the plains
at the base OF the mountains. threaded
Its way among the foothills. traversed
some deep canyons and chung to mar
row shelves cut on the side OF the
rocky barrier. Some of the passen-
gers In the chair car to whom the
Journey was no novelty, were reading
or doing; others. taking IL for the
nrst time, gazed delightedly at the
ever-changing scenes before their eyes.
Then the sun sank behind the great
range. the darkness came on epace,
1T
the window and looked at her father,
who sat on the opposite side of the
car in conversation with a fellow
traveller. This latter individual had
derry red hair and a cropped mus
tache; his costume consisted OF q
gray flannel shirt, somewhat the
worse for wear aud trousers OF dubi-
Gus hue, and he was innocent of any
ambition in the direction OF white
linen. Mr. Games was a man OF good
sense and intelligence. whose vaca-
tons were few. and he had started on
his western trip with the avowed In
tention OF making the most OF his
time in the study of the new phases
of human nature which he was likely
TO encounter. As his eyes met his
daughters he leaned towards her with
q smile.
my dear" he said. Il want to pre-
sent a fellow-passenger. the mayor OF
Wolf City. the place where our days
Journey will end. and which learn
from him 20 be an important town,
growing and pushing booming to
use the phrase OF the country. He
has given me much needed Informs-
ton"
Very soon, however. the young girl,
who was quite accustomed to and
doubtless enjoyed such embarrassed
homage to her charms. put him at
his ease with few pleasant words.
She had questions 20 ask which he
wac able to answer freely, and he was
soon talking without restraint
yes, miss" said he. your father
let on that he had come all the way
from the east to see your brother and
his ranch. allow I've met hiu, for