Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-02-24

! MI way through number OF pach
Ava streets without adventure OIL
anv eort and as the night and the
storm closed swiftly in about him the
| shapes of himself, his cart and ola
| wild Bill disappeared, and there re-
manned to mark his progress only the
kissing suffering fame, that hareo
/ spectrally six feet in air as the llllie
! lamp-lighter drove in and out OIL
| shabby unfrequented streets ana al
! leys. -
II had grown steadily colder with
the approach of night, and the wind
had risen. The streets seemed de-
serted. and Mr.. Shrimplin being as
he was of a somewhat fanciful turn
of mind. could almost imagine him
/ self and Bill the only living Things
astir in all the town.
! He reached Water street, the west
ern boundary of that part of Noun.
| Hope known as the flats. lie Joggeu
past Maxy Schaffer's Railroad Hotter
at the corner of Front street, Whlch
flung the wicked radiance of It's par
room windows along the SHINING ran
road track where it crossed the
creek on the new iron bridge
and keeping on down water
street. with its smoky tehe-
ments entered an outlying district
where the lamps were far apart ana
where red and blue and green switch
lights blinked at him out of the
storm
II was nearly o'clock when he at
| last wheeled into the square; mere
only three gasoline burners-sur-
vivors of the old regime-held their
own against the fast encroaching
! gas-lamp.
No liphted the one in Division
| street and was ready to turn and.
traverse the north side of the square
to the second lamp which stood
block away at the corner OF High
street. He was drawing Bits head
about-Bill being smitten with sud
den desire to go directly home leaV-
ing the nights work unfinished-when
the muffled figure of a man appear
ed in the street in front of him. The
inch or more of snow that now COW
cred the pavement had deadened the
sound of his steps, while the eddying
flakes had made possible his near ap-
proach unseen. AS he came rapidly
into the red glare of Mr. Shrimplin's
Missing torch that hero was exceed
ing we'll pleased to recognize friend
ly face.
"How are you, Mr.. North" he said,
and John North halted suddenly.
"Oh. it's you. Shrimp! A nasty
night, isn't it,"
Its the suffering human limit
rejoined Mr.. Shrimplin with feeling.
AS he spoke the town bell rang the
hour; unconsciousy, perhaps, the
two men paused until the last rever-
berating stroke had spent itself in
the snowy distance.
six o'clock observed Mr.. Shrimp
lin.
Goodnight. Shrimp replied
North irrelevantly
He turned away and an instant
later was engufed in the wintry
night
Having at last pointed Bits head
in the right direction Mr. Shrimplin
drove that trusty beast up to the
lamp-post on the corner of High
street, when suddenly and for no ap-
parent reason Bill settled back in the
shafts and exhibited unmistakable,
though humliating symptoms of
fright.
Go on, you!" cried Mr. Shrimp
lin, slapping bravely with both the
lines but his voice was far from
steady, for suppose Bill should aban-
don the rectitude of lifetime and
begin to kick
Go on, YOU repeated Mr.. shrimp
/, lin and slapped the lines again, but
less vigorously, for by this time Bill
was unquestionably backing away
from the curb.
BE done! Be done" expostuated
Mr. Shrimplin, but he gave over slap
ping the lines. for why irritate Bill
in his present uncertain mood? Want
, ! should get out and lead you?"
asked Mr. Shrimpln, putting aside
with one hand the blankets in which
he was wrapped. you're a game
old codger, amt you? l guess you
amt aware you've growed upl"
While he was still speaking he
: slipped to the ground and worked his
way hand over hand up the lines to
Bills bit Bill was now comfortably
located on his launches, but evil
? IDENTIFY still dissatisfied for he con-
tinued to back vigorously, draw
ing the protesting little lamp
V lighter after him. When he had put
e perhaps twenty feet between himself
: and the lamppost Bill achieved his
e usual apright attitude and his coun-
= tcnance assumed its habitual con-
] tcmplative expression, the haunted
look faded from his sagacious eye and