Burnham Breaker

of it. He looked around the room, and saw that an oil-lamp was burning behind the bar, and that two or three rough-looking men stood there wit

Joe is, please?" he a

sonny." And the man went on filling the glasses, and talking to the

when he wou

to him, and, after a few moment

id Joe say when h

he man, in a surly tone; "I

ther a great deal during that time. They were engaged jointly in an occupation which was not strictly within the limit of the law, and which, therefore, required mutual confidence. The young fellow had, apparently, taken a great liking to Ralph, had made much of him in a jovial way, and, indeed, in several instances, had successfully defended him against the results of Old Simon's wrath. The child had come to regard him as a friend, and had not been displeased to meet

g the difficulty, would help him out

n't got no money, I don't see how I'm goin' to git home. Could-could you lend me

ts of his pantaloons, and stood for a minute

jist now. By the way, did ye know that the law don't allow hotel-keepers to let boys stay in the bar-room? Fust thing I know they'll be a

stood, for a few minutes, on the corner, shivering, and wondering which way to go. He felt very wretched indeed; not so much because he was penniless

burning dimly, and, without much thought of w

ty of drunken revellers, and limped along until he came to the lamp that he had seen from the distance. Down another street there were a number of lights, and it looked more inviting; so he turned in that way. After he had gone two or three blocks in this direction, avoiding carefully the few persons whom he met, he turned again. The streets were growing lighter and wider now, and there were more people on them, and that was something to be thankful for. Finally he reached a busy, well-lighted thoroughfare, and turned into it

ng until the room was nearly full. Finally, there was a puffing of a locomotive o

ittston, Scranton

little girl came into the waiting-room from the street entrance. The lady was in deep mourning; but, as she threw aside her veil for a

"I trust you will reach ho

, Mr. Goodlaw! I have telegraphed to James to meet us

y settled," he said, as they crosse

who he was, and why and how he was here, and ask them to help him. He started forward, but they were already passing out at the do

ticket, sonn

t any," rep

can't get

to find Mr

Mrs. Bu

't just w

ot a ticke

ive me money to

can't go out Come, stand aside

ed Ralph back, and he went an

tor shouted "All aboard!"

ost have put out his hand and touched her dress, and yet she had swept by, in her haste, oblivious of his presence. He knew, of course, that, if he had spoken to her, or if she had seen and known him, she would gladly have befriended him. But it was not her assistance that he wanted so

e a later train; and it was barely possible that some one whom he knew might be going up on it. It occurred to him that Sharpman had said he would be busy i

to Ralph's question, "there'll be anoth

Sharpman?" asked

. w

, the lawyer

n't know

her he'd gone home or not; but, of course,

t him," said the man, stretchin

ee, through a half-opened door, the tempting array of food on the lunch-counter in another room; but he knew that he could get none, and he tried not to think of eating. It was very quiet now in the waiting-room, and it was not very long before Ralph fell to dozing and dreaming. He dreamed tha

nearly train time. The escaping steam from the waiting engine could already be heard outside. People were buying tickets and making their way hurriedly to the platfo

all gone out, the door-ke

ur man?"

ean Mr. S

es

me in. I guess he

d and looked thoughtf

to go to

t's where

Coleman-he's the conductor-when he comes around to punch your ticket, yo

o the waiting-room. "Might as well give the lad a lift," he said to a man who stood by, smiling; "he looked awf

it, breathless and excited. His good luck had come t

word should be good for his passage, but the cond

ging from the ceiling, swayed back and forth; the people in the

ed face. He greeted several of the passengers pleasantly, and came down the aisle

t?" he

ot any," s

s the

e, an' I couldn't see nobody't I knew, an' the m

amiliar scheme of the kind-hearted door-ke

ules are very strict. No one can ride without

," said Ralph, his voice f

ught to stop the tra

indow, at the blackness outside, a

wouldn't 'a' got on if I'd 'a' known it. Do y

oked out through

between stations. I guess I'll have to let you ride to Pittston

Ralph, much relieved, settling back

, waking the echoes now and then with its screaming whis

er people left it at the same time and hurried away up the street;

and the station-master had locked himself into his office. Off to the left he saw the street lamps of West Pittston, dotting the blackness here and there like dim, round stars; and bet

, trying to decide which way to go. On the other side, and a little to the righ

may be he would tell him what to do. He cross

d, "I'd like to find a p

on him wonderingly

el ye're aft

I only want a place to stay where I won'

in Pittston,

ive in S

wint for there. Why

' the conductor, he told me to-to-he asked m

ave a low

tter nor the strate." He led the way up the pavement of the side street a

ly. There was a table in the room, and there were some chairs. Some engineering tools stood in one corner, som

eavy overcoat, and sp

aid, "ye can

h; "it'll be a sight better'n sta

o yez! I'm the watchman; I'll be out an' in; it's nothing here that'll hurt

und asleep. He did not wake until the day began to dawn, and the watchman came in and shook him; and it was some moments after he

," he said. "I'm a gre

aid the man; "don't shpake o

e to," replied Ra

n and water, and after a few mom

ould ye?" asked the watchman, who had

l without it," replied the bo

id ye a

a' been some aft

closet and took

aste bit hungry ye'll not be makin' me carry it home with me." He had spr

r the tempting array. "I'm very hungry; but you've been

door, and stood for a minute withou

your sowl, there's a plinty

great relish, while the watchman stood by and looked

r thank you enough. Maybe I can do

ow! Didn't I tell ye

oor and looked out u

he daylight. I ain't afraid, but it's awful lonesome in

e goin' now?" inqu

ong as it's daylight. Oh! I can git along

o the corner of the street. "Now, thin, go up the strate straight,-I mean straight up the strate,-turn nayther to the ri

d-by. I'll al'a

ad! an' the sa

ile the watchman turned back to his duties, with his heart full of kindness and his eyes full o