The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-12-21

Whistling Dick slid back the door
OF the box car, for article 57i6, city
ordinances, authorized (perhaps un-
constitutionally) arrest on suspicion.
He saw no change since his last visit
to this big almsglving, long-sufferlng
city of the South, the cold weather
paradise Of the tramps. Whistling
Dicks red head popped suddenly back
into the car. A sight too imposing and
magnificent for his gaze had been add
| ed to the scene. A vast, Incompatible
policeman rounded n pile of rice sacks
and stood within 20 yards of the car.
Whistling Dick, professional tramp,
possessed half friendly acquaintance
with this officer. They had met sew
eral times before on the levee at night
for the officer, himself Il lover of mu-
sic, had been attracted by the eXqui-
site whistling of the shlftless vaga-
bond. Still he did not care under the
present circumstances to ronew the ac-
quaintancc. So Dick waited, and be-
fore long big Fritz" disappeared,
Whistling Dick waited as long as his
judgment advised and then slid swiftly
to the ground. AS he picked his way
where night still fingered among the
big, reeking, musty warehouses he
gave way to the habit that had won
for him his title. Subdued, yet clear,
with each note as true and liquid as Il
bobolink's, his whistle tinliled about
the dim, cold mountains OF brick like
drops of rain falling into hidden pool.
Rounding n corner the whistler col
lided with "Big Fritz"
$50" observed the mountain calmly,
''you are already pack. Und dere will
not pc frost before two weeks yet. Und
you haf forgotten how to vistle. Dere
was.a valse note in dot last bar"
Big Fritz's heavy mustache rounded
into n circle, and from its depths came
sound deep and mellow as that from
flute. He repeated few bars Of the
air the tramp had been whistling.
Dot p is p natural, und not p vlat.
Py der way, you peter pc glad I meet
you. Won hour later, und l would half
to put you In a gage to vistle init der
chail pirds. Der orders are to bull all
der pums after sunrise. Goot pye."
After the big policeman had depart
ed Whistling Dick stood for an irreso-
lutte minute, feeling all the outraged
Indignation of Il delinquent tenant who
is ordered to vacate his premises. He
had pictured to himself day of
dreamful ease but here was n stern
order to exile and one that he knew
must be obeyed. SO, with wary eye
open for the CLEAN of brass buttons, he
began his retreat toward a rural
refuge. A few days in the country
neNl not necessarily prove disastrous.
However it was with a depressed
spirit that Whistling Dick passed the
old French market on his chosen route
down the river. For safcty's sake he
still presented TO the world his por-
trayal of the part of the worthy artis-
an on his way to labor. A stall keeper
in the market, undeceiyed, hailed him
by the generic name of his ilk, and
"Jack" halted, taken by surprise. The
vender, melted by this proof Of his
own acuteness, bestowed a foot of
frankfurter and a half loaf, and thus
the problem of breakfast was solved.
By noon he had reached the country
of the plantations, the great, sad, 81
lent levels bordering the mighty river.
He overlooked fields of sugar cane so
fnp re
into the sky. The sugar-making season
was well advanced, and the cutters
were at work.
At a certain point WhistIing Dicks
unerring nose caught the scent Of fry
ing fish. Like a pointer to a quail, he
made his way down the levee side,
straight to the camp of a credulous
and ancient fisherman, whom he
charmed with song and story, so that
he dined like an admiral, and then,
like a philosopher, annihilated the
worst three hours of the day by nap
under the trees.
When he awoke and continued his
hegira a frosty sparkle in the air had
succeeded the drowsy warmth Of the
day, and as this portent of a chilly
night translated itself to the brain of
Sir Peregrine he heightened his stride
and bethOught him of shelter.
A distant clatter in the rear quickly
developed into the swift beat of horses
hoofs Turning his head, he saw ap-
proaching a fine team of stylish grays
drawing a double surrey. A stout
man with a white mustache occupied
the front seat, giving all his attention
to the rigid lines in his hands. Behind
him sat a placid, middle-aged lady and
brilliant-looking girl, hardly arrived
at young ladyhood. The lap robe had
slipped partly from the knees of the
gentleman driving, and Whistling Dick
saw two stout canvas bags between his
feet-bags such as, while loafing in
cities, he had seen warily transferred
between express wagons and bank
doors. The remaining space in the
vehicle was filed with parcels of vari-
Gus sizes and shapes.
AS the surrey swept even with the
side-tracked tramp, the bright-eyed
girl, seized by some merry, madcap inn
pulse, leaned out toward him with
sweet, dazzling smile and cried, "Mer
ry Christmasr' in a shrill, plaintive
treble.
Such thing had not often happened
to Whistllng Dick, and he felt handi-
capped in devising the correct re-
sponse. But, lacking time for reflection,
he let his instinct decide, and snatch
ing off his battered hat he rapidly ex-
tended it at arms lengHl and drew 1t
back with a continuous motion and
shouted loud, but ceremonious "Ah,