The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-07-04

fesset his theft and produced the
money.
81 guess l can make it thirty cents, ="
he said, land that'll be little inter
est. If wouldn't like to give you five
dollars then you may shoot me for a
| crow"
The ex-grocer was so surprised at
Johnny's confession and subsequent
generosity that he shook the boys
hand heartily, and invited him to step
in again soon, which the lad promised
as heartily to do.
By nightfall these "back debts" as
Johnny naively called them, were set
tied, and then, after a scanty meal,
the boy started out with evening pa
pers.
About quarter to eight he had sold
out, and then as fast as his feet would
carry him, he hurried to the neighbor-
hood OF the Academy of Music to watch
the peoplego into the building. 1t was
opera night and this was one of
Johnny's greatest pleasures, and so
with his back to the lamp-post hegave
himself up to the delight OF watching
the throng. Johnny wondered what
it would be like to drive around in
luxurious carriages, and have plenty
of money to spend on fine clothes. He
thought of the bread and herring he
had eaten for his supper, and tried to
imagine what it would be like to have
turkey and cranberry sauce every day.
Every Christmas Johnny had turkey
and cranberry sauce for his dinner,
and he knew by experience how nice
they were. He had ridden in an am
bulance with a friend of his-a news
boy, who had been run over by an
express wagon, and this was the near
est approach to carriage ride he had
ever enjoyed.
He wondered, as he watched these
happy, g,.ily dressed people, why it
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 been perplexed with
such thoughts, but they had never
made him feel quite SO uncomfortable
as on this occasion. He called to
mind the warm underclothing and ii
dy Jackets and pants which Miss Lee
had given him that day and tried to
comfort himself with the thought that
there was Oneperson in the world who
cared for him.
There had been a heavy fall of snow
that day, and as Johnny, still alb
sorbed with his thoughts, started to
cross the street he saw something
sparkle in the snow at the side of the
crossing: There had been a ush of
carriages, and few had not been able
to pull up at the curb. As he picked
1t up he saw that it was an ornament
IN the shape OF cross, and studded
with diamonds.
Johnny knew they wele 'shiners,
as he called them, as soon as he looked
at them, so with his heart in his
throat he tucked the precious jewel in
his pocket, still holding it firmly in his
hand. JOhnny's ambition was to
start a coffee and cake establishment
where newsboys can be entertained at
low rates. For more than a year he
had nursed this object, and here was a
chance to carry it into execution.
There were nine stones in the cross.
DlspOslng OF one at a time to avoid
suspicion, here was money enough to
last HIM years and years, he told him
self. 1t puzzled him to know where he
could keep the sinners, for there WASH t
a soul among his acquaintance whom
he dare trust with the secret. Not
until he had crept into his poverty
stricken bed, with his treasure careful
~ hidden among the straw, did the
thought occur that he ought to try
and find an owner for it. Then fol-
lowed a hard battle between the nat
ural honesty OF the lad and his very
natural desire for creature comforts.
The person who could wear 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 be always hungry if
not always cold; and here were these
"shiners" which would set him up in
business and give him chance to help
the boys. Why should he find the
owner OF this cross when he had moth
ing and the owner everything? This
/ fight continued until it was time for
the lad to start for the morning papers.
All through the busiest part of the
| forenoon the battle stillraged, and the
/ newsbOy's thoughts were so occupied
with his new-found riches that he al
most forgot to attend to his custom
/ ers. About haf-past ten, as he passed
/ City Hall Park, he noticed a gentle
man, and as he heard the words "dia-
mond cross" spoken, Johnny slack
! ened his pace and listened.
"The diamonds were all of the first
water" the gentleman said; sit was a
/ gift to my wife from her father, and
she is terribly cut up at the loss. |
/ don't suppose we shall ever find it."
J "Gou will advertise it, won't you -
cob, OF course" 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 probably never see
/ them"
! When the gentlemen separated the
/ one who was interested in the dia-
mOnds entered the city hall, and after
a little inquiry Johnny discovered
that this gentleman held a very hon
orable office in the city department.
After finding this out the lad took a
turn round the park to think it over
again.
vi uilg IttdS SAID L was q OFT
securing, and Miss Lee says | amt, u
he argued to himself. IF / keep these
sinners Grannyll be right and Miss
Leell be wrong, She said the Lord
was giving me a chance to make some
thing OF myself. Well, now, the ques
ton Is, am | or am not a offscouring
II keep these sinners | am, if | 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 pre-
sented himself at the desk.
Some OF your folks have lost some
thing, amt they ?" he asked.
They have" said the gentleman.
will your honor tell me what it is
ike?''
1T is a gold cross set with dia.
monds, and the gentleman described
the relative position OF the stones
1t was lost either in the Academy OF
Music, last night, or on the way to OF