The Detroit times., 1912-10-24

Wouiu nate 10 DC y tramp, paut-
cd Billy as she reached the other sidt
and paused a moment for breath. II
would get SO cross II | were hungry
and knew I couldn't get anything To
eat for long time" =
The Watermelon flushed hotly, but
sne was not looking, and when he
spoke he spoke carelessly enough.
"You would get used to It." said he.
you can get used to anything. FSh-
er used TO say that the idea OF hell
for all eternity was an absurdity--
you were sure to get useu to II and
then II wouldn't count any more as a
punishment"
Il suppose that's So" agreed Billy.
But how do you know? You weren't
ever a tramp, we're you, Jerryf"
"A tramp. kid, is the only man In
America today. besides the million
aire, who is his own master. Do you
know that"
II would kind of hate that sort Of
MASTER" said Billy.
"A tramp never has to worry about
rent"
Il know, but should think the
house might be worth the worry"
The Watermelon changed the sub
ject.
A grim. elderly woman, thin and
I.work-worn before her time, listened
to their troubles In the faded. wealth
er.gray farmhouse. Her man, she ex-
plained, was out In the fields with the
horses, but when he returned, she
would send him around and he would
tow the cur In for them. She never
took boarders. The house was a
sight, but II they didn't mind, she did
not and they could have two rooms.
She wrapped some bread, fruit and
cookies up for them in newspapers,
and they started back to wait with
the others by the machine until the
farmer came.
The still hush OF evening was over
everything, creeping with the length
ming shadows across the pasture. A
lock OF turkeys was making noisy
preparations for bed in some trees
near by. The frogs had begun to
9roak and once in a while a whip
)oorwill called from the woods. In
IN adjoining bayfield,. hurrying to get
ermelon saw the farmer. A pair OF
'orry looking nags dropped drearily,
,ttached to the cart with its high,
haky load of new-mown hay.
'Pm going to speak to him my
elf,'' said the Watermelon, stopping.
'It will save time. You wait here, 1
Won't be long"
Give me the food.' said Billy. u
will take I. to the others. Poor
things, they must be starving"
Il won't be long" objected the Wa.
termelon. You can't carry 1t alone"
Indeed, can protested Billy.
The Watermelon laughed down at
her. "You couldn't get up the other
side Of the crossing" he teased.
"A girl" said Billy sagely, rs lot
moro capable when she Is Sfone than
when she is with man.
She took the ungainly bundle and
he watched her hurry away across
the fields, slim and graceful, dainty
and sweet, while he was--a tramp!
His eyes dark-ned with pain and he
throw one hand out after the small
figure I'm a gesture that was full OF
mingled longing and hopelessness.
Billy. Billy" he whispered. then
turned from the thoughts which were
coming thick and fast, and started
for the distant field and the farmer.
The farmer listened with blunt stu
pidity, hot and tired and cross. Yes,
he would come for the car as soon as
he could, but the hay had to be got
In fret. II wae late now. That train
whistle you could hear was the seven
o'clock express. His horses were
tired. too, but, OF course, II he were
paid. why that made a difference. He
would be around as soon as he could
get his load in. II was the last load,
anyway.
The watermelon turned and far In
the distance, echoing and reechoing
through the hills, he heard again the
scream OF the approaching train.
BILLY will be across the tracks by
this time" he thought. Il will have
to wait for 1t to pass. Glad II ain't
freight"
He hurried moodily through the
field. His position had become intol-
erable and vet he could find no chance
TO get away without revealing his
identity, and to do that now would
do no good. They could not reach the
railroad anv sooner than they were
tTy1nR 10. f1e iOuktu tuC
that would end IL all and yet dreamed
the barrenness OF the future without
BILLY.
AS he approached the cut, he saw
rhe smoke Of the train rising above
the bushes, an express, tearing It's
way through the evening calm like
some terrible passion soaring the
soul. The Watermelon stepped to the
edge Of the cut and glanced carelessly
downward.
There was Billy on the track, strug-
Cling to free herself from the rail-
which held one small foot. Around
the bend came the huge engine with
is headlight already lit for the wild
night run.
The next two minntes were ever az
ter a blank to the Watermelon. He
was in the cut, beside the white-faced.
struggling girl almost simultaneously
with seeing her As he shot down the
bank, he felt for and drew his knife.
The engineer had seen them and the
engine screamed a wsTning. while the
emergency brakes shrieked as they
clipped, grinding on the rails. On his
knees, with one slash, the Watermel-
on cut the lacings which, becoming
knotted. had held her prisoner, then
with one and the same move. he had
regained his feet and forced her fat
against the bank, az the train whirled
by In a cloud OF dust and cinders,