The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-30
HE KNEW rilS BUSINESS.
How the Little Boy Took Advantage of
His Opportunities.

A little boy who had perspired all day
began to SILVER in the rain. He was sell
ing buttonhole bouquets at ten cents a
bunch, but, though it was past midnight,
he had the greater part of his stock still
sticking in the board hung around his
neck in front of him.
A policeman in a rubber coat stood on
the other corner, and but for these two
Broadway and the cross street on which
they stood were deserted. The dripping
Of the rain was suddenly drowned out of
hearing by the rapid approach of might
hawk" with two boisterous FOUNDERS in
siNe, who got out at the corner and disap-
peared with the driver pGhind the swing
ing doors of a saloon. The barefooted boy
followed them with skip and jump
across the muddy street. He recognized
the fact that they were on pleasure bent,
and not in condition to grudge their
small change
The policeman yawned and walked
slowly off to meet the roundsman, and the
street was silent again. Then the cab
driver came out and mounted his box, and
the two FOUNDERS rolled out after him, each
with boutonniere in the lapel of his coat,
and the little boy followed them expect
antly. The FOUNDERS climbed and fell into
the cab and banged the door.
Say, mister" cried the boy. "Say,
youse amt paid me fur them flowers. Do
We hear?" he shouted as the cab moved
heavily forward "Youse amt paid me
for them howersr'
One of the men leaned out and pulled
the boys cap off and threw it in the street
nd 1o,,crboI Fpba c+b lo11ChaH
too, and told the boy not to be $50 fresh
mex time, givin' away fo-owers." And
the driver whipped up his horses, and all
three men whirled away with hooking
laughter. The boy sobbed and shrieked
and chased the cab as fast as his legs
would carry him. stop thief" he yelled.
stop thief, they stole me flowers" The
policeman in the rubber coat stepped out
in front of the cab and shouted to the
driver to stop, and the driver did so after
some hard pulling and harder swearing.
The boy came up in tears and explained.
Here, you; pay that boy for his bou-
quets," said the officer.
eve amt got his booklets" Knocked one
of the FOUNDERS.
eyes, youse have" said the officer, with
righteous wrath. You're nice lot, amt
you, robbinga poor little boy of few flow
ers. Pay up, now, or I'll take you in"
The boy wept and sobbed convulSiyely
and painted great deal after his run. The
two FOUNDERS sobered up and pulled out
their money.
"How much?' said one of them, holding
dime ready in his hand.
''How much is the flowers, sonny" asked
the policeman kindly The boy lifted his
sad, tear stained face to that of the kind
officer, and winked interrogatively. The
officer knit his brows and then smiled ever
so slightly and winked back.
"a dollar bunch, ;" sobbed the little boy.
Even the policeman gasped, and the men
swore, while the cab driver looked down
at the little boy with uudisguised admira-
ton.
Come, now" said the majesty of the
law, pay him his money or III run youse
in 4"
The FOUNDERS looked at the night stick
and sadly shook their heads. Then they
handed out the -, and the cab drove away,
leaving the little boy and the policeman
in the rain and eying each other.
The driver smiled and said to his horses,
IF that boy keeps on the way he's begun
he'll be fit to be a cab driver in time"
THAT boys no better'n a highway rob
Der, said thc FOUNDERS.
Sonny said the kind policeman, sol
EMMY, there's the making OF a police cap
tain in you
'Tknow me biz mess, " said the little boy.
New York Sun.