Show l t r Short Story of tb Day My ill Jj THE MASONIC EMBLEM The n e long passenger train drawn by two puffing panting Iron horses rolled up uptown town down own and over and around the mountain grades through the silent land of West I Fenton enton Blake leaning his head back against the plush of the Pullman el Ignored the wild s scenery enery without he ho preferred the contemplation of the woman who occupied the section opposite him He knew she must be bebe be beautiful in heart as In face and fo form m for she was s sweet and gracious to the theer er conductor and even to that most obnoxious personage the neWs agent those little outward and visible signs ere iere wa was about her and her belongings an ard an and spiritual grace which are indefinable yet unmistakable Fo For two days BIal Blake e had watched for an opportunity to render her some e that would not appear like an intrusion but fate had denied him him such a asure Suddenly he lie assumed an upright position They Were going at an unusual of sp speed ed There came cam a terrible jolt and a rocking motion followed by a aWi Wi halt He went forward and learned that the train had broken In two on a eavy grade and the runaway portion consisting of ot the the- four sleepers and a room roem coach had overtaken the day coaches smashing them into I l wood Blake Joined those hurrying to the aid of the victims climbing over the and hearing the helpless hopeless cries of those burled buried beneath the i assof SS of timbers The inevitable accompanying fire lent Its horror to the occa- occa He stopped on his merciful way at atthe the sound of a a. faint taint little voice saying git use out Kv glow of running red fire tire lit up the ene and showed to him the terrified pealing eyes of a little lad who was tightly wedged in between heavy beams With set teeth stern eyes and panting breath Blake lifted and pulled and and strained making but a slight opening in the up piled wreckage The ien en cing flames darted forward from all sides eager to snatch their little vica vic vic- final superhuman and successful effort Catch- Catch li a t Then he made one grand he child up in his arms he strode away with him to his coach The The beautiful woman had come out on the forward platform and was looking about Blake swung swung himself up on the steps beside her you come in and look after this little chap he asked as he hurried own own wI the aisle to his section I must go back and help Oh what has happened she cried following himle him He le explained briefly Is the child hurt lOh I think not not not only weak weale and frightened d. d Hes He's cold too Ill I'll wrap him p El my ny overcoat and lay him on the seat GI e Give him to me she said se seating Ung herself hersel and drawing a traveling rug I II cross ross her lap I Blake lake laid the boy gently In her arms and she wrapped the rug snugly about and then seemingly con con- ns The be child looked up at her b with bewildered eyes eye tent dropped his head on her shoulder I Blake returned to action In an hour he came cam back to his coach tired and triumphant It wasn't so bad bad after all he declared We are right on on the the edge elge of ot a station Plenty of helpers came came cam They put out the fire flie almost almos Immediately Only three killed and about twenty injured The beautiful woman shuddered and pressed the little torm form orm closer In h her r arms anns I I Have you held him all the time Yes I liked to she slie replied He has made y you u out ou quite a n hero erd He says ys you fit th the flames and everything that if you hadn't a gotten him him the lumber he would have all burned up Didn't you you Bud t i i I So his nam Js is Bud What Is is' is your other name nam he asked addressing the boy who now sat at bolt olt upright and shook off the rug i I t Bud Lukes Were your parents with you in the car 1 V I lt makin the alone r h Nope I was wab JI trip f J I I Where were you going W Want nt gon oln now ax jest a a. ridel i 1 J I Where do your folks live 7 M f r t g j got no fol folks s. s I f v f 1 1 1 1 No relations relations relations-no no friends L' L 4 t J Nope My is all dead and I got no friends friend Y i i J J Where Were did you come from i ft 2 r 1 r. r Got Gat on at the last stop and thought thOught Id I'd see how hoir fu fur I could could r d before they they put me off but they thought I belonged t to a a. w wo woman a what set dt et in n pf me with a lot of kids and they didn't nobody ask me for no ticket nor did live ll ir But with whom you Lived with dad till he got killed Bin livin alone sense How long has your mother been dead asked the beautiful woman Dunno Dont Don't remember l her er How old are you Bud asked Blake Seven gon on eight look that old You dont don't I Ill be he bigger all right Say you yoU got a ch chaw w of about nr yer yr Little Lithe Breeches laughed Blake to the beautiful woman who who touched her lips to the boys boy's brow and exclaimed In tones IThen f I Oh Bud Bud Then Blake recalled Blake recalled the last verse of ot the poem and thought that the h b beautiful ful woman was a fair air illustration Uon of the angel who guarded Little Breeches c sI s. s I am afraid he is feverish she said looking up anxiously Ill see If I cant can't get hod hold of ot a doctor in a mom moment exclaimed Blake leavIng leavIng leaving leav leav- ing the coach He soon returned with a a. local doctor who had come come with others from the little station lie He took Buds Bud's temperature and examined hl him himi 1 carefully c. What have you i had to eat at today he then asked Peanuts and some codfish before I started had nothing sence What did you have yesterday y Yes had a cup of coffee Just as I thought exclaimed the doctor lie He Ie wasn't hurt In the accident accident accident acci acci- dent b but t he i is nearly starved Blake started to his feet Wheres the porter he exclaimed Bud shall have a ten-course ten dinner Continued d tomorrow |