The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-08-13
Jack EngIish's Temptation.

Out in a thriving western town live
two newsboys, Jack English and Dick
Daniels. They are both shrewd, active
boys, but until quite recently their
friendship was not such as is generally
found in brotherhoods. Away back,
long before they had attained to the
dignity of newsies," they had quar-
relied bitterly, and the rivalry that ex-
listed between them after they went
into business for themselves was a lit
tie more stimulating than the healthful-
ness OF the situation really demanded.
One rainy evening during the past
winter Jack ran into grocery to make
some purchases before going home.
The clerks were all busy, and while he
was waiting his turn to be served
some one ran against him in such a
way as to thrust his umbrella handle
through the glass in one of the large
showcases. There was considerable
stir in the store-room at the time of the
accident, consequently no one except
Jack himself noticed the crash or knew
ANYTHING about what had happened.
Knowing the nature of the mischief
done, Jack walked hurriedly out of the
open door, congratulating himself upon
his lucky escape. The proprietor was
stern, uncompromising man, who
would have insisted upon damages to
the full amount of his loss had he dis
covered the broken glass; but no one
had seen him, so Jack felt quite safe.
The next morning, while glancing
over the home news in one of the
papers he carried, he was astonished to
see notice of the broken showcase,
and that Dick Daniels, his rival, had
been arrested for the mischief, on
complaint of the proprietor, John
WilcoXon.
Reading on little further, he learned
that Dick had denied all knowledge of
the accident, and that he stoutly re-
sisted the officer who had been sent to
his home to demand payment for the
damage done.
Jacks first thought was one of tri-
umph, but the next moment his coun-
tenance fell. He had never done a
mean thing before, and he could not,
he dared not, allow even an enemy to
suffer for his wrong-doing. CHANGING
at the paper again, he discovered that
Dick was to have hearing that morn
ing at nine O'Clock. 1t was now half
past nine, so he turned his steps in the
direction of the courthouse, where the
trial was in progress. 1t was quite a
long walk, and by the time he reached
the place much of the testimony had
been given. Dick declared that he had
not been in the grocery during that
afternoon at all, but several witnesses
asserted that he was the identical news
boy who had entered the store with a
roll of papers and an umbrella under
his arm. No one saw him break the
showcase, but it was discovered few
minutes after he left, and in his haste
to get away he had dropped several of
his papers.
Jack listened quietly for a few min
utes, and then, trembling from head to
foot, walked bravely up to the stand
and asked permission to give his testi-
many. OF course his straightforward
story changed everything in Dicks IA
vor, and though at first Mr.. Wilcoxon
looked little surly over his defeat by
the time Jack had finished speaking the
little man was as loud in his applause
as any of the pleased spectators.
1t required no little courage on Jacks
part to hand over his boarded coins
five dollars in ALTO pay for the broken
glass, but he did it without a murmur,
regretting only that he had not done so
at first, instead of sneaking off like
coward.
AS he was leaving the court
house Dick grasped his hand and
thanked him for what he had done, but
Jack said he wanted no thanks for do
ing his duty, and warned him never to
mention the subject again. Though
he tried to speak grutily, there was an
odd culver in his voice, and an hour
later the two were seen walking down
the street, arm in arm, conversing with
as much earnestness as if they had al
ways been the best of friends. -Nelc
York Observer.