Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/175

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A RAILWAY MAIL CLERK
163

"Have you got the money?"

Doc shook his head.

"Did you ever see that much money?"

"Well, not at one look, but I've got it all figured out."

"How much have you got?"

"Have n't got any, but I got a job at Whiticer's stable in Carr street, an if you 'll go I 'll see that you never want. We can sleep in the haymow and board around."

"How 'll we get to St. Louis?" I asked.

"Ride when we're tired o walkin an walk when we can't ride," was his reply.

"I'm in the silk an you're in the tassel," he added thoughtfully. "Life is all before us, but you can't get anywhere on a farm. Look at the jays around here. What do they know? They simply stand round on one foot like a gander, till the beard breaks through the freckles, and then they push the old folks off and take the plough, and in a little while get pushed off them selves. Life on a farm is one continual round of work and want. Will you jine me? "

The thought of getting up at morning and not knowing where I was going to sleep at