Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-23
TIE CRUST DROPPER.
A MENDlCANT's GAME WORKED ONLY
ON THE FAIR SEX.

Finding Crust on BroadwRy-one
of the Many Tricks of Smart Lazy
Men.
Life was not a summers dream, but
nightmare of GOODNESS. The street car men
were lashng their horses; the drivers on the
walks were dancing around and slapping
their hands to force n warmth; the present
monarch-cold--had played liquor-ic tricks
with the ears and nose Of the temperance adj
vocate as freely and literally as with his OPP
ponent, and everybody was rushing and try
ing to keep warm Just as | firmly planted
the plates of my French heels in the lovely
ice on the corner of Thirty first street a
poorly clad man jostled in front Of ne, and,
STOPPING, picked up from the pavement
crust of bread
paused, started. Was it possible that
any one in New York was so in want that ho
needs must eagerly clutch a crust from be-
meath ones feet' Thus l pondered, as l
watched him wipe it on his coat sleeve and
eye it greedily A little shudder swept over
me, and as | felt for my purse began TO
think whore could get him work. 1t must
be horrible to be hungry ON a cold day,
However, before had opened my purse, that
one thing which wrecks so much happiness
in this world cano TO me-doubt / had
Travelled Broadway at all hours, seasons and
times, and never YET saw crust oi DREAD
on tho pavement. VI course IL was ho1 I'M
possible for one to b0 there, but il was most
Improbable. Inc more thouSht, whlch
was done quicker than can write IL, tho
more | became convinced that there was
method in the mans display of hunger At
last thought II would not be a bad ldea 10
watch him and prove to my own satisfaction
what wanted to know would Follow nm
and II he ate the crust 1 coulu lavish on
him the charity that Infused my soul before
that demon doubt took possession of 1t.
After getting the crust he had stepped BACK
of me, and, in order to force him to take the
lead, | became very much interested in some
Strawberries and tomatoes and cucumbers
which, dreams Of summer, were staring
winter in the face from window. ms
little act had the desired effect, and the man
passed on. l started after, determined to
settle the doubt that worried me. l had
chance now to study his appearance. He was
clean, so, despite other sins, he was somewhat
nearer to Goodness than most Of the mem
bers Of his profession He wore reddish
mustache and whiskers, and black SLOUGH
hat. He was well built, and doubtless feet
10 or II inches in height. He wore a short
Icoat and blue overalls noticed that he had
"A stuffed appearance, as if he was wearing
two or more suits, so decided that he was
not suffering from cold
He had passed several persons without dis
playing the crust, and began to think he
was honest and my suspicious unfounded. l
had just concluded to speak to him and offer
aid when one of my feet started on tobog-
ban excursion without warning its mate. As
/ felt it go | murmured mentally: "Good-by,
perpendicular, when an outstretched arm
helped me to gain my balance. looked up
into a pair of dark eyes and pressed coat
sleeve while gratefully expressed my thanks
for the service. The smile in those dark
eyes still burned in mine when looked ahead
and saw my honest man in search of iveli-
hood stoop before richly clad woman, who
had girl with yellow, curly hair by tho
land She stopped as she noticed the act, and
forgot the laughing, dark eyes as hurried
n in time to sec the child look up into her
ace and say pleadingly; "Oh, mammar
/ The man hud also stopped and seemingly
vas removing all dirt from the crust. no.
7 Il fed his eyes were fixed sharply on the wo-
NJ i'm. She opened her purse, and the child
. nded him some silver, which he received
~ til uncovered head and an affecting ges-
ARE of Il coat sleeve across supposedly be-
limmed eyes. No, l did not rush up and
warn the unsuspeeting woman hate
genes; she would not miss the money, and
wanted to see the play to the end
l kept close to window during this little
act and endeayorcd to make my face speak
Iii admiration was far from feeling for the
display therein. Up Broadway the charita-
Die couple went, and down Broadway the
eedy man, with me close by. l got closer
nan expected, and was nonplussed when he
topped on the curb of the walk. l Won
cred what my best move was, for l dared
ut attract his attention by stopping or by
lssing him. l simply crossed the street. 1t
Is in the middle Of the block, and the
Nv was rather deep, but waded with the
t possible grace, for knew that we must
for every pleasure, My boots were high,
considered this amusement cheap.