Part 40 (2/2)
”Know any one here?”
”Oh, yas. I know people I vork by yet.”
”Who are they?”
”Oh, I vork by many place--make garten--und vork wit' horses, und so.
Meesus Craikmile, I vork by her on garten. She iss dere no more.”
The young man paused suddenly in his stride. ”Gone? Where is she gone?”
”Oh, she iss by ol' country gone. Her man iss gone mit.” They walked on.
”What! Is the Elder gone, too?”
”Yas. You know heem, yas?”
”Oh, yes. I know everybody here. I've been away for a good while.”
”So? Yas, yust lak me. I was gone too goot wile, bot I coom back too, yust lak you.”
Here they came to a turn in the road, and the village lights began to wink out through the darkness, and their ways parted.
”I'm going this way,” said the young man. ”You turn off here? Well, good night.”
”Vell, goot night.” The Swede sauntered away down a by-path, and the young man kept on the main road to the village and entered its one hotel where he had engaged a room a few hours before.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE SWEDE'S TELEGRAM
As soon as the shadows hid the young man's retreating form from the Swede's watchful eye, that individual quickened his pace and presently broke into a run. Circling round a few blocks and regaining the main street a little below the hotel, he entered the telegraph office.
There his haste seemed to leave him. He stood watching the clerk a few minutes, but the latter paid no attention to him.
”Hullo!” he said at last.
”Hallo, yourself!” said the boy, without looking up or taking his hand from the steadily clicking instrument.
”Say, I lak it you send me somet'ing by telegraph.”
”All right. Hold on a minute,” and the instrument clicked on.
After a little the Swede grew impatient. He scratched his pale gold head and shuffled his feet.
”Say, I lak it you send me a little somet'ing yet.” He reached out and touched the boy on the shoulder.
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