The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-28

He had had his
fling and fill: he was going home.
What had his fourteen years of exile
brought him? he unused. What was
there to show for his long dissocia-
ton from the conventional world and
its endeavors?
He was going home. going in the
way he most always went anywhere
by beating it.
He stepped away from the station
lights and crawled into the narrow
space between long, high pile Of ties
and a steep embankment. some dis.
lance from the tracks.
Here, he concluded, he would rest
couple of hours. He was dog-tired, all
right.
He awoke suddenly in a cold SILVER,
amid confusion of noises. to see the
broad patches of color reflected from
the Pullman windows moving swiftly
away from him.
The greater bulk of the train
stretched far in front. Faster and
faster it took its way, leaving the
tramp with a choice of only two cars
to negotiate.
He saw the uselessness of trying
for the handles Of the vestibules, and,
impelled by the fascination Of motion
and the anxiety to succeed, he stopped
half over. Running close to the smok-
er with all the power of his 1.-the
limbs. and with a fierce burst of
! strength and speed, he darted forth
to the single, outside rod under the
! last coach.
His outstretched hands struck the
! steel brace. an. instinctively doubled
about it. His body was yanked hori.
zontally into the air like feather In
a gale. With quick, experienced crop
ing he managed to throw one leg into
the space between the rod and the
carfoor, and with one leg twined safe
he quickly pulled the other away
from danger and onto the rod.
There he sprawled like a frog aleap
hugging his hold, rocking from side tt
side with the wide oscillations of tht
speeding car.
This was new one on him, he sale
this hanging on to a single piece O
flying steel. II there was only some
way to maintain little better bal
ance, he could surely stay with 1t un
til WOODBURY. was reached. That wal
only 20 miles farther, and they wer,
hitting pretty clip, with no stops IL
between.
Say! It was cold! He drew ont
arm in and crooked 1t across the rot
to serve as q balancer, face-protec
tor, and a rest; the other he held IL
rigid grip straight ahead.
What was that strange lassitud'
coming over him? He yawned an,
gently released the tension on hi
numbed hands and legs. Again h,
yawned, and his drowsy head sagged
1t wasn't cold now, and something
was saying: go to sleep; it's all tn
same"
He jerked himself in horror back t
his right position when he realized
what tricks his Imagination was play
ing He must stay awake! he almos
screamed.
whats the use? May g we'll qui
now" he rambled to himself.
His clutch Of the rods relaxed an
slipped away somewhere. He didn'
care. He could feel his legs breal
their cramped hold and glide away
1t seemed as II his body was just kin
of anxious to drop of easy into tn
. foot.path by the tracks.
A scream of agony merged with tn
shrek Of the air-brakes as he jerke,
. back crippled knee from the ties.
He seemed to curl around his nal
row purchase like caterpillar vino
J ing itself around ones thumb.
With another cry of agony. b
. frightened his grip on the rod-an
knew no more.
The conductor and brakeman cal
ried the half-conscious tramp into tn
station and settled him comfortably Il
reclining position, placing his In
jured leg on a low box.
Get his name and address when h
comes to, joe" said the trainmar
"and send 1t In"
Then he passed out into the night
The agent tucked back The tor
trousers and underwear r his patient
and picking up small sharp per
knife, he STEPPED to the stove. wher
he held the blade for a moment in
pot Of boiling water.
While the now conscious man al
tentively watched the operation, h
quickly thrust the sterilized steel int
a great, colorless protuberance on tn
: knee.
He stared ut Ills surgeon with
grin of pain distorting his face.
It's pretty Tough, It that"
gasped, as he perspiration formed 1
thick, tiny crystals on his forehead
: TITS Just like :. guy going safe with
wad Of coin through a tough allie!
only to be raped on the head an
robbed ON bis own doorstep"