Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-08-14
CHAPTER III-continued.

smell, he said, contemporary, turn
ing his steps riverward again Now
] have only to choose my route and go
IN peace. How and where are the
only remaining questions to be an
swered''
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 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
1t. Besides, he argued. there were 9TH
er fields in which the sociological
studies could be pursued under condi-
lions more favorable than those to be
found in a 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 it 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 it, he adopted
1T enthusiastically as an inspiration,
tot
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 it was a small thing
that finally decided the manner of his
going. For 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.
Toiiing roustabouts. trailing in and out
like an endless procession of human
ants, were hurrying the last of the car
go 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 thati"
The ant procession had attacked the
final 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 hurt?"
The crushed one sat up and spat
blood.
II don't know: inside, somewheres
/ been dyin' on my feet any time fol
a year or two back"
Consumption? queried Griswold
briefly.
II reckon So"
Then you have no earthly business
in a deck crew. Don't you know
THAR"
The mans smile was CHASTITY face
wrinkling.
Reckon I hain't got any bushes.
anywheres-out'n a horspital or a hole
in the ground. But / kind o. though
I'd like to be planted 1ongside tn,
woman and the childer. II could max,
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 appea
to his sympathies. His compassion
went straight to the mark. as it wa
sure to do when his pockets were no
empty.
What is the fare by rail to you
town. he inquired
II don't know: never asked. Some
where's between twenty and thirty do
lars, l reckon: and that's more none,
than rye seen sence the woman died
Griswold hastily counted out a hur
dred dollars from his pocket fund an
thrust the money into the mans hand
Take that and change places wit
me.'t..he commanded. slipping on tn
mask of grnffpess again Pay you
= fare. ON the train. and I'll take You
!. Job on the boat Don't be fool.", b
added. when the. man put his face i
his hands and began to choke IT
fair enough exchange and Ell get q
much out Oft one way as you wi
tne'otheF.- .'sW'hat. is your name?
may havA sAorrow it.. -,
,'-.' - -sssIsa -. ..-.+:.