ng-flash. He had worked--worked hard. But it was no use. It was
true: they were "clean run to seed." He helped his mother and Kitty into
the cart silently--doggedly. Kitty smiled at him. It hurt him like a
blow. He saw every worn place, every darn in her old dress, and little,
faded jacket. Mrs. Wagoner drove past them in her carriage, leaning out
of the window and calling that she took the liberty of passing as she
drove faster than they. Jim gave his old mule a jerk which made him
throw up his head and wince with pain. He was sorry for it. But he had
been jerked up short himself. He was quivering too.

II.

On the following Friday the President of one of the great railway lines
which cross Virginia was in his office when the door opened after
a gentle knock and some one entered. (The offices of presidents of
railroads had not then become the secret and mysterious sanctums which
they have since become.) The President was busily engaged with two or
three of the Directors, wealthy capitalists from the North, who had come
down on important business. He was very much engrossed; and he did not
look up immediately. When he did so he saw standing inside the door a
queer figure,--long, slim, angular,--a man who looked like a boy, or a
boy who looked like a man--red-headed, freckled-faced, bashful,--in a
coat too tight even for his thin figure, breeches too short for his long
legs; his hat was old and brown; his shirt was clean.

"Well, what do you want?" The President was busy.

It was Jim. His face twitched several times before any sound came:

"--I-w-w-w want t-t-t-to ge-get a place."

"This is not the place to get it. I have no place for you."

The President turned back to his friends. At the end of ten minutes,
seeing one of his visitors look toward the door, he stopped in the
middle of a sentence and glanced around.

The figure was still there--motionless. The President thought he had
been out and come back. He had not.

"Well?" His key was high.

"---------I-I-w-w-want to-to get a place."

"I told you I had no place for you. Go to the Superintendent."

"------_I_ i've b-b-b-been to him."

"Well, what did he say?"

"S-s-s-says he ain't got any place."

"Well, I haven't any. Go to Mr. Blake."

"------Iv'e b-been to _him_.

"Well, go to--to--" The President was looking for a paper. It occupied
his mind.

He did not think any further of Jim. But Jim was there.

"--Go-go where?"

"Oh, I don't k