The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-30
"'HUSYLER!"
j. A. w.


nave been a close student OF human
''surG but ! confess that Hustler was
o. o. my friends whose character |
never satisfactorily Analysed.
VIC had innumcrablc Office BOYS, hut
somehow my relations with them had
always been q that uncertain and not
20 say the least, unpleasant nature.
Whatever dignity I may possess II mas
acyor stood mo IN good stead with them
ana consequently / had come TO look
1roE tnem as "a species OF humanity that
should have az little TO do with as pcs
siblC.
ituStcr's advent among us was the re-
sntt % the vertisemept "Boy Wanted"
which upon itS appearance had caused
lhe oh'Ce 70 be Hooded with a no {
or nondescsipt males under the age OF
" years, who represented how they could
do everything better than any other boy
could ever hope 20 30 IT..
10 was late In the afternoon, they had
been coming an day when for AWHILE
there was q brief cessation Presently
knock came 40 the door and the city
E5ltor's Come in" introduced Hustler
20 us for the first time.
had ceased 20 notice the applicants
as they fled iu. but a rich, deep voice
OF wonderful clcarross. asking 'Is dis
here de Bosss office" caused me
20 look up, tie was standing Just ~
side tle door IN q hesitating sort Of msu.
rc..
come here" said the City Editor
laotloaiac toward ,he side OF his desk.
As the boy drew nearer ! surveyed his
small ncurc moro closely. He was about
five feet t1ll very square shoulderod ana
held himself erect. His brown hair was
long ana culel up I'm locks around ms
-C.k and cars a pair Of big gray eyes
looking from under very heavy eye
tr.Hs gave him a rather unique appear
aHee.
Ills mouth was small and n clean set
OF wcu-f0rlned. white teeth. with a clear
ly chlslcd nose made his features at
once pleasant 10 look upon. 4 pair OF
patched pants. much too large. a coat
that had seen its best days and a de-
CiIsIly soiicd uesAsce shirt Coz 1plcted
the odd attire. with the exception OF
pair OF ola tam thoes. not mates, ana
worn out at the toes. lie was the small
est strargest looking piece of humanity
1 had ever seen, as ne stood before IN"
CITY Editor shitung a brimleSs felt hat
from one hand to another ia nervous
so.. ~ way.
BUT his voice. IL was so out Of keep
ing with the rest oC his person When
p. smoke his uug~ammatical sentences
fan from his Iirr in the clearcst. richest,
arI at the same time, most plaInilve OF
tones.
. suppose you have come to apply
Tor tho position Of Office boy said the
cry Editor
"T.e'
what Is. your name
Hustler
"yshat g. tho rea. Of it?'
Timer. amt 10 more
"WLl arc your father and mother
Il amt ever had none
This piece % information for moment
completely nolpluseed the head dignl-
t.rv of the reportoIial staff, bat recoV-
,rrc himself he asked, Have you any
,..,mncudaticus2" The boy looked as
m .c had been asked some obstruse
problem.
II mean" the city Editor continued,
.a.iur ne d'd not understand, can you
c.t any one 10 tel me that you are
good. honest boy, and that you VIII 90
your work faithfully.
.Oh. Wis; old Jim Mullisan Kin tell
.NEo is Mr.. Mulugan?" politely ip-
qurod the Editor.
A look OF surprise came into the boys
eva. and he g8zed in an incredulous
sort OF way al his qucs oner as he ask
e.. do. o yer. know Aluliig"n'
.Weu. he SIS o stokor ON thor Mary
III SIZE CARRIES ihNAti fA' Voc t''r
E.-. river ferry. ! lives In his house.
r.rfhcr questioning elected the fact
that Hustler lived in an East river tthe-
r.rt. and that Dee was T. years or age.
H|- straight forward ms uncr carried 'he
drv and bee was told that the p"sitioh
MIS- his AVID that he might begin WoIh
the next morning
rlu. t was that Hustler came among
us and was duly installed a. an atlatHe
I..r
peIs. ..,o,.
before be rad been in tho office a week
o,a were imhued with the fact thdt ne
MS one Of the most remarkable Once
L,.s An existence. lie was at every
bodies beck and Cau. 1t was Hustle.
oo This. and Hustler do that' livery
erertiug celebrity IN the city was Ilus'-
I.r'- intimate friend. lie khe" lh'Il 'F
,l..r names with their histories ana
r...rle. from the Battery 10 Harlem ms
-raakiEg acquaintance was minutes,
l.1o bpsan to consider his KNOWLEDGE VI
localities and peTsonaGes as "ohut'i"i'
n am unknown drunken ropronate was
discovered murdered IN some DARK 'u'?'
or The ioly OF some notorious le''|'1
Character was discovered hoduns III '"o
r.,er. Hustler would 20 10 the hotBuc'
recognize them as OLD ifehuS' anu ~
t,.r. vim their history IN detaH from
inns TINE FA h.i''t
o.. their demise ,.,,,t
Ks have said / wac eating my mo
....,, .,.sl when E!anCinB up 81"
Hustler razing at me. Soneth III Wv
bows face suggested TO me 'n"1 Nv
,.t,rt h.. hungry. SO l offered nm
etndwIch lie came and took II lIoHl NV
ma ,s h.. stood by my desk eating H.
= r,tjce3 ,or The FIRST time. cheap brass
80, an th, nttle finger of his left hahd'
Hustler observed 1 IVES eYe'ns ~"
md vory closely. go ne asked me-
what is yer looking az
Your ring ......
DOCS yer think a. IS pretty HhE
lie anKlousy asked the question III il's
rich deep tones, as he formed me '!nH
around on his finger. II occurred 10 nI'
80 a. rnicht be the GIT of some irlehu'
or iu some way cohhCe'e" WI ~
tender association, 50 ] answered "''''
/ cid. m. q. t..rt. Give
I" . III s6e got it ont OF yall5r prize box,
o.. 80 frr O. uIclle 20 sit Iher Boz. Mike
o.narerty is COTS lots Of Their boxes III
~ T9issticr locked a me very seriously as
,a aagel. yer ought ter kno" LIZ yer
,,,.,i3 think he. :Ae Pretticst glrl IN lhe
hoe tcorla. Then he continued enc -
,-t yaue~ hair and blues eyes ana she
ie spuuk clean through.
.tl-ho Is LIZ" ! enquired
"oh she Is Mulligans gal he answer
When lunch hour was over though no
,..re+,ttone had been made on either
tr,,etter and myself we're sworn