The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-12-09
CHAPTER nI-contnued.


Tho dragon may have teeth and
claws. but II can neither see nor
smell." he said. CONTEMPORARY, turn.
ing his steps riverward again. Nov
have only to choose my route and 20
In peace. How and where are the
only remaining questions to be an.
swered."
For an hour or more after his re.
turn 20 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 right-to say nothing OF the choice
OF n destination, which was ever more
evasiIe than the other and more i'm.
mediately pressing decision.
His first thought had beer to 20 back
20 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
II. 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 n 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 20 hand in
hand; he could know and be known:
and h money at his command would
be vastly more OF a molding and con-
trolling influence than II could posi-
bly, be In the smallest OF circles In
New York. The picture. struck out
upon the instant. pleased him. and hav.
Ing sufficiently idealized II, he adopted
It 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 II was a small thing
that finally decided the manner of his
going. Fol the third time In the hour
OF aimless wanderings 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 r~oustabouts. trailing in and out
like an endless procession OF human
ants. we're hurrying the last OF the car
60 aboard.
Poor devils! They've been told
that they are free men. and perhaps
they believe II. But surely no slave
OF the Toulon galleys wal ever In bit.
terer bondage. . F~ree?-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 tie OF boxes in the lading, and
n 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 o un.
tendsrly out OF the way of the others.
Where are you hurt?"
The crushed one sat up and spat
blood.
Il don't know: inside. somewhere..
been dyin' on my feet any time for
a year or two back"
Consumption" queried Griswold.
briefly.
Il reckon So"
Then you have no earthly business
In a deck crew. Don't you know
that7"
The mans smile was a CHASTITY face
w%rinkling.
Reckon I hain't got any business
anywheres-out'n n horspital or a hole
In the ground. But ! kind o. thought
I'd like to be planted longside the
woman and the childer. II ! could make
out some way to git there"
"Where?"
The consumptive named a small riv.
sr town In Iowa.
In Griswo old impulse was the domi.
nant chord always struck by an appeal
TO his s~ynipathies. His compassion
wen straight to the mark. as II was
sure to do when his pockets were not
empty.
what Is the fare by rail TO your
town" he inquired.
81 don't know: 7 never asked. Some.
where's between twenty and thirty dol.
lars. ] reckon; and that's more money
than I've seen the woman died"
Griswoid hastily counted out a 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 OF the train, and I'll take your
Job on the boat. Don't be q fool" he
added. when the man put his face in
his hands and began to choke. IT'S
n fair enough exchange. and I'll get as
much out Of II n way as you will
the other. What is your name? I
NAV hava IN horPow a.