Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-12-24

blinked out and n green eye appeared ana
Number > rolled on through the dark,
cold night 10 the city.
Edward Everett Jones, flat against the
lecward side of the tower watched the
rear lights of the train disappear down the
ward. lie shook himself and climbed TO the
towerman's room, opened the door ana
stepped IN. ~.
'Well2" inquired the railroadcr, fitting
his green cveshadc to n rakish angle for no
reason whatever
Not Xerv.' replied Edward Everett
How about a little heat?
Where did YOU drop from?
Just hoppcd off the Cannonbah
The levcrnan~ gave the matter deep
thought for a moment ''I guess you re all
right Grab scat and warm up
Ed peeled off his shaggy overcoat'
hauled soap box up before the httle
cast IRON stove III the middle OF the room
and proceeded to absorb as much heat As
,,o.sl6lo The t0werrnan turned to his
.Bust@do he asked Ed, half an hour
later
Wen. rush the bucket 70 the coal pile
ard IN mn tho box and I'll see II can dig
M two bits for you.
Ia grabbed the coal bucket and went
outside u "A pile of hltlmluous, filled the
bucket and returned Five trips were
made AT the rate o; = nickel trip and
with the quarter safely slowed III pants
po-kct no badc farewell TO the occupant ot
the tower and hit down the yard
Making his WAY across rails and sigma
rods and keeping close TO n long string ot
empties. he almost reached the depot when
out of the darkness appeared the outline OF
man Of no mean proportions IA stop
ped short
chuh dom here ],
I'D knew he was mp against . railroad
bull
Been out to the tower he managed 70
croak. He was confused, but still capahle
oi looking about for means Of getting
away.
~ duck He darted under freight car
and flew down the cindCr path hctwecn
tracks toward the station. Reaching the
end az the string Of cars no stopped and
listened Not n sound came from the yard
Congrauilating himself he continued ~ 2
nominal pace. entered the trnmshed ana
walked through To Broad street
Troubled hv the ward incident and
blinking his soot-encrusted eyes ~ the
bright lights Of the shops he headed iorr
the square. carefully regulating his speed
20 avert the hostile attention Of any am
hitious cop who might spot him
Christmas shoppers Iammed the SIDE
~aILs 4 jewellers clock registered half
mast ten. Ed decided 20 get away from
she crowds. Further contact with the
law might prove undesirable. 80 nc turn
II into a SIDE street and walked toward 8
hsr fashionable quarter. :,
Edxrard Everett WAS on familiar, nut
no, exaotlv friendly, ground. Before me
vsr he had held good position with
Birtown corporation. Upon his return
srou Franco he learned his name had heeh
eotnpletely severed from the records oi the
concern and the company seemed h"'
ANXIOUS TO re-employ nm.
a futile search for work followed Inc
turc az high wages III New England text,le
nlants called and he went. Disgisted WIN
bigtown Ed had not stopped TO say Eooa-
b,,r 10 ANYBODY Now that nc was re-
f.irnad II struck him that he should have
.r,,le, a word 10 Mary Lee. She had been
he hos. friend. But Mary was working
80, ord the daughter Of working parents
80 be had concluded there WAS no
,,..,, why he should shift his troubles 10
u;oh wages IN New England became
L,,r Tyaocs and mills vacationed help hy
,ho,,sands The AK hit Ed too Another VAN
search for employment and hardiuck ia
the form Of Ill health and I'd emerged from
+. hospital dead broke lie then deciaea %
return 70 Blgtowr hoping 70 ni'd t%'F'
conditions than when he had lett
Ss no nlodded along the cold pavement
\. Wondered what Mary lee would say
Il she could see hun now Oonflctine
thoughts whirled through ms brain
l. 70
81 guess that's all over It Isn heart pam
that interests me tonight. Il pam a 'i'e
bread basket
Ills perambulations brought him 10 the
Metropolitan Cafe and I'd entered. ne
rn,xad odors per1adIng the stuify All
nearlv chokcd him but he managed u
sfsgger 10 a rickety stool and perch HIM
" sans and coffee. said Ed srnartly,
hesmlnr on the greasy faced waiter be-
NM Tbe -, distributor Of East Side dainties
eved with deep suspicion the grlmy ngure
before hlm
Reluctantly Ed withdrew ms only piece
of money from MS pocket and lald II on
the bar
The waiter slammed the piece down.
tired n bite il. scratched It with FORK
and finally ended the suspense by chuck
ing II into an ancient cash register.
For the TWENTY-FIVE cents Edward
Everett received two plates Of heavy
weight doughnuts and an ample mug OF
vic stuff misbranded coffee 1t looked
:, dead more ike mud The taste was
fierce
Who's the manager asked Ed, after
he Ind cleaned up the stray crumbs from
the .s,nkers" and drained the last drop
from the mug.
Ne. grtInted the gent behind the
counter Waiter. manager and owner
WhvP'
Need any help
Might use YOU on the dish dump to-
night for which YOU can bunk IN the store
room # YOU ain I got no hotel and if YOU
do good job on the .chiner I'll hash YOU
b. the m
you're or, said Ed and he followed
the greasy faced person 70 the rear OF The
drnilg room and passed into the kitchen
through q finger- marked swinging door
After receiving instructions he busted
himself with soap and hot water applying
them literally and vigorously To his hands.
arms. neck and face before giving his at
lcntIoa 10 i mountain Of solled dishes and
ncar-sllyerware piled III topsy-tlrvy
fashion IN the sink.
He was alone Evidently the regular
cook and dlshWaSher had failed 10 show