The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1911-08-25

The next day Jim was in Putis.
burg. One does not know what mn nl-
Turing quality. what hnzy cnchant.
ment. can llnger around even small
town until an absence In real vii.
dcrncss has given mans work now
flavor.
The people coming and going, the
traffic Of the stores, the dwellings
with small cultivated plots around
them, warmed Jim like fire lie had
been very lonely without knowing II.
In the afternoon he went down to the
depot to see the eastern train come In.
Here again absence played part
and restored the locomotive to Its
proper proportions Of miracle.
AS the engine glided In, shaking the
ground beneath 1t, 1t seemed impossi-
BILE to Jim that man really made It.
What! Bend those mighty rods Of
steel to his will? Twist and shape
those others? Cast those great driv-
crs? And after to drive the monster
with a hand?
| He drew back as the buzzing engine
passed him with something like awe.
Then the moving village came to q
stop, and the passengers sailed forth
to test their legs, wearied with long
| sitting.
There was humanity Of all shades,
from the naughty aristocrat Of the
Pullman to the peasant Of the emf
grant car.
Jim had sense Of pleasure In be-
holding well dressed folk again, vet
| 1t was merely an 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 II
was only an excursion.
People Of widely differing nationali-
ties occupied the emigrant car. Jim
wondered whether they would ever
become Americans according to his
ideas of Americans, u people in which
he had great pride and delight, and he
shook his head doubtfully as he took
them In.
Suddenly small boy darted out Of
car-an exceedingly small boy, thin
to emaciation, who made his way
through the crowd with that sprawl
ing, active. dancing manner peculiar
to thin small boys and spiders.
Jim half laughed at the little char
until he saw his face. Then he real
lied at glance that the matter wns
no laughing one for the boy.
At the same time he saw the shock
ing thinness OF the little face made
into VOLTS face by hunger, the min
gled horror and desperation Of th'
eyes. The big man would not hav'
believed child's face could express
emotions OF such magnitude He wu
, wonder stricken at the sight and fel
an instructive sympathy for the fugi
tive.
i It is a straxge thing how fortune
will sometimes guice with certaint!
when reason shows no path.
The boy came unerrlngly towart
Jim. Jim had sort Of prophetic In
sight that he would. Back behin'
him the urchin ran. Don't chez Civ
, me away, mister" he pleaded. Jir
tapped hand in answer.
. At the time he was leaning nga1nf
corner Of the station. A little bac
Of him was small lean.to shed. wheI
various truck was stored.
Out Of the car came q burly brute
man, who stared abmt him rapidly
Oats der OIL man." Whispered II
|, boy. III he gifts holt Of me theI
. won't be a hull bone left in me body.
n The man walked up to the col
I. ductor and spoke to him.
II "Agghr' said the boy. "Now dey
get me sure. Der Jig ~ up. Dey
have der hull gang ertop o. meg' Il
voice trailed OF into st1nngled y
g and then continued in a fierce whi
e per: "Agghl If had me- growth
o show 'em! ia show 'emy' And th
i burst Of hair raising profanity.
al The argument was growing loudit I
\ tween the man, who was urging son
thing, and tho conductor, who was I
= clining. Others were wa1king towa
4. the modsrats excitement.
1fI Jim whselsd and caught the boyt
.s1 bis arms. @Up you gow he said y
y tossed him On top Of thesshed. y
= low behind the WOOD there and q
are MI right"
Then came the conductors va
y "gay, my friend, Il you thipk I'm
"A ING 70 hold my train while you hS
\ up : Iost ia thare's qrmsth1ng IL ]