The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-12-24
cOpqright-1ol4ly by BOsnsllcrrin Co.


est-must l do all that, sure enough"
will your" said 1; that's what l
want to know" and l pushed back
the dusky little face and looked into
the bewildered eyes.
"SOlid?" he queried, gravely.
Solid" repeated, handing him
the box. VIII you Gomez"
IVY, course l will, on'y was list
a-thinkin'-" F.
Just thinking what?" said ]. as
the little fellow paused abruptly and
shook the box suspiciously at his
ear. Just thinking what?" ! repeat
ed; for must go 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, on'y l
was jist a-thinkin' that you was lit
tie the curiousest rooster l ever see" !"
Three hours later. as l sat alone,
he came in upon me timidly to say he
had not been home yet, having run
acrost the old man jist a-bilin, and
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 a deep sigh of
relief. "'cause he's so full he'll haf to
let go 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 to me not one glad murmur
of delight; the faint and far-off blar-
ing of a dreamy waltz, blown breeze
like over the drowsy ear of night, had
sounded sweeter to me had l stood
amidst the band, with every below
ing horn about my ears, and the drums
and clashing cymbals bowling mad.
l couldn't work, couldn't read,
couldn't rest; could only pace about.
l heard the clock strike ten, and
strike it hard; heard it strike eleven.
viciously; 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!
1t was three o'clock before the boy
returned
Been long WHILE" he began, but
had fearful time with the old man,
and he went on SO when l did git him
in l 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 she'd
like to see you If you'd come now, you
know, while they amt no racket goin'
on"
Come, then" said l, buttoninC my
coat closely at the throat, 81 am
ready" and a moment later we had
stepped into the frosty night. We
moved along in silence, the little fel.
low half running, half sliding along
IhS LiO1Ch IA JlAC lCdu, uuO
l noted, with a pleasurable thrill, that
he had donned the little fuzzy cap and
mittens. and from time to time was
tiinglng, as he ran, admiring glances
at his shadow on the snow.
Our way veered but little from
the very center of the city, but led
mainly along through narrow streets
and alleyways, where the rear ends
of massive business blocks had dwin-
died down to insignificant proportions
to leer grimly at us as we passed lit
tie grated windows and low, scowlins
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
dignified companions; and now and
then we passed an empty bus. bulging
up in the darkness like a behemoth
of the olden times; or, iutting from
still narrower passages, the sloping
ends CT drays and carts innumerable.
And along even as forbidding a defile
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 on 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, 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!' said the boy,
still in a whisper: and he'll list
about stay with it thataway fer five
hours, anyhow, What time you got
now. cap?"
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