The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-12-24
Copurieht10l4 by Bobns hcrrill Co

| ne DOE HOuutu uuDlpH0lJ' ''''
est-must | do all that, sure enough
"Will YOU" said !; that's what |
want to know" and | pushed back
the dusky little face and looked into
the bewildered eyes.
"Solid?" he queried, gravely
solid" ! repeated, handing him
the box. "Nill you Gomez?
IVY, course I will ony | was Jist
a.thinkin'-'
lust thinking what" said !, as
the little fellow paused abruptly and
shook the box suspiciously at his
ear. Just thinking what" | repeat
ed; for must 20 now; good'by'-
Just thinking what
"Oh, nothin'," said the boy, backing
off and staring at me in phase OF
wonder akin to awe--'Nothin, ony !
was list a-thnkin' that you was lit
tie the curiOusest rooster | ever sec.
Three hours later, as | sat alone,
he came in upon me timidly TO say he
had not been home yet, having run
acrOst the old man Jist a-biln', ana
had TO git him corralled fore he
dropped down som'er's in the snow
but I'm a-gittin' long bully with him
now, he added with deep sigh of
relief cause he's so full he'll hat to
let 90 purity soon Say you'll be
here"
! nodded silently, and he was gone.
The merry peals OF laughter rang
up from the streets like mockery The
jingling Of bells, the clatter and con
fusion Of the swarming thoroughfares,
flung up 10 me not one glad murmur
Of delight; the faint and faroff blair
ing Of a dreamy waltz, blown breeze
like over the drowsy ear of night, had
amidst the band, with every below
ing horn about my ears, and the drums
and clashng cymbals bowling mad
| couldn't work, | couldn't read,
couldn't rest. could only pace about
/ heard the clock strike ten, and
strike IT hard; heard It strike eleven,
yicIously; and twelve it held out at
arms length, and struck it full be-
tween the eyes, and let it drop-stone
dead O ! saw the blood ooze from
its ears, and saw the white foam
freeze upon its lips! was alone
alone
It was three o'clock before the boy
returned
Been a long while" he began but
/ had a fearful time with the old man,
and he went on so when | did git him
in | was most afeard to leave him;
but he kind o went to sleep at last,
and Molly she come over to see how
Sis was a-gittin' and Sis said shed
like to see you if you'd come now, you
know, while they amt no racket Poin
on"
Come, then" said /, buttonng my
coat closely at the throat Il am
ready" and a moment later we had
stepped into the frosty night We
moved along in silence. the little fol
low half running, half sliding along
the frozen pavement in the lead, and
| noted, with a pleasurable thrill, that
he had donned the little fuzzy cap and
mittens, and from time to time was
Ringing, as he ran, admiring glances
at his shadow on the snow.
Our way yecred but little from
the very center Of the city, but led
mainly along through narrow streets
Il H., H.. 4
OF massive business blocks had dwln-
died down to insignificant proportions
to lcer grimly at us as we passed lit
tie grated windows and low, sCowling
doors Occasionally we passed a
clump Of empty boxes, barrels. and
such debris and merchandise AZ had
been crowded pell-moll from some in
ncr sturag" by their newer and more
diRnihcd companions; and now and
then W" passed an empty bus, bullying
up IN the darkness Ike a hohcmoth
of the Oldcu times; or iuttinE from
still narrower passages, the slOping
ends OF drays and carts innumorabIc.
Md along even as fOrbIdding a dciic
az this We CROPPED until We came upon
low, square brick building that
might have served at one time as a
vash-house. or less probably, perhaps,
dairy There was but one window
in the front, and that but little larger
than an ordinary pane OF glass In
The sides, however. and higher up,
was row Of gratinEs, evidently dc.
signed more to serve as ventilation
than az openings for light There was
but one opening an upright doorway
half above ground half below, with
little narrow sidosteps lcadi' down
to IT, a light shouc dmly from the
little window, ana as the boy mo
toned me- 10 pause and listen. \ sound
of female voices talking In under
tones was audible mingled with q
sound like that Of someone snoring
/ heavily.
Hear the old man apitin in his
1 work. whispered the boy
! nodded Hes asleep
You bet he's asleep said the boy
SIN in whisper and hen fist
about stay with It thataway for dy,
hours, anyhow What time you go
now. cap
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