Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-12-17

70 fSSI SEltil$ 1T Us as we passed ifl~
tie grated windows and low, scowling
doors. Occasionally we passed a
clump OF empty boxes, barrels. and
such debris and merchandise as had
been crowded pell-mell from some in
ner storage by their newer and more
dignifed companions: and now and
then we passed an empty bus, bullying
up in the darkness like a behemoth
of the olden times; or, jutting from
| still narrower passages, the slipping
ends of drays and carts innumerable.
And along even as forbidding a defiie
as this we CROPPED until we came upon
| a low, square brick building that
might have served at one time as a
wash-house, or, less probably, perhaps,
a 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 gratings, evidently de-
signed more to serve as ventilation
than as openings for light. There was
but one opening, an upright doorway,
half above ground, half below, with
little narrow sidesteps leadir down
to it. A light shone dimly from the
little window, and as the boy mo-
toned me to pause and listen, a sound
! OF female voices talking in under
tones was audible. mingled with a
sound like that of someone snoring
heavily.
Hear the old man a-gittin' in his
work." whispered the boy.
! ! nodded. He's asleep"
you bet he's asleep,s said the boy.
still in whisper and he'll list
about stay with 1t thataway fer five
hours, anyhow. What time you got
now. cap?"
"A quarter now till four" / replied
peering at my watch.
wy, it's Christmas, thenl" he
cried in muffled rapture of delight;
but abruptly checking his emotion,
he beckoned me little farther from
the door and spoke in confidential
whisper.
| Cap, look here, now; fore we 60 In
want you to promise me one thing
cause you can fix it and she'll never
DROP Now, here, want to put up
job on Sis, you understand
What" | exclaimed, starting back
and staring at the boy in amazement.
Put up Job on Sis?"
ooh, look here, now, cap; you amt
a-goin' back on a Teller like that!"
broke in the little fellow, in min
gled tone of pleading and reproof;
"and If you don't help Teller I'll hat
to wait till broad daylight, cause we
amt got no clock"
mo clock" repeated with in
creased bewilderment.
oh, come, cap, what do you say?
1t amt no lie, you know; all you got
to doll be to jist tell Sis it's Christ
mas-as though you didn't want me
to hear, you know; and then she'll
git my Christmas gift, first, you
know; and, oh, lordy won't she
think she's played 1t fine!' And as
slowly comprehended the meaning
of the little fellows plot nodded my
willingness to assist in putting up
the job"
Now, hold on second" continued
the little fellow, in the widest glee,
darting through an opening in high
| board fence a dozen steps away, and
in an instant reappearing with bulky
parcel, which, as he neared me, / dis
covered was a paper -four sack half
I filled, the other half Tapped down and
/ fastened with large Irvine string
Now this stuff" he went on excited
ly, you must juggle in without Sis
seem there, shove it under your
BEN here-there-that's businessi
Now when you go in, you're to set
| down with the other side lords the
bed, you see, and when Sis hollers
Christmas gift you know, you jist
| kind O. let it slide down to the floor
like, and I'll nail it slick enough
though I'll p'tend, you know, it amt
Christmas yet, and look sold out, and
say 1t wasn't fair fer you to tell her,
and all that; and then I'll open up
suddent-like, and If you don't see old
Sis bug out them eyes of hern | don't
want cent?" And as the gleeful boy
concluded this speech, he put his
hands over his mouth and dragged
me down the little, narrow steps
Here's that Teller come to see you,
Sis" he announced abruptly, opening
the door and peering in. Come on"
he said, turning to me- I followed,
closing the door, and looking curious
ly around. A squabby, red-faced
woman, sitting on the edge Of low
bed, leered upon me, but with no
salutation. An old cook-stove, propped
up with bricks, stood back against the
wall directly opposite, and through
the warped and broken doors in front
sent out dismal suggestion Of the
| fire that burned within. At the side
of this, prone upon the floor, lay the
wretched figure of man, evidently
in the deepest stage Of drunkenness,
/ oud fhromu IoosaIv ovor hin, mac IN