Show Ii 1 I Our Start in Life SAY Clint Im I'm sick of this I I looked up surprised Sick of what Jack Why sick of livi living g in this little out- out way the place away from the world and working so eternally hard for nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing at all Colfax is little Ill I'll admit but but- it iti i isn't nt so bad L i. i I i. i i h f 6 w r i 7 l fk 3 aI t Isn't so bad Why Clint you and andI I can pick as much fruit and pack it as well as any man here if we are only eighteen years old and how much do dowe dowe dowe we get a day Why fifty cents That's a mighty lot isn't it o N Not ot very much sure Do you think we could do any better in California 1 ro Believe we could Clint Id I'd like to r try anyway Say do you remember that little scheme we planned once of setting out some fine day and working our way r. r down to your fathers father's cousins cousin's in San Diego Well if things dont don't change hange soon Id I'd be willing to try it yet Just as Jack finished speaking we met methis methis methis his uncle at a turn in the path He stopped us and told Jack to go to the post-office post to see whether any mail had 1 come since morning Without saying a word Jack turned around and left us and I walked home alone 1 I felt sorry f for or him because it was late and I knew he was hungry and the office was a mile away Why couldn't the old man go himself I thought or wait till morning morning morning morn morn- ing He treats that boy like a dog I went to bed e early that night but 10 long g lay awake Jack ack and I were just justat at the age when we were turning from boys into men We had worked hard during the summers and earned enough to take us to school chool in the winter time and now we had learned all that the school of the little town could teach We did not feel satisfied to settle down downto i ito to the monotonous life of farm laborers About us we saw the men mea who were considered considered considered con con- the most prosperous in in the village village village vil vil- lage possessing a few dozen acres of land perhaps hut but dull and We were full of spirit and the prospect prospect pros pros- 1 of such lives seemed dreary to us We had often planned to leave home and go to some of the California cities and as I had a relative down in San Diego we had thought especially of going going going go go- ing there We were both great readers and had devoured every book good or I J bad that we could get gets hold of in the village f As I lay there I thought If If Jack had only a fair chance somewhere he would make a good business man and if I could become a reporter on a paper my wouldn't I work There Ther- were no particular particular particular par par- ties to keep me at home or at what I called home for I had been an orphan as long as I could remember ber i almost only a faint glimmer of memory of a gentle mother who had died at this secluded little place on her journey from the states was left to me Jacks Jack's mother was also dead and his father was a wandering prospector The uncle with whom he lived was a hard man who thought more of getting property than anything else I decided to talk things over with Jack next morning and fell asleep N Next ext day when we were at work alone l 1 we resolved upon leaving home and gave gave- ourselves a week for preparation That was was was' wasa a long anxious week for forus fory y Y u us but at last the day came cameto to go We Wey y ate a hearty as usual had our lunches put up and and started as though for work but when we left our homes r that morning we never expected to see them again Out of town near the railroad railroad rail rail- r road track we had hidden bundles coni containing con con- i taming our best clothes and some food and having b bound und these on our shoulders shoulders Ic ders we set sec out on our wearisome journey l We were not far from the Nevada border and only fifty miles from Sacra Sacra- i mento By makin making a good long walk the first day we descended from the high plain into the Sacramento valley When night came carne we had no difficulty in finding a bed hed for the country is agricultural and we easily secured quarters quarters quarters in a dry warm haystack In the morning we went on again As soon as our food gave out we earned meals by y chopping wood or doing other odd jobs In a few days days' we reached Sacramento 1 and as we each had a little money we ve 1 decided to stay and look for work But steady employment was scarce and besides besides besides be- be sides the city greatly disappointed us so after laying in another supply of food we set out again We reached the depot and for a few minutes stood watching the yardmen make up a freight train At last the cars were arranged and an was placed in front That train is going our way Clint said J Jack ack How do you know Why because the engine is a regular freight engine and they wouldn't put it iton iton iton on the wrong end Its going pretty soon too for they're getting up steam stearn Say Clint lets let's get on Could we do it Jack I I guess we could Ive I've looked under freight cars lots lot of times and theres there's plenty of room to sit on those brake- brake beams Its rather deserted down here and I think no one will see see- us Lets Let's try it I assented and we carelessly sauntered over to the train and then when no one was looking we clambered up on the beam In a little while the train pulled out and we began our strange ride The seats were not very bad but there was very little room and the dust was not at all pleasant After a a short time had passed the heat grew almost stifling Where are we now Jack asked It feels to me as though we were going over the equator I told him we were probably on the Mojave desert Pretty soon he exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- x- x claimed II Im I'm dry dryas as a fish Lets Let's get getoff getoff getoff off and get a drink But when we looked down and saw the ground and ties flying under us so fast that we could not distinguish between them we decided decided decided de de- to stay where we were On and on we went We had plenty of food but our thirst grew terrible At last night came and a short stop was made at a watering tank to fill the engine We were able to get a drink here and then on we sped again Our chief trouble now was in keeping awake wake we found however that the best remedy for drowsiness was to think for fot fora fota a moment of the fate that would come if we should fall asleep At length a faint light began to glimmer in the East It grew slowly and just as dawn was fairly bre breaking king we heard our engine whistle and noticed that our speed was slackening and at last we came came to a standstill Faint and exhausted we painfully drew ourselves down from our perch and out on the other side from the station house N Near ear the track ran a country road and at is side was a little stream To this we hurried as fast as our cramped limbs would permit and lying down flat on the ground we quenched our thirst The train drew out again but hut we were not with wIth it We had decided to try walking once more After a few days we Me came to the little town of Muros We were entirely out of food and so set setto setto setto to work to earn our board and a little money aney After four days Clays had passed we again became restless for we heard that Los Angeles was only a few miles away It was in the morning and we expected to reach the cit by night but the heat became so great that we decided to stop at the next village and out Dut off walking until the cool of evening There however however however how how- ever we found a fruit train just ready to start for the city At the rear end nd was an empty box car with open doors and thinking this a good chance to save time we sprang in An hours hour's ride brought us to the city When the train had stopped we looked about and seeing no one jumped out with our bundles and ha hastened ten d toward the street We had almost cleared the tracks when a stout little man with a glittering badge came running after us L f 4 and put us under arrest 0 O how ashamed we were as he marched us down the to the station a mile away Here we were booked for far having stolen a ride and as we could give no bail we were led off to the jail Two days later we filed into the courtroom courtroom courtroom court court- room in line with drunkards thieves and vagrants and took our seat on the criminal bench The judge sat up behind behind behind be be- hind a high desk He was rather an anold anold anold old man with a solid soli round face not strikingly keen but full of good common common common com com- mon sense Below him sat the court clerk a young man with a clean shaven clear cut face After the most of the business had been disposed dispose of the clerk read the names Clinton Demming and John ohn Ray We both stood up The judge said You boys are are charged with stealing a ride Gu Guilty or not guilty We both stammered in one breath Guilty He then asked us where we had ridden from We told him Then he asked us if if- we had ever been under arrest before and when we told him that we had hadnot hadnot hadnot not he said Well perhaps you boys had better be let off this time He had scarcely finished speaking before the clerk arose and began whispering to him We saw his expression change change- and after the consultation he turned to tous tous tous us and said The court will give you fifteen days apiece We were len We Ve had thought the heaviest punishment he would possibly give us was five days As time passed we became friendly with the jailor who sa saw v we were not of the common type of criminals He told us that the reason of our bein being put in for so long was that time was needed to gather evidence on another count The authorities of the little town M Muros uros had telegraphed the police to look out for or us because the night before we left that place the village store had been robbed and suspicion rested on us The The pr prospect prospect was extremely pleasant no sooner would we be free from the city jail than W ws would be taken before the courts for a state offense One morning we were talking over the outlook when Jack said What day is today Clint Thursday I answered last Thursday Thursday Thursday Thurs Thurs- day in November Why Jack today is Thanksgiving day He looked up and smiled Well we should be we We are alive N Not ot a great deal else to give thanks for though is there Oh perhaps there is came a voice from the grated door We looked up and there stood the jailor Boys put on your best clothes I want to take you into the office There was something something something some some- thing in his eye and in the curl about his mouth that told us that at least nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing very bad was coming In about three minutes we were ready and he led the way to the judges judge's room We sat down to wait the arrival of the magis magis- My flesh began to quiver and my teeth to chatter the matter Jack asked I dont don't know I cant can't tell what it is I guess everything is all right but I feel somewhat sick dont don't you N No No 0 sir he replied I I feel first rate We had not long to wait The judge soon entered and handed us a paper We quickly saw that it was a pardon from the mayor He grasped our hands Boys this thing has been cleared up The burglars have been caught with the goods on them You are released now and to clear myself I am going to insist that you come and have dinner with me We were somewhat prepared for the first part of what he said but if he had knocked us down we would not have been more astonished than we were with the last part He did insist a and d we went His open carriage was at thedoor thedoor the thedoor door and whatever disgrace we had J suffered was wa now forgotten in riding with a j judge dge and respected citizens through the principal streets of the city It seemed as if we were driving in para para- dise The streets wound about like streams through groves of stately palms and orange trees everywhere were gorgeous tropical plants and choice blooming flowers Truly it was a place of the angels At last down in the most beautiful part of the city we drew up before a handsome handsome hand hand- some residence of colonial architecture surrounded with acres of ol lawns Here we alighted and our host led us in We were immediately taken to a room bath-room and after having cleaned and made ourselves ourselves ourselves our our- selves as presentable as possible we went below where when we told him our story Boys I like your pluck He said when we had finished I liked your looks from the first but was compelled compelled compelled com com- to be harsh with you Now I will give you steady employment at fair wages here and use whatever influence I have to get you well started in the occupations that you wish to follow through life Two happy boys sat down to a Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanks Thanks- giving dinner that day such a dinner as they had never seen before and that night two happy hearts sent up to their Maker prayers of true gratitude for the joyful deliverance and happy prospects J. J II J. J C. C |