Putnam patriot., 1911-07-28

burg. One does not know what an al- turing quality whpt a hay enchant- ment. can finger ground even a small town until an absence in real will derness has given mans work new flavor
 The people coming and going. the traffic of The stores. the dwellings with small cultivated plots around them. warmed Jim ike a fire. He had been very lonely without knowing it. In The afternoon he went down to the depot 10 see the eastern train come in. Here again absence played part and restored the locomotive 10 It's proper proportions of miracle
 Az the engine glided in. shaking the ground beneath il. II seemed impossi- ble 10 Jim that man really made it What Bend those mighty rods of steel to hrs will; Twist and shape those others? Cast those great driv- CTS? And after 10 drive the monster with q hand?
 He drew hack as the huzzing engine passed him with something like uwe Tben the moving village came 10 q stop. and the passengers saltied forth 10 test their legs. wearied with bong sitting
 There WIS humanity of all shades from the naughty aristocrat of the Pullman 10 the peasant of the emi- grant ear
 Jim had sense of pleasure in be. holding well dressed folk again. yet it was merely m aesthetic pleasure for he found when he began to specu- late on the possibilities of the throng before him that he was more inter ested in those whose all was staked on the trip than in those to whom it was only an excursion.
 People of widely differing natlonali- ties occupied the emigrant car Jim wondered whether they would ever become Americans according 10 his ideas of Americans. q people in which he had great pride and delight. and he shook his head doubtfuly as he took them in
 Suddenly small boy darted out of a car-an exceedingly small boy, thin 10 cancellation. who mnde his way through the crowd with that sprawl ing. active. dancing manner peculiar 10 thin small boys and spiders.
 Jim half laughed al the little chap until he saw his face. Then he real ized at a glance that the matter was no laughing one for the boy.
 At the same time he saw the shock ing thinness of the little face made into wofs face by hunger. the min gled horror and desperation of the eyes. The big man would not have believed chl'ds face could express emotions of such magnitude. He was wonder stricken at the sight and felt an instinctive sympathy for the fugi' tive.
 IL is strange thing how fortune win sometimes guide with certainty when reason shows no path.
 The boy came unerringly toward Tim. Jim had sort of prophetic in sight that he would. Back behind him the urchin ran. Don't cher give me away, mister" he pleaded Jim Tapped a hand fin answer.
 All tne tltltt bt NAN i'hiAh+ hEhf'N' a corner of the station. A little back of him wns a small lean-to she'd where various truck was stored.
 Out of the ear came a brrly brute oi man. who stared about him rapidly. "Dat's der ol' man" whispered tho boy. 'If he gifts holt of me there won't be bull bone left fin me body" The man walked up to the con 1uetor and spoke to him
 "Agghr' snid the boy "Now deyl set me sure. Der Jig is up. pey'l have der hull gang ertop O men th' voice trailed off into a strangled sol and then continued in a fierce whis per "Aegh. If had me growth IC show 'emi I'd show 'emf And ther a burst of hair raising profanity.
 The argument was growing loud be tween the man, who was urging some shing. and the conductor, who was de slining. Others were walking toward the moderate excitement.
 Jim wheeled and caught the boy 1T his arms. "Cp you gow he said ant tossed him on top of the shed. "Ih low behind the wood there and yo' are all right"
 Then came the conductors voice -Say, my friend. if you think I'm go ang to hold my train while you hun up lost kid there's something in y0 that don't work right. Why dldn yoa take care of him while you ha him? Now you've got just four mir utes by the watch. Either hustl around and hunt or drop or the trat and hunt Whats thatt Now, don you give me any slack. you hiac nluzzted targ5er or III have the foa of God thrown iute yeu too Quiei Get out of here now. Get out of m wayF
 The man slouched of and made nasty search around the station. woman's face-scarcely an mproy' Suent on the man's-leancd out of th ear window and jeered at the hunte who cursed her back savagely.
 The man walked up to Jim. "Sa, did yer see kid go by here, mistery
 With a shrug of hts shoulders, Jil asked him that question in Mir 0liel doris French method about the pin and green overcoat of the shoemaker nvife's sister.
 The man showered low abuse c what he supposed was a foreigner LII til Jim's ribs rose with the desire Kill him
 ~Ayr. wot are yer wastin' time VI