The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1920-12-23


could they resist expressing their fore
bOdings
The old folks loved their boy too
well 20 reproach him for his desertlon
now In the first flush OF his young
manhood. but their hearts did ache at
thought OF the separation.
You'll soon get tired or all that
hurly-burly there In the city. Tom"
his old father told him. "And when
you do. want you always 90 remem-
Der that we've still got a place for you
back here at the Ole homestead. IL
mayn't be as fine and shOwy as lots
you'll see there IN the city. but it's
more the sort that the good Lord in
tended you for. Ma and l are hoping
the best for you. son. but-when you
do find out that your fortunes not
away on there-just pocket your pride
and come back here 10 US who love
you"
So young Tom left the farm with
shining eyes and a high heart and ad-
Ventured into the great, far-aWay city
I'm quest OF fame and fortune.
How he Jared there and all the sor-
~ disappointments that repeatedly
overlook him during that year OF alb
sence would be a long and narrowing
story TO tell. He chased his rainbow
to it's end, yet found the tabled pot OF
| gold not there as he had so confidently
and blatantly expected.
Tom made applications for all sorts
OF office positions only 10 find himself
| quickly rejected because Of his lack
OF experience in those specific lin
"Wel. anyway, I'm young and hus-
! ky and used TO hard manual labor"
| Tom consoled himself 81 can at least
| get q job with a contracting gang as
! painter, or plumbers assistant, or
/ teamster. That will suffice 90 keep me
( going for a while until the sort Of po-
( sltiOn / want turns up"
But even in those lines Of work the
( green country boy found himself sud
{ denly brought up short against blank
wall He had no references as TO past
! city employment and nobody would
! hire him after once finding out that he
had no union card.
! Huddled In his shabby overcoat on
| a street corner I'm the squalld section
/ OF the city-the icy wind whistling
+, around him and biting through his
threadbare garments-poor Tom stood
on the evening before Christmas. won.
derlng where he might find a shelter
I'm which TO sleep thsr night without
freezing.
Just how long he had stood there.
shlvering in the chill wind on the
street corner-bltterness against the
great. unfeellng city ranking IN his
heart-Tom did not know He was
startled from his moody reyerie by
hearing a hoarse wheedling voice a.
his very elbow. saying what was In
tended as n confidential tone:
] How'd y'like q nice hot feed and
some coin 10 Jingle IN yer pants boz
Amt hungry, are yaT"
Whlrling about. Tom saw that his
accOster was an understood huriy fel-
low with a tough trucuieut yIsage and
hands showed deep into the side p0ck-
cts Of his coat Iie wore n battered
cap with the visor pulled low down
over his eyes and spat malcvoienuy
upon the Sidewalk each time before be-
spoke.
How'd yIlke the idea. huhg Bee rr
iterated iu his raucOus. grating vo'r-
Siding closer ns he spoke and casting
a wary eye up and down fHr nearly
deserted. gloomy. wind swept street
Tom regarded him with disfnste and
undisguiscd mistrust Iie looked Use
q typical thug but misery cannot be-
too fastIdious about the company 10
keeps. Finally Tom scowled blacIy
and answered
whats that 20 you. anyway
well. you're Outto luck. aiut cha
pair Yer on yer uppers. stony broke
and maybe with an empty belly. too
huh boz Well. / guessed that much.
I amt blind yet ] nin'ti We'll .
need a pal for little job tonight and
we both can make lotta Jack out of
e. seeT"
"YOu-you mean-burrIary7 Tom
muttered hesItanuy with an lnvoun-
tary contraction Of hls heart
"Humph Not anything Ike safe
cracking or breaking into q house I
don't. Too many people staying up
with The kius over Christmas trees TO-
night 7 amt keen on takln' fool
chances like that, I'm tellin' va Nav.
this ] wantcha fo, IS something soft /:
safe and easy as falling on log You
know the big prices people are willing
to pay for real booze since the coun-
try went dry. don't char Wen. right
near here ! know certain warehouse
that's got 20 cases Of whisky stored ln
the basement Real bonded stun z
The watchman is an old pal O. mine
snd is willing TO let us swipe Il n