Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-13
THE CRUST DRoppER.
A MENDIcANT'S GAME WORKED ONLY
ON THE FAIR SEX.

a MENDlCAN1'S GAME WORKED ONLY
ON THE FAIR SEX.
A New Version OF Very Old Fraud.
Finding a Crust on Broadway-One
Of the Many Tricks of Smart Lazy
Men.
Life was not summers dream, but a
nightmare of GOODNESS. The street car men
were lashing their horses; the drivers on the
walks were dancing around and slapping
their hands to force warmth; the present
nnonarch-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 I firmly planted
the plates Of my French heels in the lovely
ice on the corner of Thirty-frst street q
poorly clad man jostled in front OF HE, and,
STOPPING, picked up from the pavement a
crust of bread!
paused, started. Was it possible that
any one in New York was SO in want that he
needs must eagerly clutch crust from be-
meath ones feeta Thus / pondered, as
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 where / could get him work. 1t must
be horrible to be hungry on cold day.
However, before l had opened my purse, that
one thing which wrecks so much happiness
in this world came to me-doubt. l had
Travelled Broadway at all hours, seasons and
times, and never yet saw q crust Of bread
on the pavement. OF course it was not i'm
possible for one to be there, but it was most
improbable. The more l thought, which
was done quicker than l can write it, the
more I became convinced that there was
method in the mans display of hunger. AT
last thought it would not be a bad idea to
watch him and prove to my own satisfaction
what wanted to know. would follow him
and if he ate the crust ! could lavish on
him the charity that infused my soul before
that demon doubt took possession of it.
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. This
little act had the desired effect, and the man
passed on. I started after, determined to
settle the doubt that worried me- l had a
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 5 feet
10 or II inches in height He wore short
coat and blue overalls. / noticed that he had
a stuffed appearance, as if he was wearing
70 1rntd ted hot ho
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 a tobog-
ban excursion without warning its mate. As
felt it go nurmured mentally: "Good-by,
perpendicular, when an outstretched arm
helped me to gain my balance looked UP
into 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 a liveli-
hood stoop before richly clad woman, who
had girl with yellow, curly hair by the
hand. She stopped as she noticed the act, and
] forgot the laughing, dark eyes as hurried
on in time 10 see the child look up into her
face and say pleadingly: "Oh, mammal
The man had also stopped and seemingly
was removing all dirt from the crust. no
ticed his eyes were fixed sharply on the wo-
man. She opened her purse, and the child
handed him some silver, which he received
with uncovered head and an affecting ges-
ture of q coat sleeve across supposedly be
dimmed eyes. No, l did not rush up and
warn the unsuspeeting woman. l hate
scenes; she would not miss the money, and I
wanted to see the play to the end.
kept close TO window during this little
act and endeavored to make my face speak
an admiration was far from feeling for the
display therein. Up Broadway the charita-
BILE couple went, and down Broadway the
needy man, with me close by. got closer
than expected, and was nonplussed when he
stopped ON the curb Of the walk. I won
dered what my best move was, for l dared
not attract his attention by stopping or by
passing him. I simply crossed the street. 1t !
was in the middle Of the block, and the
snow was rather deep, but waded with the |
best possible grace, for I knew that we must |
pay for every pleasure, My boots were high, |
10 considered this amusement cheap.
quickly turned my eyes across the street !
Just in time to see the object of my walk step I
u front of two women and bend to the pave
nent. saw his act clearly this time He did |
not throw the crust on the pavement, as had |
supposed, bat kept it in his hand and merely |
stopped in order to attract their attention, |
md in arising he deity displayed the crust !
n his hand SIS he brushed It on his sleeve |
The women did not look like S. S. It's, but |
hey both gave him money.
The same touching thanks were completed, |
nv professional beggar started On down the
venue, and so did L Once again my beggar
worked his little game ON two fat women,
nut they did not give him anything The
,eggar never onceNdropped the crast before
men. Trembling, saw him go quickly in
rowd and apparently pick up the crust from
,sfore the feet of three women. The eldest
# the lot crossed to him where he paused an
Instant on the curb and slipped something
nto his hand.
had just determined to walk up to him
nd quietly tell him he was watched when he
aw me and recognized me, am sure, from
he expression that crossed his face He knew
hat was following him, for he lowered his
cad and hurried on down Broadway, His
,ok of guilt increased my desire to follow
i'm 10 his home, but felt that it would be
seless to attempt it, since be knew me-
selhe Bly, in New York World.
A DArky's Free Translation.
A Palmer house cafe waiter, colored
nan of conventional attire, handed