The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-14

with sort OF parenthetic protest, and
broad hand was laid almost tenderly on
Tony's shoulder. "If there's anything
US feliers can do fer ye let us know" and
with hasty nod from Tony and $50
long" from the other the ill-assorted pair
parted.
With the apple held fast in one hand, as
it rested in his ragged pocket Tony hur-
ried along in his hOmeward way. The little
tenement he called home was quite dis
lance from the corner where his stand was
located; but few nickels found their way
into TOny's pockets these hard times and
he could not spare one of them to spend for
car fare, so it was some time after he left
the corner before he reached the block in
which his two little rooms were located.
Near The big building group OF children
were playing. As the bent form of the
little bootblack appeared one of them left
his companions and came to meet him. He
amt no worser, Tony" was bis salutatioB,
and the dusky face seemed to tighten. A
woman was descending the stairs as he
began his upward climb. Sure" she
said. tits fair day the bye's had, bliss
his swate eyes,"
The bootblack bowed with the courtesy
of knight of old. and hurried on to the
door, behind which was hidden all he
cared most for in the world. Yielding to
his touch the door opened on a poor little
apartment that was living, cooking and
sleeping room, all in one. In the middle
of the room plain, uncovered table was
spread with meager array of dishes and
food. Over the little cookstove stood a
woman as small, as dark. and as careworn
as Tony himself, just in the act of pouring
boiling water over mess OF tealeaves
that had evidently been brewed once be-
fore. On bed in one corner where the
light fell upon him without shining 10 his
eyes, boy was propped up with one or two
pillows and a big bundle of rags and old
nanars Fl n had nVjdantlv hppu watching
for Tony, and a glad smile lighted up the
wan face as the little dark man came
busting in. The smile deepened as Tony
produced the big apple. Danny Green's
been in ter-day, dad" be chirDed. IAN
brought me half of an orange ut was guy
ter him." Tony bent over the boy, patting
his cheeks and the waxen hands that lay
On the ragged coverlid, and the love that
shone in his hard, weatherbeaten face so
changed 1t that not one of the men who so
often stopped to have polish put on their
boots by the little Portuguese shoeback
would have recognized him, could he have
seen him just then.
Who would suppose that so much of
human lie and love and aspiration would
be wrapped up in one wretched little lad,
lying helpless, on a bed be was destined
never again to leave, in a poor little tene-
meDt in one OF San FTancisce's poorest
quarters? Six months ago TOny's Jose had
been running the streets of the city as full
of life and mischief as any other little kid
in the neighborhooG. Running over with
animal spirit; subject 10 little restraint at
home and IN quarter fairly teeming with
kindred souls ready 20 follow his ackn0w-
edged leadership in, any sort Of enterprise,
the little chap had been in a fair way to
become public nuisance when fate, in the
form of heavy truck and a careless driver,
had called halt in his career.
1t was Tony's Jose who led the gang of
boys who one night cut out ana stole the
lead pipes that Socket 81 Chargem had
just placed in a big rooming-hOuse then
building on the corner below. and ii was
Tony's Jose who had for several weeks,
until the police put stop to ii, made life
long, hideous dream to the gripmen on
the cable-road that ran, through that
quarter by means of an iDgeniously built
hatcar. the wheels whereof were skate
rollers and the propelling power cleverly
contrlyed arrangement of wire hook,
which was thrust through the slot until IL
caught the cable, and then, the other end
being held tight in the grasp of two or
three OF the stoutest passengers, the im-
proylsed cable-car would be dragged along
until the hold on the cable was lost or,
more likely and frequent .exigency, the
skate-rOllers ran off the track and dumped
car and passengers in a promiscuous heap
In the roadway, while the wire purs ued its
journey, attached to the cable, until such
time as it was cast loose or wound itself
down around the rope so as to stop it and
all traffic. or got itself entangled in a grip
and brought some unlucky car up suddenly.
all standing.
''Tbat there kids fxin' for bad end"
was, the comment made by policeman
'steen hundred and ten, when his atien
ton was called to this ubiquitous contriy-
ance and he was told to put stop to the
Youngsters perilous play.
But now little Jose'S days of mischief
making were over. He could never steal
ride on the Ca bic again or fitch lead pipes
from buildings, new or old. He had been