“Not a thing unless it would be this,” and he held up a pocket-knife, which had been a gift of his mother’s.
“If you will give me the knife I will give you your supper and a ticket to the next station,” tactfully proposed the man, not wishing to make Austin feel like a beggar.
Accepting the offer he was taken to a little restaurant and given a good supper, and before it had grown much later he had a ticket and was aboard the train bound for the town where his friend was at work. Austin had taken opportunity while waiting for the train to change his clothes, and he now presented a much better appearance than when he was sitting by the little box-car fire.
When Austin left the train it was dark, and had been for some time. He had been so tired as the train bounded along that he hardly sensed his position. Dimly he had wondered where he would sleep that night. Now he stood for a moment on the little station platform wondering what he should do next. He did not know where to find his friend and was not certain he was here at all. This had been his only hope of finding work, and now he realized it had been a very forlorn one. Since he was here he must find the man or stay out in the cold all night. He saw the light of a hotel across the street. Going there, he asked if they knew his friend; but his friend was a stranger to them. He inquired about other hotels and rooming-houses, and was directed to two or three, which he visited with as little success. Standing again in the outside darkness he pondered what to do. He thought perhaps his friend might be known at the livery stable, and going there he asked again. The stableman knew no such a fellow, and by the flickering lantern-light he saw the look of disappointment and concern that crossed Austin’s face.
“Where are you going to stay tonight?” he asked.
“I do not know. I have made no inquiry about it, hoping to find my friend,” the boy replied.
“Every house in town is full; some folks will have to sit up at the hotel for lack of a bed. I have no idea where to tell you to go.” Then after a moment’s thought he added, “I could fix you a place here in the barn where you would be comfortable, and welcome.”
“Thank you, sir; but, to be honest, I have no money to pay for even that bed,” truthfully replied Austin.
“Well, a fellow can’t stay out in the cold a night like this. Prepare to roll in and maybe you will have better luck tomorrow,” good-naturedly replied the man, and taking an armful of rugs he went to an oat-bin and spread them out and left Austin to get to rest as soon as possible.
Though this was a novel bed to the boy, and the surroundings new and strange, so weary was he that he was soon fast asleep. It was morning when he wakened, but not yet light. He heard the man in the barn with the horses, so jumping up hastily he dressed and went out to help him, with the hope that he could remain and work about the barn, though this was not the kind of work he had wished for.