The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-05

grim, dark and closed tight N1lnly
we tried every door All were locked.
There was no sign OF the manager from
whom VIC had expected such an eager
welcome, There was not even watch
man on the premises.
| OF course VIC were bitterly disap-
pointed But were not frightened. and
| know we did not cry We hadn't
money enough left TO pay our way back
to San Francisco by train, but we could
| pay for our room, supper and break
fast. and, as we had come by rail IN
less than two hours. we thought in our
innocence that VIC easily could walk
back next day. ! believe the distance
Is iorty or fifty miles
Children either are afraid of every
thing or of nothing We were of the
latter kind So the next morning we
paid our hotel bill and with the little
money VIC had left bought some fruit
and sandwiches TO take along for lunch
con, and started to walk back to San
Francisco. Not knowing anything about
the way, and not caring TO ask, because
We did not want TO appear what we were
two runaway girls-wc chose the road
bed OF the railway as the most direct
route and the surcSt We were not
aware that it also was the favoritc route
for hoodlumS. who would steal a ride
on j local freight until discovered and
put off. and then tramp the roadbed
until the chance TO steal another ride
offered. But the same kind fate that
thus far had watched over us. kept us
from finding out what hoodlum at his
worst might be.
We had not walked very far out of
San Jose when VIC saw man coming
along the track toward us. He was Il
| Tough-looking individual, in fact a hood
lum, but not quite rs ragged as the
average tramp, probably because little
younger, for | suppose that even in
trampdom youth still takes some pride
in appearances. Two things about him
rcaSsurcd US i'll spite of his rough cx-
terror When he spoke to US, there was
4 note in his voice that bespoke at
least the remnant OF gcntility-a touch
of Difference TO our sex, | now think it
was and he had dog, an Irish terrier,
that greeted us with a friendly wag.
There never is, | think. any need OF
being afraid OF man with friendly
dog. for a dog reflects the character OF
the master. The man asked us where
we were going, and listened with an
| dlluNGO SIlIC WHICH VIC lOlI tlllll VIC
were walking 10 San Francisco and cx-
pected TO reach il in the afternoon, He
said walking on the track was dangerous
and he would show us a road So he
took us to one OF the pretty red clay
of the sloplng hills that form: many OF
them clad with vineyards, the Santa
Clara valley. He had been walking
toward San Jose, but now he turned
and walked along with us. ] realize
now that he saw VIC were rnaways and
needed protection. even If VIC didn I
know it For rough characters passed
US even on the road
Really he was delightful. He chatted
with us in an easy manner and told
lis stories. Sometimes, too, VIC would
run ahead and frolic with the dog
Babe his master called him-but after
a while We began to feel the fatigue
of walking and were content to have
Babe" trot along beside us About
that time VIC came to one of the little
streams that crossed the road. and the
man suggested that We might want 10
rest We said we would like to eat.
too, and we sat down and laid out our
fruit and sandwiches on the paper they
had been wrapped in Babe prickcd
up his cars and scrutinized us and
waggcd his tail slowly and respectfully,
as il not wanting 10 appear too eager.
| am happy to say that the idea of Just
gobbling up what we had bought with
out offering any of it to the man and the
dog never occurred to us. We divided
the commiSsary supplies into four parts
and the man looked on approvingly.
suppose he was glad that, although we
were a couple OF little fools, we were
on the level
How would some nice fresh milk
| go with this outfit he asked.
We looked ruefully at each other
We had not bought any milk, we had
no more money. and VIC told HIM so
| That's all right he said; Babe
will get some for us"
"'Babe'" VIC exclaimed with one
voice.