The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-05-05
YOUNG
DUNCANS
ORDEAL
By FLORENCE HENDERSON
Copyright by W. G. Chapman

DlIC VI at lllC SOuliii
rubbed his eyes and stared suspicious
ly at a spruce appearing young fell
low shooting" him with a camera
and a smile.
Hey! what are you up to-" chal-
lenged the aroused sleeper.
"Oh, I've got famous story on you
and | wanted your picture to make
1t more interesting" explained Dave
Lind. I'm a reporter for the Star.
One of your chums told me about you
and piloted me here. l gave him a
dollar to do it. I'll give you five to
go over what he's told me and add
enough to it to make a two-column
'special'-what do you say?"
Hal Duncan looked bored. 1t was
not the first time he had been the
subject of pictorial publicity. Hal
was unique as a tramp and a good
deal of gentleman. Something of a
mystery, too. 1t seemed that about
two years since he had appeared
among the hoboes. They made
favorite Of him, for many a story was
told of his care for poor sick fellows
and homeless ones, many q stirring
tale of some thrilling exploits in a
ramble over half the country; fire
discovered In time to save whole
business block, a knockout of foot
pads who would have killed victim
but for his interference, the rescue of
two little children from burning
building.
Hal shared everything with his fel-
low unfortunates except his moral ma
ture and his selfrespect He never got
down to rags. He was a refOrmer all
through and had made a famous
speech in behalf of the poor and op-
pressed that had got into the papers.
But he was dead to the old world,
where apparently he must have once
led life of what people call re-
spectability.
Now for a moment he seemed about
to resent the proposal of the ener-
getic young newspaper reporter, then
with his usual careless self-abandon
he shrugged his shoulders resignedly
and said:
"All right. l need the money and
1 guess l can give you good value"
Pathos, adventure, humor-through
many unique shades of rare human in
terest Hal led the interested reporter.
The latter regarded the narrator both
pityingly and admiringly.
There's your money! he said, land
you've given me some good stuff. I
say, though, it seems a pity to see
a man of your intelligence wasting
your life like a common tramp. Why,
my friend?"
Call it the 'wanderlust,' disgust
with the so-called respectable world :"
laughed Hal. 81 have found warmer
hearts among the wreckage of human
ity than l ever knew in society,""
The "why" of the reporter, who left
Hail. with a CHEEKY Good luck" sent
the latter into sudden reverie.
"Why," indeed! Before his mental
vision passed a series of vivid pic
lures of small fortune left to him,
of being "the best fellow" in his home
village.
Then love-his head dropped sor-
rowfully as he thought of Hazel
Green. How he had loved her how
winsome she had been-but dissipa-
ton had not then relaxed it's awful
influence over him. He finally found
himself penniless. Pride, remorse
tortured him. A man who had money
and position became his rival. Hal
knew that Hazel loved him, but bet
ter man had come between. Hal left
the town desperate and became
homeless wanderer.
With a sudden squirt of resolution
he banished the memories that so tor
mented him and arose to his feet. He
placed the five-dollar bill in his pocket
Then he noticed some papers the re-
porter had thrown aside. They were
political campaign documents reciting
the views and giving a speech of Rod
ney Walton, candidate for congress
man in the district.
These also Hal thrust into his
pocket. He proceeded to a barber
shop and thence to a store where he
purchased hat and some collars and
a tie. His clothing was not bad and,
brisked up, he would scarcely have
suggested the tramp to a casual OBJ
server
Long since Hal had recognized the
effects of his bad habits and had elm
mated that feature of his reckless life.
The possession of money made gen.
erous meal at restaurant luxury.
Then he secured a cheap room at the
hotel and slept In q real bed for the
first time In months.
There was q fair at Derby, a town
sixty miles away at the extreme edge
of the district Hal felt like playing
the gentleman while his money lasted.
He bought ticket for that place, the
morning newspaper and selected a
comfortable seat in the train.
"Hello!" he Evacuated as he opened
the sheet-"here's my story"
There 1t was and next to 1t was q
boom for Mr.. Walton, the congress
sional candidate. And then Hal Dun
can smiled broadly. The Star had
made n fearful mistake They had got