Middletown transcript., 1896-06-20

i
go This was moi
an unusual at
tention in the alley. where mud was
asily found in the vicinity of CRITTERS
and there were times when Jakey would
have accepted it with unconcern, bui
now he said, sullenly: ''Lemme 'lone,
can't yerp"
"S'posin' l don't? Wot yer goii'
ter do about it?" questioned he tormen
tor. Wouldn't knock me down. would
yer? Oh, Pm afraid! See me trimble. "
He swayed with knees shifting each
other as in terror. A laugh went up
from some boys playing at jackstones
with pebbles. "Oh, mel Oh, mel l I'm
afread of baby Jake.
The viens stood out on Jakey's fore
head, his hands clenched. He sprang
down the steps and planted his head
in the stomach of the offender. Both
boys fell together, but Jakey was up
first and off down the alley followed
by applause of spectators and threats
of the enraged bully who raced after.
His bare feet carried him swiftly
around the corner, where he dodged in
to sheltering doorway to watch his
larger pursuer pant by. Tommy Magee
had vowed to "wipe the street, with
him, and would fulfill that VOW were
the obj of it again within reach.
"I'n light out. No use livin' here
with all them furrinels, anyway"
thought Jakey, disdainfully. And with
that he shook the dust of Turkey alley
from his feet-and patterd down side
street, through another, up another
and on until the buddle of dingy build
ings and dingy humanity was left be-
hind and he found himself on one of
New York's stately avenues.
Falling in with benevolent driver,
he was allowed to ride on his wagon to
the Grand Central Railroad station,
on condition of helping him on their
arrival 1t were idle to give time and
space to narrate how New York street
boy scraped acquaintance witha a wagon
driver. Suffice il to say that the boy
did it, and that it lead to results that
changed the whole current of his life.
On one or two of the packages that he
helped his chance friend to dispose of
was The name miss Letitia Pender-
gast" and the address Greenfield Conn.
The boy could read. Greenfield had a
pleasant rural sound, and he pictured
to himself Miss Letitia Prendergast.
an aunt endowed with much worldly
wealth.
"Why hasn't got an aunt in Green
lield?" he humorously questioned of
himself. "Course l has-come ter think
of it. Won't she be orful glad to see
me thought? Bet she will. Goodbye,
New York. 'Rah, Greenfield" Then
he was saying aloud: "Here, Teddy,
yer'ye dropped yer handkerchief"
She was an elderly lady, with sweet
face under white hair, and Ishe smiled
down at him.
Thank you. But. oh. deai! I've
lost my tlcketl Didn't you find a
ticket Ito Greenfield in the handler.
chief?''
How wide and innocent were Jakey IS
eyes.
"Don't see no ticket at all, 'm."
'sHow careless Of me-" she murmur-
ed, then let herself be CARED on by
passengers.
Chuckling to himself Jakey took a
pasteboard slip from under Ills foot.
"Blest if I amt in luck! Ticket ter
she said-an' here Ills. Ja-
key, me boy. yer won't need ter steal
no ride in the bagga cal! Thet comes
o. knowin' how" He winked after
the woman as she disappeared through
The car door. ''Now, I'll be ridin' like
The President, with money in me pock-
ct.
Never did railroad king loll with
more lordly air upon velvet cushioned
seat than did Jakey of Turkey alley
as the train rushed away fiom crowd
ing walls and stir of traffic and hurry
Of humanity which go to make up
great eity-away out where spaces
we, e ample, and houses hid from each
other and woods we're russell and yell
low and red, and the sunny October
air was untainted by vile gases. Jak-
ey's heart swelled high with wonder
and delight, that the world should be
so large and that he really had started
out to seek his fortune,in l.. The con-
ductor glanced keei.ly at tile dirty,
ragged little fellow AS he punched his
ticket, bu. Jakey was used to keen
glances.
"How long fore We gets ter G reel-
lield?,
Next station but one. Due there in
an hall hour" 1t was spoken shortly
for conductor is only a human be-
ing and this one WAS working over
Time. Jakey heard him speaking al
most as shortly TO the passengers. be-
hind. II am not to blame If you've
ost your ticket, madam. Fare..:f you
please"
81 haven't the money. | thought 1
had change enough, but Pve ouly this.
II you'll take it p.l send yon the rest"