The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-24
MRS. BRIGGS, CLERK.

He was a tall. thin, stai'co-'"","S go
with a little jacket, the sleeves o. "n,cn
crept half way up ms arms any 10" ~ sa,y
was nothing but brim. and when she 81"
him he WINS eating u crust out oi the gutter
She was only "A poor old woman VINO kept
little shop for candy and trimmings. ana
NOR eno,,gh itself. heaven knew; but, she
said. he looked little like what hcr ION
might IL he had grown up ana he.h We
elected. and she couldn't stand H. one.
called to him: 49,, Tho
boy obcyed.
Before she could speak again, he said;
III didn't do IL. I'll take my oath on any
thing. ! didn't do it,. amt so mean
"Didn't do WHAT" said the pleasant old
woman.
break your wnder' said the boy, nod
ding his head toward q shattered pane.
sWhv. broke that myself. with my SHUT
for LAST night" said the old woman. ~
atn't strong enough to lift them. that's the
fact. I'm getting ole.
"If I'm arounl here when you shut up,
I'll do il for you," said the boy. Ira JuSl
as soon. What was that you wanted me
fOrY'
III want TO know what you was eating
that crust out Of the gutter for!' was 'he
reply. IT,, ,.,.,,o,a
lob all dav. I'm am going to sleep in an
area over there after it's too dark for p"-
liceman 10 see. and YOU can't have good
nights sleep without some supper II IL Is
little dirty
..Tu give YOU some that's clean" said the
old woman.
THAT will be begging" he said.
NO" she SAID. YOU can sweep the store
and pavement, and put up the shutters LOT
it, -.
avery well. he said. "Thankee. then. II
| | sweep up first, I'll feel better
| Accordingly she brought him broom,
and he did the work we'll Afterward he
ate his supper with relish. That night he
slept. not in the area, but under the ola
| wOman's counter.
| He had told her his story. His name was
| Dick: he was twelve years old, and his
| father. whom he mad never seen soDer' WAS
In prison for life.
| The antCcedents were not eleyating, but
the boy seemed good. The next morning
the old woman engaged CLERK Tor hel
small establishment. The terms were sim
ple-"his living and bed under the coul'
ter"
When the neighbors heard Of IT they were
shocked. \ street boy, whom no one know.
Did Mrs. Briggs really want to be murdered
in her bed: But Mrs. Briggs felt quite safe.
She had so much time now that she was 20
inc TO take i'm sewing. Dick attended 10 the
shop altogether. lie kept it in fine order,
and increased the business by introducing
candies and chewing gum. Pennies came
i'm rs they never came in before. since lie
had painted signs in red and blue ink. tothe
effect that the real old molasses candy was
to be got there, and that this was the place
for peanuts.
And in the evening after the shop was
shut up she began to take him into her con-
idence.
Her great dream was 10 bur herself into
a home for the AGED. 1t would cost her
800. She was saving for it. She had been
saving for three years. and had SO OF II.
But il cost so much TO live, with tea -
cents per quarter and loaves so small; and
she been sick, aud there was the doctor and
Mrs. Jones Maria Jane to be paid for mind
Ing her and the shop.
After this Dick took the greatest interest
i'm the savings, and the winter months in
easad them, as though he had brought
blessing. one night in the spring she took
the bag from under the pillow, and counted
what it had 1t was $50.
And I'll begin to make kites tomorrow,
Mrs. Briggs" said the boy, land you'll see
the custom it will bring. II little shaver
sees the kites he'll spend all he has for 'em. |
and then he'll coax his mother for more TO
buy the stick darts and chewing-gum.
know BOYS"
you're are a clever boy YOURSELF said |
the old woman. and patted his hand.
1t was plumper hand than ii had been |
when it picked the crust out Of the gutter |
and he wore clean, whole clothes, though |
tn " were made Of very coarse cloth
How wrong all the neighbors were"
she said That boy is the comfort of my |
life"
so she wen. to bed with the treasure un- |
der hei pillow, and slept. Far on in the
night she awOke. The room was utterly |
dark: there was not a ray Of light; but She |
heard a step upon the floor.
'WhO is that" she cried.
There was no answer, but She felt that |
there was some one leaning over the bed:
then hand clasped her throat and held her |
down. and dragged out the bag. ard she |
was released. Half sutlOcated, she for a
moment found herself mot,oness and be
wlldcred conscious only Of "a draught Of air
from the open door and some confused |
noises. Then she sprung to the door and |
hurried into the little shop.
Dick, Dick" she cried. "Dick Dick |
help, wake up. I'm robbedw
There was no answer; the door into the
street was wide open, and by the moonlight |
that poured through it she quickly saw, as
she peeped under the counter, that Dicks |
bed was empty. The boy was gone.
Gone. Gone. Oh, that was worse TO
Granny Briggs than even the loss of her
money, for she had trusted him, and he had |
deceived her. She had loved him, and he
had abused her love. The neighbOrs were
right; she was a fool TO trust strange |
street boy. and had been served rightly |
when he robbed her.
When the dawn had broken the wise
neighbors came into granny's shop to lind |
her crying and rocking to and fro, and said |
they had told her so: she only shook her
head. Lite had lost its interest for her.
Her occupation was gone, but not with her
savings. Money was but money, after all
he had come to be the only thing she loved.
and Dick had robbed her
1t was 10 O'Clock. Granny sat mourning |
by the kitchen hearth. Good-natured Mrs.
Jones. from upstairs, was "seeing 10
things" and trying 10 cheer her. when sud
denly there came "A rap on the door, and a |
policeman looked in.
"Alrs. Briggs he said.
"IIere she is" said Mrs. Jones.
"les, I'm the wTetchcd crittur,' said
Mrs. Briggs.
''some one wants to see you at head
quarters" said the officer There's a boy
there. and some money"
"Dick" cried Mrs. Briggs. son, can't
bear to look at him.
But Mrs. Jones had already tied on her
bonnet, and wrapped her in a shawl, and
taken her on her arm.
The wretch" she said. Pm so glad
he's caught; you'll get your money back"
And she led Mrs. Briggs along poor
Mrs. Briggs, who cried all the way and
cared nothing for the money. And soon
they were at their destination. Then.
not before, the policeman turned 10 the two
women.
Its pretty bad" he said. They'll take
him to the hospital in an hour. ! suppose
you are prepared for that. He's nearly
beaten TO DEATH"
"Did you beat him, you cruel wretch"
cried Mrs. Briggs. IL wouldn't have had
it done for half the money. Let him 20
with it, if it's any comfort 10 him.
Il beat him. said the man. "Well
women have the stupidest heads. Why, if
hadn't got up when did he'd have been
dead. He held the bag OF money tight, and
the thief was pummeling him with "A loaded
stick; and the pluck he had for little
shaver, tell you, never saw the like.
"'lOu sha'n't take granny's money from