The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-03-14
CHAPTER |.
KNIGHT ERRANT.

YN the heart OF the foothills, In
basin where two rivers meet to
form mighty third. lies the Steel
City TO see II you must journey
by night along It's rivers. whose vel
low, placid waters. rejecting the lights
of hundred steamers. seem field OF
gold incrustpd with diamonds. ruDies
and emeralds. Mile after mile you
pass by mills. mills. mills. nothing but
mllls-maeniiicpnt monuments 10 the
inventive aud adaptive genius of man
Thousands of black faced, muscular
Titans rush hither and thither. swift.
methodical. earnest. single purposed.
But even this powerful army, levied
from the worlds strongest, Is pygmy'
like beside the marvellous mechanism
which works. seemingly. Of its own
will, unerring. unfaltering unceasing.
irresis8 ble Rivers OF molten metal
flow beneath your gaze. Massive in
gots of white hot iron. beyond the
strength of men TO lift. swing easily
on the cranes from cast to car Fiery
serpents Of steel writhe and plunge as
though obsessed by the spirit of hell
that broods over the smithy of the
world. This Is the Steel City.
He was standing at the window in
one of the city's bleakest tenements. a
ragged. dirty faced boy. In the years
he remembered Of his ten he had
known no other surroundings or
what went before he knew was to
know-nothing. From without came
the sound OF shutting. uncertain foot
steps He turned IN an attitude OF sui
len expectancy.
III he licks me again I'll run away"
he muttered The faded drudge who
shared The room with him nodded
hopelessly.
The door opened and the relic Of
what had once been u man entered
"My felish'tashuns, ghentle partner r
my JhOysh an shorrOwsh." he ad.
dressed the woman IN drunken irony
"Whave y got T. eatY"
"Nothing"
"An' why not. faithful Pencrpe? ri
have you know I'm hungry, Woman,
I'm hungry. Why notT
mo money" answered the woman
listlessly, bopelessy,
No money; That remnsh me.
Where'sh that BobT Oh. there y'are, y
little devil You got ny money!
How'd I get any money!" demand
ed the boy sullenly
BEG it-shteal it-it'sh all one tine"
Amt a begGar, amt tsief,' said
the boy doggedly.
In sudden unexpected movement
the drunken man lurched toward the
boy and with one hand seized him by
the collar ard with the other picked
up a stout stick. For time Bob sub
mitted TO the beating in stole silence,
horrible IN such mite Of humanity,
deyOting his energies to the unsuc'
cessful effort TO dodge the descending
stick until blow of unusual force
fell upon his shoulder. Then his dirty
face was distorted with pain and hate
His clinched lips parted In the shril
scream of n wounded tiger cub. Quick
as a thought he seized The hand that
grasped the stick and buried his teett
In the flesh until they met the bone
Uttering howl. the drunken brut'
dropped TO the door, rolling in agony
The boy darted through the door, pull
ed up a loose board in the hall ant
drew out the sum total of his world.
wealth-a single dime. Then his fligh
was resumed
He did not cease running until tn
tumbledOwn tenement district was IA
behind him. Then he set his face "a
ward the downtown business section.
A portly gentleman OF good natures
aspect came toward him. The bo,
boldly accosted him.
Say. mister, where can ! buy som
papers?"
'"I've no money for you" answere
the gentleman impatient!y.
Don't want any money. Got all
want" the boy said sturdily.
The gentleman laughed, That's NOR
than have. my youthful Croesu'