The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-07-17

course, coupled III tn6 DetLlnS.
TT was against the regulation for
me to unbracelet con once I'd geared
myself to him. But knew he wasn't
going to make any run for it; and
somehow couldn't pipe myself
trudging UP to that girl on the bench
with her man rigged to me like that.
When the boy saw the girl, and
jerried up to why turned him loose
to go to her, he was there with bit
of choke In telling me that he'd
never forget that stuff in me, and all
like that. Then he joined her.
Il ached to peek in the other direc-
ton. But had to keep the off wick
on that united con, and there was
nothing for me to do but watch their
get-together.
Never mind, pal. 1t was the worst
ever ran into, and I've taken lot
of timber Of that kind. Train time
came, and l had to stake him to the
arm-tap and watt him the eye-signai
that time was up. l didn't put the
wristlets back on him and myself un-
til after we'd got aboard.
Last | saw of the girl she was
pressed-little, fragile slip of a thing.
| believe | told you-against the bars
outside the gate, arm stuck through,
and waving wet handkerchief at him,
and with look in her eyes that I'd
a heap rather have one of my own
dead and buried than be wearing.
The young fellow didn't have much
of anything to say on the way up, and
neither did l. There are times when
you can't pull chirp out of your
frame with derrick
Il handed him over, got a receipt
for him, gave him the mittsqueeze and
the pat on the shoulder-blade, and
blew back to town, feeling like wom-
an what's been to see East Lynne
Three months ago l was about to
board the roller-me and and another
bull-with three old-timers bound up
the stream, when the sight Of a box
being lifted down from the baggage
car hitched to a train just In on the
cross-the-way track sort of held me.
Il knew the shape and color Of the
box. 1t was the kind they ship cashed-
in lags in, back to their folks, If their
folks wants them
And then, taking a slant down the
station to pipe If anybody was going to
be on the job to receive the box con-
tanning the dead lag, saw the girl.
She was In black, and she had a baby
in her arms.
"She was SC blinded with the crying
that she would have stepped off the
platform on to the track If l hadn't
done quick waddle and caught her
round the waist.
She was about twenty-five but she
looked up at me out Of the eyes of an
old woman. The fat baby in her arms
cooed and sang that improvised baby
stuff. and the little mother lugged 1t
along, tottering from one side Of the
platform to the other, me holding her
up, while my matey watched our bunch
Of up-going lags
Il hated to have her see the box. BUT
that was what she was there for, and
there was no tagging her. When she
reached the box, she pulled out three
little white carnations from inside the
waist Of her dress, and put them on
the pine thing.
Then | had to board my train to
join my layout Of old-timers on their
way. | learned later that the young
fellow had joined the Quick-lunger out
fit about as soon as he got there, and
had whirled right down to nine
months cash-in.
Yes, I'm glad It's pair of pen
vets that I'm leading up the road to-
day. III enjoy their lag gable about
how many of the old push they're go
ing to give the cell wigwag to when
they zig in. And that lays all over
having those gourds put into your
throat, If you're asking me-"