Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-11-10
a SINGULAR
VEHICLE
By ELlNoR STEWART CATION
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

A seedy man, out at the elbows and
looking as though he had slept the
night in the park, stopped gentleman
on the sidewalk and said:
"My friend, you haven't seen fam
fly consistin' Of woman and four
small children-two boys and two girls.
the girls lookin' like me and the boys
like their mother-go ridin' by here to-
day in two story frame house paint
ed yaller7"
Excuse me. my friend. I'm in hur-
~"
The wayfarer passed on, leaving the
seedy man standing looking after him
as though he felt very much hurt.
Leaning up against tree box, he
waited for another person to question.
A lady came along, and the man, pull
ing the rim of his hat, accosted her.
BEG your pardon, ma'am. Have you
seen anything of poor woman with
four children enjoyin' themselves on an
afternoon ride in a yaller house on
wheels down this here street,"
The lady looked sorrowfully at the
man, took out her portemonnaie, picked
out silver coin to the value of 10
cents. gave it to him and walked on.
He looked at the retreating lady, then
down at the coin in his hand, and
didn't seem to understand.
The next person to whom he ap-
Piled was benevolent look lg gen
tleman with mutton chop whiskers and
spectacles.
"I'm lookin'," said the seedy man,
"for family and stopped short.
"Well, my good man, tell me about
what family you're looking for"
"I've tole that to two pussons al
ready, and they don't seem to know
what I'm talkin' about. thort I'd
just call 'em family to you, SOS
wouldn't mix you up, and say nothin'
about the rest Of it,
"But how can help you to become
reunited to this family without your
telling me more about them?"
"Well, If you're sure you'll under
! stand, I'm lookin' for 'em to ride by
, here about this time in yaller house
! enjoyin' theirselves''-
"1n a yellow house?"
/ eyes, two story, single roof"
"My good man." said the other after
contemplating him thoughtfully fol
, some time, "tell me where you live
I'm going to take you home"
t "My residence is anywhere from u
| Union street to no number at all al
a present, Hopkins street."
!. "Poor fellow" sighed the benevo
lent man.
II tole you you wouldn't understand
me. None o. the others did. WHAT
the use o my tellin' people all abou
1t? They only think I'm gone daft"
He looked very much troubled. TAX
ing out his bandanna handkerchief, b
blew his nose generously.
"Come with me-" said the benevo
lent man coaxingly.
i. II don't want to go anywheres wit
nobody. l just want to catch my wit
Ia and children as they go by and enjo
y the rest O. the ride with EN-"
r II think can take you where you
= learn all about it. Come"
"Where you goin' to take meY
. "Oh. I'll take you v ne you'll b
cared for.''
= Il don't want to be cared for.
= want to know whether my family ha
: gone past. There's a puff of smok
blowin' around the corner now.
:. shouldn't wonder If it's themv
u II see. They're coming in an autome
Il bile. You confused It with a yello'
e house."
II didn't do no such thing. Th
r smoke I'm talkin' about comes out ,
the chimbly.''
The gentleman assumed an author
a tative tone. Nov, my man, eithe
walk with me to a police station Q
It III call policeman and have 70
taken there by force. You're off you
head. l don't know whether you ar
IS dangerous lunatic or not, but 70
J. need to be shut up, If not for the pull
lie good, for your own"
II knowed it," said the man luigi
!. briously. II knowed II I tole you tn
II hull thing I'd get myself into trouble.
Twill you comer
o "Who are you anyways?"
y "pm the president Of the Society Q
d General Charities. Now you kno1
a that intend you no harm. wish t
d help you"
:. But I don't need no help. There
There's another puff O. smoke l reel
!. on they'll be turnin' the corner purt
soon. viii you wait few minutes
T. If they don't come along just as sal
they would I'll so with you"
4 "Instead of waiting I'll 60 with yor
a II you are satisfied the smoke you Sc
= comes from another cause than wha
!, you suppose, perhaps you will 60 wit
t. me-"
"Reckon I'll risk it."
- They walked down the street to tn
= one where they saw the smoke ani
!, turning into it, saw windlass pulle
y around by horse. Ropes led from
. to two story yellow house about 10
. feet away. which was being moved i
. the middle of the street.
"There she are!' exclaimed til
:, seedy man. "Come on. I'll show 70
: the family
= The gentleman hesitated. Then, wit
= an expression of disgruntlement, h
;, was about to go on his way when b
:. changed his mind and followed tn
- other. Sitting in window darnin
stockings was woman. while childrel
were running about.
"Hello, Mol!' said the seedy man.
"Hello, joint" said the woman.