Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-12-28
TIE CRUST DROPPER.
a MEnDicAhT's GAME WORKED ONLY
ON THE FAIR SEX.

CN J ffE FAX SEX.
4 New Version Of Very Old Fraud.
Finding Crust on Broadway---One
Of the Many Tricks Of smart Lazy
Men.
Life wac not summers dream, but q
nightmare ofcoldness. The street car men
we're lashing their horses, the drivers ON the
walks were dancing around and slapping
their hands TO force warmth; the present
monarch cold-had played liqnog-ic tricks
with the ears and nose of the temperance ad-
voeate as freely and literally as with his OPP
ponent, and everybody was rushing and try
ing 70 keep warm. Just as firmly planted
the plates Of my French heels in the lovely
ice on the corner Of Thirty-fi street q
poorly clad man jostied in front Of NE, and.
STOPPING, picked up from the pavement q
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 feets Thus l pondered, as
watched him wipe 1t on his coat sleeve and
eye it greetiily A little shudder swept over
me- and as felt for my purse began to
think where could get him work. It must
be horrible to he hungry on cold day.
However, before had opened my purse, that
one thing which wrecks 50 much happiness
in this world came to me-doubt. had
travelled Broadway at all hours, seasons and
times, and never yet saw a crust Of bread
on the pavement. OF course it was not i'm
possible for one to be there, but IL was most
improbable. The more / thought, which
was done quicker than can write it, the
more 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 be ate the crust / could lavish on
him the charity that infused my soul before
that demon doubt took possession Of it.
Afuer 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 cncumbers
which, dreams of summer, were staring
winter in the face from a window. This
little act had the desired effect, and the man
passed on. / started after, determined to
settle the doubt that worried me. 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 men,
bers of his profession. He wore reddish
mustache and whiskers, and black SLOUGH
hat He was well built and doubtless feet
10 or IL inches in height. He wore short
coat and blue overalls / noticed that he had
q stuffed appearance, as if he was wearing
two or more suits, SO decided that be 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
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 murmured mentally: "Good-by
perpendicular when an outstretched arm
helped me to gain my balance. looked up
into pair Of dark eyes and pressed a coat
sleeve, while gratefully expressed my thanks
for the service. The smile in those dark
ewes still burned in mine when looked ahead
and saw my honest man in search of liveli-
hood stoop before richly clad woman, who
had a girl with yellow, curly hair by the
band. She stopped as she noticed the act, and
! forgot the laughing, dark eyes as hurried
on in time to see the child look up into her
face and say pleadingly: "Oh, mammaln
The man had also stopped and seemingly
was removing all dirt from the crust. I 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 coat sleeve across supposedly be-
dimlned eyes No, | did not rush up and
warn the unsuspeeting woman. / hate
scenes; she would not miss the money, and /
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. l got closer
than expected. and was nonplussed when he
stopped on the curb of the walk. / won
dered what my best move was, for | dared
not attract his attention by stopping or by
passing him. | 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 knew that we must
pay for every pleasure, My boots were high,
so considered this amusement cheap.
Iquickly turned my eyes across the street
just in time TO see the object of my walk step
in front of two women and bend to the pave
ment. / saw his act clearly this time He did
not throw the crust on the pavement, as | had
stopped in order to attract their attention,
and in arising he deity displayed the crust
in his hand as he brushed it on his sleeve.
The women did not look like S. S. It's, but
they both gave him money.
The same touching thanks were completed,
nv professional beggar started on down the
avenue, and SO did /. Once again my beggar
worked his little game on two fat women,
but they did not give him anything. The
heggar never once dropped the crust before
men. Trembling, l saw him go quickly in a
crowd and apparently pick up the crust from
before the feet of three women. The eldest
of the lot crossed to him where he paused an
instant on the curb and slipped something
Into his hand.
had just determined to walk up to him
and quietly tell him lie was watched when he
saw me and recognized me, am sure, from
the expression that crossed his face He knew
that was following him, for he lowered his
head and hurried on down Broadway. His
look of guilt increased my desire to follow
him to his home, but felt that it would be
useless to attempt it, since he knew me-
| Nellie BLY, in New York World.
Tanning an Gverspirited Steed.