The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-29

make 1t thirty cents" be said, "ahd
that'll DO little iaterest. If wouldn' Z
like TO give you five dollars, then you
may shoot me for crew"
The ex-grocer Was 30 surprised at
Johnny's confession and snbsequsnt
generosity that he shock the boys hand
heartily and invited him to stop in
again soon, which tho lad promised m
heartily TO do.
BY nightfall these "back debts" a.
Johnny nsiyely called them, wore all
settled, and then, after a scanty meal,
khe hoy started out with his evening
papers. About n quarter {" eight he
had sold ont, and then, ns fast as his
feet would carry him, he hurried TO the
nsighborhood Of the Acadrrsy Of Music
TO watch the people 90 into thr building.
IL was opera night, and flis wAs ono Of
Johnnys greatest pleasures; and 80,
with his back 10 lamp post, he gave
himself up 10 the delight of watching
the gay throng. Johnny wondered
what il would be likc - drive around
in luxurious carriages and hare plenty
OF money 10 spend oil fine clothes.
He thought of the bread and herring
he had eaten for hiS supper. and tried
TO imagine what il would be like TO
have turkey and cranberry sauce every
day. Evory Chri tmas Johnny had
turkey and cranberry sauce for his
dinner, and he know from experience
how nice they wsre. lie had ones
ridden in an ambi .ncs with friend
Of his-a nswsbey-wbo had been run
over by sn express wagon, and this
was tho nearest approach 70 carriage
rifle that Johnny had ever enjoyed.
lie wandered, as be watched these
Lappy, gaily dressed people, why It
wss that some people bal all they
wanted, while others we're cold aud
hungry and sometimes starved TO death.
This was not the first time chat johnny
had been psrplexed with s,.,h thoughts,
but they had never made him feel quite
10 uncomfortable a. OF :Lin occasion.
Ho called To mind tie warm under
and tidy jacket aid pauts
which Miss Lee had given him that day,
and tried 70 comfort himself with the
thought that there was one person in
the world who cared for him.
There had been heavy fall OF answ
that day. and rs Johnny, half absorbed
with his thoughts, started to cross the
street, be saw something sparkle in the
snow At the side Of the crossing. There
had been q ruAh VI carriages, aud
fs had not been able To pull up 20 the
cub. As he picked il ~, he saw that
IL was An ornament ia ih- shape Of
cross and studde,l With diam ,nda.
Johnny knew they WIRE ''rLinsrS," -
10" called them, ~ soSn ~ ha lo.ked zt
tL.-rii. ~ with his Lsart ia l,iN throat h1
tuck the precious jewrl into bis pock-
a., still hsldihg it firmly IN bis hand
J.,aasy'H an .ition had 6eSn to start
c-fs, and cak. establishment where
s-~sbeys could l~ entertained At Low
rates. FoI mere than year he hal
nursed this Irsjsot. and here WAS
chance To carry it into executien. Thero
were nine stones in the cross. Dispos.
Ing of one At a time, 10 As 10 avoid sus-
picior, there WAS money enough to last
him for "ycArz and years" he told him
self. II puzzled him to know where he
could keep the sinners, for there wasn't
. soul among his acquAiatAnces whom
he dare trust with the secret. Not un-
Gil he crept irto his poverty iricken
bed, with his treasure carefully hi,laen
among the straw, did the tho.ght occur
that he ought to try to find an owner
for il. Then followed hard battle Dr.
tween tie natural honesty of the lad
and his very natural desire for creature
comforts. The person wi,n c''uld wear
a gold thing like that, '.chock full of
sinners" he said to him~.'t, must have
money enough to buy m IRE sinners" I"
Here he was, cold and huasry half the
time, with no prospect before him hut
to he always hungry, if mot always cold;
and here wore these SINNERS, which
would SGT him up in business anil give
him chance to help tho hoys Jahnny
honostly wal to to help the boss. Why
should he FL d the owner of this cross
when he had n.thing aud the owner
everything This fight continued un-
I'll it was time for the lA.l to start out
for his morning papers. All through
the business part of the forenoon the
battle still ragged, and the Rewshoy's
thoughts were 30 occupied with his
new-found riches that he almost forgot
TO attend to his customers. At about
tea, az he crossed City Hall Park, he
nsticed gentleman in earnest canver-
sation with another gentleman, and as
he passed he heard the words diamond
cross spoken. Johnny slackensd his
pace and listened.
'Ths Diamonds were all Of the first
water" the gentleman said. "It way q
present ts my wife from her father, and
she is terribly cut up at tha loss.
ion't suppose wc shall ever tind 10"
"Yeu will advertise it, won't you 7
his companion inquired.
"of coarse" the gentleman replied
"bnt more than likely it hns fallen into
dishonest h. ads, and unleSs h- reward
is made equal II tho valna " the dia
monds we shall probably never SCI
them"
"When the gentlemen separated thu
one who was interested in the diamond
entered the City Hall, and after little
inquiry Johnny discovered that thil
gentleman held very honorable Office
in the city department. After finding
this out the lad took q turn around th'
Park to think it over again.
"Ganny Leeds said ] was offscour
| ing and Miss Lee said | ain't," he ar