The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-02-15
A Nights Comradeship

TIE WAS in city of 100000 souls,
II but he knew none OF them. tie
uiu not know the name OF a street;
there was not one light, however feeble,
among all the lights of the town that
shone for him. Indeed, he was not
sure that in oil the world light was
lii with thought of him. Perhaps-it
might be, remotely and indefinitely
that certain distant, feeble CLEAN in
{. town a thousand miles away lit with
some faint of his return. But, after all,
il was improbable. He had done moth
ing to deserve atfectionate memory. lie
had been ungrateful to those who had
raised him, selfish and bitter to the
girl who might have loved him, scorn-
full of old friends and neighbors. and
bent upon his own obstinate, willful
way. The result was step downward
"a step which precipitated! Then
the punishment-brief but shameful
and now liberty again and no knowl-
edge OF what to do with it.
The icy rain that fell, the wind that
slapped his face with clammy and in
sulting hands, the cruel hardness OF
the paved streets, the impregnable look
of the city walls appalled, him. In spite
of his arrogant putting down OF the
thought, he could not but remember
the village, which he had held in such
contempt, but where, once, he would
have had a welcome from every man
and woman, boy and girl, dog and
horse. 1t was as much lost to him
now, that cordiality and friendliness.
as if those who had offered it were
people of another globe. Except al
waysEbut, no, he would not trust him
self to think of that one possible ex-
ception, OF that one light which burned,
perhaps, for him.
He did not know where to go. He
had horror OF going to any place that
might be inhabited by such dark spirits
az those he had just left in their cap
tivity. He had had enough OF dark
ness. Yet where else could he go? He
must be careful with the few dollars
that were in his pocket. They were
hateful dollars-the dole of the state
to its offending child. He had nc
sooner assured himself of the need fol-
the scrupulous guarding OF this treas
ure than he was seized with passion
ate impulse to cast it from him in
the gutter. The money used should
come to his hands fresh from toll ant
liberty! But saner thought impelled
him not only to retain the money, but
to place it in a small pocket in hi'
J flannel shirt under his vest.
He was growing cold and sleepy. Tht
; thoughts that had beaten in his brain
wild, tiger thoughts that fretted and
paced and would not lie quiet-hat
; worn him out. The need for rest wal
J upon him imperatively. He looked
!, about him for some corner in which
he could creep for short time, ant
he saw by his side what at first APP
peared to be the evil. yawning mouth
, Of the night, but which proved, upol
closer examination, to be q larg'
, burned building. ice-coated, grimy
desolate. Hardly realizing the poor
ness OF his choice, he turned in herr
, and CROPPED about amid the debris
wondering il he could not find SOM
. place out of the wind where he coult
spend the night.
The place was far from being I
} complete ruin. as he soon saw, and h
: stumbled finally against flight o
stairs. They were intact, and b.
climbed them cautiously and cam
upon great wareroom, stripped of al
. that had once occupied it, but in
state OF only partial ruin. At the en-
OF this great room he discovered
small apartment which had evidentf
! been used for an Office. The glow fror
, a neighboring arc light showed hir
E that the room was unframed. He en-
. tered and looked about him. An oil
: fireplace with hideous notified iro
t mantel was at one side. Two commo
$ chairs remained, and there was shad
, al the window. William Rhoda took
z upon himself to laugh. Actually, tn
y place seemed homelike. compared wit
{ those relentless streets.
e He had an idea-a bold one. b
/. crept down among the debris and gait
r cred an armful Of half-burned woo'
s. and with this he returned to the littl
= room. Then he drew the shade. close
the door, and proceeded to light nil
n fire. 1t was incredible-the comfol
Of it! He warmed himself before i
y chuckling with delight.
! 1T is really gorgeous" said he aiou'
' "Aip't it?" responded a voice. Rhod
> was on his feet like cat and facing tt