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soul out of the darkness of despair. He was full of words that poured from his lips and he assumed a knowledge of Hugh and his character entirely unwar- ranted by the circumstances. ' Well," he exclaimed heartily, " you see I've given you a send-off. I have told them you're a good man and a good operator, but that you will take the place with its small salary because you've been sick and just now can't work very hard." The excited man followed Hugh along the street. It was late and the store lights had been put out. From one of the town's two saloons that lay in their way arose a clatter of voices. The old boy- hood dream of finding a place and a people among whom he could, by sitting still and inhaling the air breathed by others, come into a warm closeness with life, came back to Hugh. He stopped before the sa- loon to listen to the voices within, but the railroad man plucked at his coat sleeve and protested. " Now, now, you're going to cut it out, eh? " he asked anxiously and then hurriedly explained his anxiety. " Of course I know what's the matter with you. Didn't I tell you I've been there myself? You've been working around. I know why that is. You don't have to tell me. If there wasn't something the matter with him, no man who knows telegraphy would work in a sawmill. " Well, there's no good talking about it," he added thoughtfully. " I've given you a send-off. You're go- ing to cut it out, eh? " Hugh tried to protest and to explain that he was not addicted to the habit of drinking, but the Ohio man would not listen. " It's all right," he said again, and then they came to the hotel where Hugh lived and he turned to go back to the station and wait for the mid-