South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-09-25

Jim stood for q moment after
rounding corner and coming face to
face With scene of confusion CONS
mon enough on city streets. Men and
boys we're running from different di.
rections toward certain point, and
IN very few moments several hun
dred people bad collected.
/ Jim pauscd for a moment. !Ie
could easily keep along on the other
side and accomplish his GRAND with.
out DELAY. A feeling In his heat
told him this vas the thing 10 do. for
boy who 8. ops to ascertain the WHY
and the wherefore Of every street
Communion will have little time for
anything else. Bu. he turned lit
tie, allowing himself to mingle In
the crowd.
It's only couple Of bootblacks, he
heard some one say. got knocked
down and run over.
Jt was close upon where number
OF J,m's comrades used to gath.
er for work. Wha, if 1t should be
any OF them ? More willingly he
moved with the crowd. until he found
himself unable to choose which way
he should move.
Make wayl Some members of the
police force we're clearing the way
for the approach of an ambulanc e.
Jim was hustled rrdely to one side.
and the.pickage Of letters thrown from
bis hand
With cry of dismay, be stopped
to gather them: but thu pressure
grew heavier as he Was desperat ely
snatching them from under The crowd
ing, trawping feet.
Out of the way, you young sim
pleton! Do you want to have the
life troddrn out of you ?
He was forcibly raised to his feet
and pressed far to one side. Count.
ing bis letters he found that two Of
them were missing. But it was no
use trying to fight mis- way to where
he had lost them. He was Obliged
10 wait until the crowd dispersed !,
and, when with despairing heart he
made bis way to the place, no letters
were there.
Poor Jim maile1 the recovered ones.
and then beg an wondering if he should
ever go back to the office.
Whatil l say if he asks me? II [
tell him, he'll think I'm a COOL for.
nought. end like as not he'll turn me
off. Course he viii. If tell him
mailed 'em all, p'r'aps he'll never find
it out. Yes, I'll 60 hack. II he doe,
find 1t out, he csn't do no worss'n
lick me, and that won't make me feel
bait so bad IS the losiD' EN-.
Jim went back and gave his best
attention to the performance OF his
duties. But it was a long and heavy
day. Mr.. Lane ha a pleasant, trust.
ful way with people with whom he
came into contact. increased by q
pity and liking for him which led him
to treat him with kindness entirely
new TO the little street Arab. Jim
could easily h We borne harsh usage.
but this was too much for bin. Ev-
cry pleasant word spoken to him
seemed to deal directly TO his sense
of right. go often in the cruel fight
for existence which had been ordered
for him dulled and smo!h, red. but
now awakened into new life.
AS night came on, Jim sat on box
in the hallway outside the office, and
did little very earnest thinking.
can't etand it no longpr--Do, l
can't, he said 20 himself. with for.
lora look through the open door at
the pleasant rooms in which he was
already beginning to feel prond
sense OF part ownership. fle think
in ne decent, honest sort Of
boy, as isn't the kind to do mean,
underhand things. and me losin' bis
letters and never teIlin' him. P'r'aps
them letters was important. Yes,
lawyers letters always is. I'd rath
err be turned off any day'n be ,in'
round here and him lookin' at me as
he does.
Jim gave himself no time to change
his mind, but tho next moment was
Standing before Mr.. Lane, who chaLc-
ed to be alone in the Office. The
eyes which Jim lifted were very
troubled ones. but. toll Of honest pur.
pose TO acknowledge his fault, did not
sink before the keen, iDquiripg ones
which met them.
Well, wbst II ? asked MIR. Lane,
as Jim hesitate I, scarcely knowing
how TO begin.
Them letter., he s'ammeredJ the
color growing deeper on hrs already
flushed face. You thought | mailed
'em all. but | didn't. I lost two Of
EN-. I'm sorry, aud I'll 60 away and
I'll bring back the clothes you give
me,
Mr.. Lane looked gravely at the
email figure standing in s1ch utter
self abasemsnt before him. Every
thing about 1.-THE thin face with its
appealing eyes, the STOPPING should.
era, and tho ali OF general detection
seemed 10 unite ia telling the story
OF how hard life bail been on him, snd
how heroic was bis .lelling,
which might result in the casing
away of the only good fortune which
bad ever come 10 him.
The gravity melted into smile.
I like boy | can trust, said Mr.
Lane.
Yes. said jim, With despairiug
sigh. You thought you could trust
me to take care Of them letters--and