Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-12-18
''AND JIM


Copyrighted. 1886. by S. s. Mcclure.
The brawny Irish policeman carried
him as tenderly as if ne had been his
own child instead Of only an unknown
colOred boy, and laid his crushed and
bleeding little frame IN a blanket that
had been pulled OF one Of the fire engine
horses. A crowd Of half dressed people
gathered around, looking curiOusly at the
insensible lad, and asking all sorts Of
questions OF the officer, who made no re-
''Where'd you find him, Madden ?" in
quired the Sergeant, who came up Just
then.
ain the cellar, sir; an he must a gone
down three stories, for I found some half
burned chamber furniture where he
was.
SIS he dead9''
'.Not yet, sir; but hemight as well be,
as there isn't a Whole bone IN his little
black skim
''Ca1 the partrol wagon and get him
to the Emergency Hospital as soon as
you san,' said the seTgent, as he hur-
ried away to look at the ruins Of the
tenement house.
After the patrol wagon had rolled away
with its insensible burden, the officer in
quired if any OF the crowd knew the lad
Tiles a news-boy,'' answered. woman
with a shawl over her head. ale de-
Gvers papers at my house."
"What's his nane?'
"They call him COoney, sir. an
never heard him go by any other. Wen
be OWN him 20 cents come Saturday,
sir, fer papers he left at the door,"
'lIs there any one here who knows
how lie got into the hOusef'
tsIie street door was always open, sir,
an he must a seen the flames as he was
passing down the street. He goes after
his papers at daylight every morning"
remarked another woman, ''an' that was
about the time the fire broke ont. The
first heard, said she, twas the boy
yellin' in the hallway an the barkin' Of
a dog. My man, he got up, you know,
an opened the door, an a gust n smoke
came in that strangled me, an w grab
bed OR clothes an run downstairs. Not
a ivin thing did We save, sir, an there
wa5 twenty good dollars under the mat
t1ess as 1 was savin' agin the rent"
''Did you See the boy" said the Of
hcer.
'.Iot a Bit" replied the woman, "a
only heard him yell"
s'AIrs. Bivinsl Mrs Bivinsi' said he
''the house is on fIe," says he, an the
dog was a barkin' like to raise the dead
'Whose deg is it?'
"Sure it was the nigger's sir, an be
was always with him, sir, an learned
him all kinds o. tricks. Where the boy
was, sir, was always the dog"
''Where's he nOw-the dog I mean ?
aud Just then, as if to answer the ques
ton, fireman came out OF the ruins
with mangled yellow cur IN his arms
"Shoot him an put him out OF his
misery" said the fireman to the officer
"Indeed don't do that, exclaimed the
woman, "the boy thought the world o
him, an it'd break his heart"
The officer looked the animal over az
it lay painting on the pavement, and
then taking his revolver from his Pockei
shot it through the head.
'God forgive ye," uttered the woman
as she turned away.
lThere isn't one chance in a million,
said the doctor as the sergeant inquired
after his charge "His bones are frac.
tured in a dozen different places, as
heavy weights had fallen on him, and be
is badly burned I've got him quiel
now, b It he wakes every few moments
and calls his dog"
'srhat boy saved the lives Of fifty peo
pie" remarked the officer, "and Lac
with his plnck is worth saving even 4
he is a niger"
nWould you like 70 see him p
II don't know but would / might
get something ont Of the lad about hii
folks. The most can ind is that he L
newBboy and goes by the name o.
CoOney."
The doctor led the way to the col
where the lad Was lying, and gave hin
q spoonful Of whisky and water.
aCooney, the sergeant would like tC
ask you some questions who's you
mother, my boy"
The lad opened his great black eyes
and looking around Ia a vacant way IN
til they rested on the officer, asked Ia 6
whisper.
"Whsre'a Jim?''
The sergeant turned inquiringly Il
the doctor. who shook his head and
asked,
"Who's Jimg"
ssHs's my dog" answered the lad, and
sank away unconscious
The doctor gave him another spoon
ful Of whisky. The boy opened his eyes
and asked again:
sfWhere's Jim
aHe's all right,n answered the oficer
tslGhsrs does your father liver
But before the lad could answer, the
atupor cana Over him and the doctor.
WiPmg the persp iration nom his fore
head, remarked. i,He won't last long.
More whisky revived him. end the
1agsanf in G idudiy way aail5 -tou' g