The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-10

'Ae way. LiE' tlIlc 0rOuSltOu did not
stay to act as CONSIDER The aggressor
had walked OF rapidly, and the reportey
followed him. After five minutes chase
they turned into an unspeakably dirty
alley, where the Italian entered !. door
way without noticing that any one Dur
sued him. Broughton, having made sure
that he should recognize the house
again, FASTENED to the nearest police
station and told tho story.
'She was aquict, decent little body, "
he said to the officer. That great, hulk
ing brute struck her OH purpose the sec
ond time, even admitting that the first
time might have been by accident
Two policemen were detailed to ao-
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 dark
and broken stairs they climbed. Brough-
ton shrunk from contact with the Shiny
walls. 1t seemed to him that evil odors
were depositing themselves there in n
pestilential fungous growth At last they
emerged upon u landing. A child leaned
over the baluster of the story above.
Brouehton tossed him a nickel.
My little man, is there an Italian
living i'll this housc?''
The child picked up the coin and
stared i'll silence
Say, kid, is dcro dago heree" one
of the policemen translated
The boy pointed with 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 DESTROYED
the wares of the poor little image vend
or would soon be sent to the island. And
a good radiance for the community.
One of the police opened the door, and
they entered. They saw mt one side of the
room long work bench, covered with
plaster images. The iconoclast sat there,
carefully mcnding broken figure. Tho
woman was leaning over his shoulder,
laughing us they chatted i'll their own
language.
Eth. always say it, Pietro, You
have holy hand ut mcnding them! If
not, we might lose by the game. "
II don't say, Marianne, that St Sam
uel is better than new, but at least he
Will stick until he takes another tur.-
BILE. -
So that was their trick! a piece of
real Neapolitan cunning. Broughton de-
cided that he ought to have seen through
1t sooner Tho woman caught sight Of
the visitors, and ran forward with hands
clasped: "We amt done-a nottin," she
pleaded. ''Dis our beez-a-ness. We all
a-right-a -
Yes, you re all right" said Brough-
ton impulsivcly. at was nv mistake.
l owe you IL dollar for it." And he laid
silver dollar OH the work bench of the
maker, breaker and mcnder of images.
The Italian looked up with real Nca-
politan smile, radiant. many toothed.
wide and irresponsible.
Tell me about it, said the reporter
You not gire-a me way, gent'mcn
cops"
mo. Go on
Look, it Ikea dis. We not sell i'm
age And say, you hear-a me, Marian
IA, we get more money to break ALI
| She carry dc image. Den 1 come-a with
GRANDPA force-a. Patatrac! All ruin a
A-a-a-ar me! Dat Mariana. A-ah.
poor Dat people! Somebody take a
money i'll hat. Don't-a cry, poor woman
| After, mendn what-a can. After, L,
Mariana, babies. all cat. See:"
All this time the wife stood with four
rather clean and very beautiful children
clinging to her skirts, and pceping 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 Sc
riously Whenever he meets Pietro in
the street they exchange glance of in
tellgcncc. Sometimes the Neapolitan,
by quick gesture, indicates Mariana
farther along the avenue.
And then Broughton, if he has time,
assists at the nth performance of the
comedy of the iconoclast. Elizabeth
| Pullen i'll st. Louis Globe Democrat.