The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-26

~
He had had his
ding 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 1t.
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 q
couple of hours. He was dog-tired, all
right.
! He awoke suddenly in 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 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 liths
/ limbs, and with fierce burst OF
strength and speed, he darted forth
to the single, outside rod under the
! last coach
i! His outstretched hands struck the
steel brace, an. instinctively doubled
about 1t. His body was yanked hort.
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
cartoon, and with one leg twined safe
he quickly pulled the other away
from danger and onto the rod.
There he sprawled like frog aleap
hugging his hold. rocking from side to
side with the wide oscillations of the
speeding car.
This was new one on him, he said
this hanging on to a single piece OF
, flying steel. II there was only some
way to maintain q little better bal
ance, he could surely stay with it un
til WOODBURY. was reached. That was
only 20 miles farther, and they were
hitting pretty clip. with no stops in
between.
; Say! 1t was cold! He drew one
arm in and crooked 1t across the rod
to serve as a balancer, a face-protec
tor. and rest; the other he held In
rigid grip straight ahead.
What was that strange lassitude
coming over him? He yawned and
gently released the tension on his
numbed hands and legs. Again he
/ yawned. and his drowsy head sagged
1t wasn't cold now, and somethins
was saying: Go to sleep; it's all the
, same"
! He jerked himself in horror back tc
his right position when he realized
what tricks his imagination was play
ing. He must stay awake! he almost
screamed.
What's the use? May g we'll quit
now" he rambled to himself.
! His clutch Of the rods relaxed and
slipped away somewhere. He didn't
care. He could feel his legs break
their cramped hold and glide away
1t seemed as II his body was Just kind
OF anxious to drop of easy into the
foot-path by the tracks.
A scream Of agony merged with the
snriek OF the air-brakes as he jerked
back crippled knee from the ties.
He seemed to curl around his mar
row purchase like a caterpillar wind
ing itself around ones thumb.
With another cry Of agony. he
frightened his grip on the roland
knew no more.
The conductor and brakeman car
, ried the half.conscious tramp into the
station and settled him comfortably in
reclining position, placing his in.
Jured leg on low box.
Get his name and address when he
comes to. joe" said the trainman
and send 1t in"
Then he passed out into the night
The agent tucked back the torn
trousers and underwear Of his patient
and picking up a small, sharp pen.
knife. he STEPPED to the stove, where
he held the blade for a moment in a
pot of boiling water.
While the now conscious man at.
tentively watched the operation. he
quickly thrust the sterilized steel into
a great, colorless protuberance on the
knee.
He stared at Ills surgeon with a
grin Of pain distorting his face.
It's pretty Tough, IT that" he
gasped. as he Precipitation formed In
thick, tiny crystals on his forehead
IT'S Just lik" :. guy going safe with :
wad of coin through a tough allev.
only to be raped on the head and
L.