The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1895-08-16


uttered them i'm a stiff and toneless ac-
cent. In effect, he said that 1t was nee
cessary to pay the compatriot for that
which was broken.
Il only got ten cent-a, signor,'
said the offender, handing the coin to
the woman. lie was permitted to go
in peace.
"5Ten-a cent-a! Madonna mia! For so
mooch irnagew sobbed she.
SO Broughton put 81 into his own
hat and passed it around among the
throng that had been attracted by the
noise. When he gave the collection to
the woman, she wiped her eyes kissed
his hands with many benedictions, and
went her way.
Broughton's assignment had taken
him i'm the direction of Mulberry bend.
AS he returned through that quarter
he saw n hundred yards in front of him
II woman with tray of images on her
head. He quickened his pace and soon
was near her. II was the same Italian,
she had replenished her tray with
more saints and heroes and graces.
80 1t is" mused young Mr.. Brough-
ton-who still trailed clouds of the
glory of journalism-"tha in this
world no one is Indispensable. One
perishes, another replaces him.
Just then, staggering around n cor
ner, appeared the former breaker of
images. and again, as If on purpose,
he swung his arm rudely against the
woman AS before. a crash, lameuta-
tiors, and a crowd. The dwellers of
Mulberry Bend, themselves wen ac-
qualnted with poverty, gave of their
few copper coins to her who sat wall
ing among the ruins of her wares. They
helped her to pick up such of the casts
as were not irremediably broken and to
replace them on the tray. This time
Broughton did not stay to act as con-
soler. The aggressor had walked of
rapidly, and the reporter followed him.
After five minutes chase they turned
into an unspeakably dirty alley, where
the Italian entered a doorway without
noticing that any one pursued him.
Broughton, having made sure that he
should recognize the house again,
fastened to the nearest police station
and told the story.
"She was a quiet, decent little body"
he said to the officer. That great
hulking brute struck her on purpose
the second time, even admitting that
the first time might have been by acci-
dent"
Two policemen were detailed to ac-
company Mr.. Broughton, who was
known to the chief of the station, and
he led them straight to the door
where the Italian had entered. Up the
htil N anu DlOhtu SldlIS lHey CllnlDeu.
Broughton shrunk from contact with
the Shiny walls. 1t seemed to him that
evil odors were depositing themselves
there in a pestilential fungous growth
At last they emerged upon a landing
A child leaned over the baluster of the
story above. Broughton tossed him a
nickel
MY little man, is there an Italian
living in this house?"
The child picked up the coin and
stared in silence.
Say, kid, is dere a dago here?" one
of the policemen translated.
The boy pointed with a thumb to a
door at the left of the landing where
the three men stood. Broughton felt
the thrill of the righteous avenger The
malicious brute who had twice de-
stroyed the wares of the poor little
image-vender would soon be sent to the
island. And a good riddance for the
community. One of the police opened
the door and they entered. They saw at
one side of the room long work bench
covered with plaster images The icon
oclast sat there, carefully mending a
broken figure. The woman was lean
Ing over his shoulder, laughing as they
chatted in their own language.
"Eh, always say 1t, Pietro, you have
holy hand at mending themI 1t not,
we might lose by the game
II don't say, Madonna, that ST. Sam
uel is better than new, but at least he
will stick until he takes another tum-
ble."
So that was their trickl A piece of
real Neapolitan cunning. Broughton
decided that he ought to have seen
through 1t sooner. The woman caught
sight of the visitors, and ran forward
with hands clasped; I'VE amt done-a
nottin," she pleaded. Dis our beez-a-
ness. We all-a-right-a."
Yes, you're all right" said Brough-
ton, impulsively. 1T was my mistake
L owe you dollar for it," And he laid
silver dollar on the work bench of
Images. The Italian looked up with a
real Neapolitan smile, radiant, many
toothed, wide and Irresponsible
Tell me about it," said the reporter.
You not give-a me way, gent'men
cops?"
mo; go on"
Look, it Ikea dis. We not sell i'm
age. And say, you hear-a me, Marian
ma. we get more money to break all!
she carry de image. Den l come-a with
grand-a force-a. Patatrac! All ruin-a
A-a-a-ar me! Dat, Mariana. A-ah,
poor! Dat people! Somebody t''ke-a
money in hat. Dont-a cry, poor woman!
After. l mend-a what-a can. After, 1,
Mariana. babies, all eat. See?"
All this time the wife stood with four
rather clean and very beautiful child
rem clinging to her skirts, and peeping
shyly at the strangers, How could
Broughton or any one else blame this
happy family?
Indeed, Broughton has never formu-
lated his views upon the case, although
he used to take social problems very
seriously Whenever he meets Pietro in
the street they exchange a glance of in
telligence. Sometimes the Neapolitan,
by quick gesture, indicates Marianne
farther along the avenue.
And then Broughton, If he has time,
assists at the nth performance of the
comedy of the conoclast.-IIliZabeth
Pullen in st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The Keeley Institute,
a direct authorized branch of the parent
house al Dwight, Ill.,, has been opened
at 1866 w. Second North, Salt Lake City,
on the line of the street railway running
to Warm Springs.