Meade County news., 1915-09-02
CHAPTER III-contlnued.

"The dragon may have teeth and
claws, but 1t can neither see nor
smell" he said, contemptuously, turn.
ing his steps riverward again. Now
haNe only to choose my route and go
In peace. How and where are the
onlyiHremaining questions to be an
swefed."
For an hour or more after his re-
turn to the riverfront, Griswold idled
UP and down the levee; and the end
of the interval found him still undecid-
ed as to the manner and direction of
his fiight-to say nothing of the choice
OF a'destination, which was even more
evasive than the other and more i'm
mediately pressing decision.
His first thought had been to go back
to New York. But there the risk of
detection would be greater than else
where, and he decided that there was
no good reason why he should incur
It. Besides, he argued, there were 9TH
er fields In which the sociological
studies could be pursued under condi-
tions more favorable than those to be
found In great city. In his minds
eye he saw himself domiciled in some
thriving interior town, working and
studying among people who were not
unindividualized by an artificial en-.
vironment. In such a community
theory and practice might go hand in
hand; he could know and be known;
and the money at his command would
be vastly more of a molding and con-
trolling influence than 1t could possi-
bly, be In the smallest of circles In
New York. The picture, struck out
upon the instant, pleased him, and hav-
ing sufficiently idealized 1t, he adopted
1t enthusiastically as an inspiration,
leaving the mere geographical detail
to arrange itself as chance, or subse-
quent events, might determine.
That part of the problem disposed
OF, there yet remained the choice of a
line Of flight; and 1t was a small thing
that finally decided the manner of his
going. For the third time In the hour
OF aimless wanderlngs he found him
self lettering opposite the berth of the
Belle Julie, an up-river steamboat
whose bell gave sonorous warning Of
the approaching moment of departure.
Toiling roustabouts, trailing in and out
like an endless procession of human
ants, were hurrying the last Of the car
90 aboard.
Poor devils! They've been told
that they are free men, and perhaps
they believe 1t. But surely no slave
OF the Toulon galleys was ever in bit
terer bondage. Free?-yes,
free to toll and sweat, to bear burdens
and to be driven like cattle under the
yoke! oh, good Lord!-look at that"
The ant procession had attacked the
nnal tier Of boxes in the lading, and
one Of the burden-bearers, a white
man, had stumbled and fallen like a
crushed pack animal under a load too
heavy for him. Griswold was beside
him In a moment. The man could not
rise, and Griswold dragged him not un-
tenderly out Of the way Of the others.
Where are you hurt7"
The crushed one sat up and spat
blood.
Il don't know: inside, somewheres.
/ been dyin' on my feet any time for
a voar or fwo ho oly
Consumption" queried Griswold,
briefly.
II reckon 80"
Then you have no earthly business
in deck crew. Don't you know
that?"
The mans smile was a ghastly face
wrinkling.
Reckon hain't got any business
anywheres-out'n horspital or hole
in the ground. But l kind O. thought
I'd like to be planted 1ongside the
woman and the childer, II could make
out some way to git there"
"Where?"
The consumptive named a small riv-
er town in Iowa.
In Griswold impulse was the domi-
nant chord always struck by an appeal
to his sympathies. His compassion
went straight to the mark, as 1t was
sure to do when his pockets were not
empty.
What is the fare by rail to your
town." he inquired.
II don't know: never asked. Some
where's between twenty and thirty dol
lars. reckon; and that's more money
than I've seen sence the woman died."
Griswold hastily counted out hun
dred dollars from his pocket fund and
thrust the money into the mans hand.
Take that and change places with
me-" he commanded. slipping on the
mask of gruffness again. PAY your
fare on the train, and I'll take your
Job on the boat. Don't be a fool" he
added, when the man put his face in
his hands and began to choke. ITS
a fair enough exchange, and I'll get as
much out of 1t one way as you will
the other. What is your nameH !
max have 70 horroV H."