, 1885-08-30

hft - CAN NANa -
papers.
About q quarter t. q he had sold out,
and then as fast as his feet would carry
him, he hurried to the neighborhood OF
the Academy of Music to watch the
people 90 into the building. IL was
opera night. and this was one OF
Johnnys greatest pleasures, and so
with has back to the lamp post, he gayo
himself up to the delight OF watching
the throng. Johnny wondered what II
would be like TO drive around in luxuri-
Gus carriages, and have plenty Of money
10 spend on fine clothes. He thought
OF the Tread aud herring no had eaten
for his supper, and tried to imagine
what It would be like 10 have turkey
and cranberry sauce every day. Every
Christmas Johnny had turkey and Gran
berry sauce for his dinner. and he knew
by experience how nice they were. lie
had ridden in an ambulance with n
friend OF his-a neTsboy, who had been
run over BY au express wagon, and this
was the nearest approach to a carriage
ride he had ever en- Dyed.
lie wondered, as no watched these
happy, gaily-dressed people, why 1t was
that some people had all they wanted
while others were cold and hungry, and
sometimes starved to death. This was
not the first time that Johnny had beon
perplexed with such thoughts, but they
had never made him feel quite so un-
comfortable as on this occasion. lie
called to mind the warm u~nderclothing
and tidy jacket and pants which Miss
Lee had given him that day, and tried
to comfort himself with the thought
that there was one person in the world
who cared for him.
There had been q heavy fall of snow
that day, and as Johnny, still alb
sorbed with his thoughts, started to
cross the street, no saw something
sparkle in the now at the side Of the
crossing There had been n rush of
carriages, and a few had not been ablo
to pull up to the curb. AS he picked it
up he saw that it was an ornament in
the shape of n cross, and studded with
diamonds.
Johnny know they were sinners, as no
called them. rs Don as no looked at
them, so with mis- heart in mis- throat ne
tucked the precious ewel in his pocket,
still holding it firmly in his hand.
Johnny's ambition was to start a coffee
and cake establishment where the news
boys could be entertained at low rates.
For more. than a year he had
nursed this OBJ ect. and here was a
chance to carry it into execution. There
were nine stones in the cross. Dis
posing of one at q time to avoid sus-
picion, here was money enough to last
him years and years, no told himself.
Itpussled him TO know where he could
keep the sinners, for there wasn't n
soul among his acquaintance whom
lie dare trust with the secret. Not
until he had crept into his pc -crty-
stricken bed. with his treasure carefully
hid len among the straw, did the thought
occur that he ought to try and find an
owner for it. Then followed a hard bat
tie between the natural honesty of the
lad and his very natural desire for
creature comforts.
The person who could wear a gold
thing like that 'chock full OF sinners, -
he said to himself, must have money
enough to buy more sinners. Here he
was, cold and hungry. with no prospect
before him but to lie always hungry, If
not always cold: and here were these
sinners which would set him up in
business and give him u chance to help
the boys. Why should he find the owner
OF the cross when he had nothing and
Al' wv utI uiu tNtIOlulukA lulS Hkll
continued until il was time for the lad
TO start for the morning papers. All
through the busiest part OF the forenoon
the battle still ragged. and the
n~ewsboy's thoughts were so oc-
that he almost forgot to attend to his
customers About half past 0. as no
passed Oity Hall park. lie noticed a gen
tleman, and rs he heard the words
diamond cross spoken, Johnny slack
ened his pace and listened.
81 ho diamonds were all Of the first
water, " the gentleman said lit was a
lit to my wife from her father and she
is TERRIBLY cut up by the loss. | don t
suppo e we shall ever find it.
90 on will advertise 1t, won't youf'
his companion inquired.
oh, Of curse the gentleman re-
piled, but more than likely it has fallen
into dishonest hands, and unless the
reward is equal to the value of the
diamonds we shall mover see them.
" hen the gentlemen separated the
one who was interested in the diamonds
entered the city hall, and after a little
inquiry, Johnny discovered that this
gentleman held n very honorable office
in the city department After finding
this out the lad took a turn round the
park to think it over again.
Granny Leeds said | was a ofscour-
ing, and Miss Lee says | ain t." he ar
gued to himself. III | keep those shin
ers granny Il be right and Miss Leoll
he wrong. She said the Lord was Civ
ing me a chance to make something OF
myself. Well, now, the question is, am
/ or am | not a o securing II | keep
these sinners | Rm, II | give them up,
/ amt, Well, | amt, and with these
words On his lips. Johnny started for
the gentleman's office. Nothing daunted
he entered, and presented himself at the
desk.
Some OF your folks have lost some.
thing, amt they" he asked.
They have" said the gentleman.
win your honor tell me what it is
likei'
1t is a gold cross set with diamonds, -
and the gentleman described the rela-
tive position OF the stones. 1T was
lost either in the Academy of Music last
night, or on tho way from that place. -
Johnny 5 coat was OF in a twinkling,
and with a rip at the stitches which
confined the treasure, he took il out,
and put on his coat again. Il D
that is it, he said, handing
il TO the gentleman. u wanted 10
keep the sinners awful bad he
continued. They'd a set me up in
business, them sinners would, but you
see | couldn't be such a off securing as
that, though have been trying to be n
thief NIL night long, II | were your
folks, he went on, I'D get > stronger
string to hold on them sinners for fear
they 4 lie gone for good next time"
what is your namef' the gentleman
IN uircd, as the lad. with his cap in his
hand. stood modestlv bsfore him.
The only Perfect Kennedy.