The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-02-27
The Missing Pages.

lantic, Scrlbner All the magazines.
But the people hurried past Johns lit
tie stand into the station, as they had
done all morning. Only Post and
journal sold, and here it was noon
Profit, three cents On sunny days his
Aales were brisk; but it was DRILLING
The thick Pittshrr. ain was full of fall
ing SCOT, and nobody cared to stop to
buy.
mo wonder they want to hurry out Of
this horrible place " muttered John,
looking about at the wet, dingy houses
the pools of black mud through which
the horses tramped, and the clouds of
smoke rolling throguh the streets. He
thought of the sunny Ohio farm on
which he was born, and felt that he
never could grow used to his place
Three cents profit Not enough to buy
loaf of bread.
John thought of his mother, and of
the scanty breakfast which they had,
eaten together in their bare garnet, with
its windows opening on the sooty roofs.
If he could but have had good trade
be might have carried home n nice little
treat to her But the crowd hurried
past, and nobody stopped.
"Magazines, ma'aml something to read
EThe lady stopped Cooley All, your
books are dirty Z" dropping the sooty
magazine with shrug
AS if he could help that But he be-
rro,, 1lou,;,,r ,,u,,- tl. OoDt Gov ka tuop-
tieth time that day. 1t was four years
since his father died, and he and his
mother had come down to town, and III
that time he had done nothing but fight
weakly against SCOT and starvation. He
opened one of the story papers for boys.
There was sea story in it; a boy goes
off in the first chapter as a stowaway, in
the third "the gallant lad leaped upon
the deck, and the commodore clasped
him in his arms.
On the next page was an account Of
boy going home from work, who ar
rived just in time to scale the walls Of a
burning house and rescue child, for
which daring act he was the next day
taken into partnership by the child's
father, millionaire.
"Some fellows have such splendid
chances!" said John, laying down the
book with sigh. "Now, I've been
here for four years and nothing grand or
noble ever turns up for me to do. Buy
ten Posts, fifteen Journals daily sell
Ssm-if l can. On Saturdays buy the
weekly. How's fellow to make strike
at that sort of workF
An old gentleman who had missed
the train sauntered leisurely up and be-
gan idly looking over the newsboy's
small stock.
John watched him anxiously. If he
should buy one of the six bound books
Profit on each was twenty-five cents If
he should buy one of these he could take
home a nice little treat for his mother
after ALL
The boys eyes fairly glistened, for,
besides being fond Of his mother, he
was hungry: and the smell of fried oys-
ters and coffee, from the restaurant near
by, was almost too much for his keen
appetite.
The old gentleman took up one of the
books. John thought he was going to
buy one. What should the treat for his
mother bel A bit of fresh beefT A
mince pie9 He decided that steak would
be best
"Ah! here is book that have
wanted for long time.' said the old
gentleman. whats the price of this,
my boyF'
"Those are one dollar each, sir"
sH'll take this one. No, you need
not wrap it up think will read it
on the cars.
He laid down bright new dollar.
John could almost smell the delicious
steak, and he thought of his mothers
starved face They had not tasted meat
for days. But glance at the book as
the gentleman dropped it into his satch-
eli. caused him to say, faintly-
"Stop, sir. did not see which one
YOU had taken. That is an imperfect
copy. There are four leaves missing in
the middle"
"Too bad" said the gentleman throw
the book down again. "The dollar, if
you please"
"Will none Of the others suit you,
STRIP said John.
"No. have wanted this book for