The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-30

boy or man for that matter could
ever nope To be. She saw so reason why
ne shoud not ultimately be President, IL
ne did not In the mean time meet with
some untimely end. became strongly
interested In these two little people, and
during the following three or four months
saw greet deal OF them.
Hustler's first year was nearly up, and
ne was stu one Of us. None OF our other
once boys had ever remained over six
months. The city editor remarked upon
this fact ons night, and Il was then and
there ;hat the star awoko As one man
20 tho fact that Il was highly probable
should Hustler sever his connection with
the paper. that we would for the time
being, be completely at loss and that
the effects would be vsibly :clt by the
big cosmopolitan sheet.
As IL was nearly Christmas someone
suggested that a collection be taken up
and a present bought for Hustler This
met with our approval, and each one Of
us had kinder feeling for humanity in
cCpGai as We made our contributions
Tho entire stan was gathered around the
city editors desk watching that digui-
tary with absorbed interest as he summed
IA ;he total. There was ten dollars In
n.
THIS fact had just been announced
when 2 messenger boy came boiling into
the ONCE. He was out OF breath and
munnbled something bout hurry" as
ne hMded message 10 the Editor, VINO
hastily tore IL open. 4 look of some
impending evil came into his face as
he glanced o the piece OF paper in his
hand. In second he turned to re and
said. "Ordcr cab. Hustler is al the
City Hospital, and badly hurt" few
minutes later we were sitting opposite
each other In a cab humping rapidly
along over the CObble stones.
our cards brought the doctor in charge,
who said IL wac a fatal case. and mo-
toned us 20 follow him. Two nurses
we're sitting by Hustler's bed, on which
he lay. pale and unconscious. II seemed
some one had fallen off an East river
ferry boat right under the wheels Of the
boat. Hustler hao plunged in. II would
have been an easy rescue for nm but
somehow. after a boat had been lowered,
ana the unfortunate person taken
aboard, one OF the big wheels Of the
boat struck him in the side. lie would
have sunk then and there but some one
grabbed him by the collar lie had been
brought unconscious TO the hospital.
The doctors had examined him, four OF
his ribs we're broken, one OF which had
penetrated his left lung and he was
slowly dying from internal hemorages.
The doctor thought he would probably
live .WO or three hours, so ! determined
II possible to bring Liz. Jumping into
cab | ordered the driver 10 let his horse
20. and / think I used the words hurry
id fast" but ! am not sure, for l was
very much excited.
In an hour | returned with Liz on the
way / had tried TO explain. but she only
sat opposite me with pale face and her
big eyes staring mutely into mine. She
,r..tF+ h. IN -f Of 81 "A
was speeches..
When she caught slight Of Hustler lying
back among the white pillows with his
eyes closed, a low cry fun Of anguish
escaped from her lips. She wrested her
hand from mine, ran 20 his bed, knelt
beside him, and called his name. Re
ceiving no answer she turned and looked
At US with the saddest and most pitiful
Of expressions. | tried to comfort her
but it was useless. 70 the child in her
benighted state death meant the NAL end
OF all II was nearly midnight when
Hustler opened his eyes.
He gazed arO:nd. then he saw the girl
knceing by his bed and a faint, happy
smile came over his face He attempted
to raise his arms. but the pain caused
him TO 81 X back with moan. Presently
he said: Liz. does yer remember what
her preacher told yer about angels up
I'D iilt shy iliHi lldS SUI NliASS 10
Hustler" sobbed the girl. well Liz. l
sees the angels now, and 7 am a going
mp there" LIZ" he added, while his
voice sank lower" put yer-yer arms
around cr-cr my neck like yer always
does" The girl tenderly laid her arms
under Hustler's head.
u may be or gone or long, long time
Liz, and yer must not fergit me. fer /
will be or awaiting fer yer TO come
A sob was the girls only answer. Liz
IIustler's voice was hardly audible, he
was dying rapidly his eyes were slowly
closing and the damp moisture Of death
was gathering on his brow. Liz he
family repeated, then for a second he
opened his eyes, his old familiar smile
came back and he drew the girls head
down ana kissed her. Liz. / am agotng
ter keep the ring yer give me, and faint
any Of the angels shall wear it, cause
IL was yOurn." Here there was a con-
vulsiye gasp. a choking attempt TO speak
that died away in an inarticulate whlsp-
or. and Hustlar's tired eyes closed with
a gentle little smile ] knelt beside the
bed and gently took the girl from the
dead boys grasp.