The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-18
ThiE DAILY
sE40R.T STORY
| Midnight Introduction
ByA ". pEAcH

q ,.
With the SUNSET and the coming
OF twilight, Q cold wind rose,
prop ettc ot'rain and Bailey knew
that Unless he reached shelter
soon, heiwas IN for q dismal night,
& TO add 70 his discomfort, he had
mtsBed directions and had tramped
for hours on the wrong road. In
all his long experience OF sum.
rher trampingf he had never run
into Just such a mean combina-
ton of hard luck and bad
weather.
The country road wound along
through silence and solitude; the
twilight came piling thick and
last from the hills; not a friend
" light cleaned through. the
darkness. He p1odded stubbornly
on. through a stretch Of woods,
Wondering with every step II he
would have to crawl under a
friendly spruce and spend the
night II he had kept the right
Soad, heGwould have reached a
farmhouse. Now It was a matter
Of ltiek-and some other things.
AS he left the woods his hopes
tose with q found. Tho lights OF
farmhouse cleaned welcome
ahead. His rapid pace carried
him 70 H. It was small, but IL
lookedS comfortable. AS he went
bythe window on his way to tho
back door, he looked In. He could
see q girl reading. Her small head,
piled with dark hair, was half
Affirmed; and he smiled. Luck was
with him. He had seen her in the
little settlement, miles back. The
rose Of her cheeks and tho dark
ness Of er'seyes had appealed to
him then though his glance had
heen brief, for she was evidently
shopping and had entered a store
with IA mere passing glance at
him AS she sat in the room, she
seemed to him we'll worth meet
ing again.
He knocked on the door. There
} were the sounds of movement
within and quick conversation.
The door opened a crack, and q
voice asked him what he wantedi
He told his story, that he was
tramping through that section
and would Ike lodging for the
night He could see that he was
talking to an old lady,
Her answer was to the point.
No; you can't stay here. You're
the third tramp who has been
here In a week. Go ont" The
door slammed.
Bailey whistled softly, picked
uptiiis pack and started out again,
little stunned by the sudden
dumping OF his dream OF good
bed. He went out to the road
and looked back. The barn
ioomed dark-and a plan flashed
into his mind. Up In the dry hay
undef the caves he could sleep
snug as a bug in a rug! and he
could depart before the farm peo-
pie stirred. The cold wind slap
ped his face with q wet palm. His
decision was made.
This Is a cold world for an
honest man Here's where take
achance,T he said to himself and
forthwith repaired to the barn.
/ Safe within, he flashed his pocket
light once to get the lay OF the
land. Two COWS were contentedly
Chewing. At his left the hay
stack rose inviting. He went up
the ladder into the loft, picked
out a coy, hidden spot, unrolled
his pack, made himself comfort
able The rain began to pound on
the, roof. He sighed with relief
and, listening, drifted of to
His last thought was that It
might!be worse. His fiashlight hid
shown him that the farmer was
well TO do, for the barn was wired
for electricity. Evidently he had
some plant for furnishing light in
the house and barn-then to let q
humble. summer hiker out into
tins scoldt It was hardly a hospi:
table thingtfor such a man to do.
Bailey started at the sound OF a
sharp cry. He had been asleep, but
5e did ottknow how long. The cry
waafepeated from the direction OF
theShouse. Grabbing his flashlight
beahurried down the ladder, out
ptgthe barn and toward the farm.
house. He reached, theporch Just as
plightSyentson in the kitchen. The
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