The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-11-15
The Mascot--continued

to the fork in the trail Jim tried to
thank his friend, who knocked his hat
over his eyes, and said: Jaw. write it
down when you've got more time.
Never see a Teller in my life l cot
toned to more'n sou. Jim. First
thought you was too smooth for my
kind of travelling, but later l see it
was only the grain of the wood. l
believe in my friends. do. Here we
go hopping around this little world
for a small time. and then that's done.
S'pose you amt got any real friends
for the trip? Rotten. l say You go
ahead and rip Plattsburg up the back.
Wisht l could be there with you.
long. old man! Hike! You beggarw
the buckskin pony was off with
snort and splashing of gravel as the
irons touched his sides. and Bud van
ished down the road without look
behind him.
The next day Jim was in Platts-
burg. One does not know what an al
Turing quality. what hazy enchant-
ment. can linger around even a small
town until an absence in a real will
derness has given mans work a new
flavor.
The people coming and going, the
traffic Of the stores. the dwellings
with small cultivated plots around
them. warmed Jim like fire. He had
been very lonely without knowing it.
In the afternoon he went down to the
dnnnf RI tho % Ct train n
Here again absence played part
and restored the locomotive to its
proper proportions Of miracle.
AS the engine glided in. shaking the
ground beneath it. it 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-
ers? 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
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 a sense Of pleasure in be-
holding we'll dressed folk again. yet
it 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 it
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. people in which
he had great pride and delight, and he
shook his head doubtfully as he took
them in.
Suddenly a small boy darted out Of
car-an exceedingly small boy. thin
to emaciation. who made his way
ing. active. dancing manner peculiar
to thin small boys and spiders.
Jim half laughed at the little chap
until he saw his face. Then he real
ICED 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 a VOLTS face by hunger. the min
gled horror and desperation of the
eyes. The big man would not have
believed child's face could express
emotions of such magnitude. He was
wonder stricken at the sight and felt
an instructive sympathy for the fugi-
tive.
1t is a strange thing how fortune
will sometimes guide with certainty
when reason shows no path.
The boy came unerringly toward
Jim. 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 hand in answer.
At the time he was leaning against
a corner of the station. A little back
Of him was q small lean-to shed. where
various truck was stored.
Out of the car came burly brute of
o man. who stared about him rapidly.
Oats der OIL man." whispered the
boy. "If he gifts holt of me there
won't be hull bone left in me body"
The man walked up to the con-
ductor and spoke to him.
"Aggh.' said the boy. "Now dey'll
get me sure. Der Jig is up. Dey'll
have der hull gang ertop O me" the