The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-16
Jim's Good Luck.

a Small boy $1,000 LOOKING ~ NJ the
window Of bakery. lie was fafT cd.
dirty and uncombed JUST ~ this 'ipc he
was hungry. too. for 1otling in :he way
Of work was Offering. Jim was one Of the
great city's orphans. AMI made Ais living
as Dee hest could by odd iOhs. BLt 30 far
that morning no one within his range
had wanted an errand run. steps swept.
or horse held.
How very good the -usks inside that
window looked. Drowned exactly 10 the
brown which anybody knows tastes
exactly the best with a shine
which made the brown stll more
luxurious. Jim always wondered how il
got ON them. But at this particular time
DE was wondering how he could contrive
10 get for himself one or two of them.
shine and an.
He drew little nea~cr 70 count She
rows ON rows of the rusks. AZ baked in
one sOli1 piece. and 10 make a calcula-
tion Of how many he could eat If anyone
Should make such an unheard-of
remark AS: come. my boy, help
yourself and eat an you can" Gyp.,
the lame boot-hlack. around the corner.
told "a story of "a man who once said such
thing 10 a strcet-boy. But Gyp told
hundreds of stories. and everybody knew
that such things only happened i'm stories
Jim's attention was drawn from the
rusks 10 a man who leaned against an
iron railing while he talked 10 anothe-
man. The railing went along a grating
over an opening into basement which
was used for storing fuel The man had
quarter I'm his hand which ne was TOSS
ING up and catching.
Look ont" exclaimed jim.
but this exclamation came too late 10
40 any good. The quarter had missed fine
man hand. There was little metallic
ring and the coin disappeared between
the bars of the grating.
I'm got down on his hands and knees.
III went through De said.
Yes. said the man
This could be got up" said Jim. taking
hold of one OF the bars.
~ KS no matter said the man, as he
walked away. 'lf IL were gold. il would
be worth while"
pr somebody might go down in The
cellar Jim called after him.
Go yourself, then. You may have II
AEain Jim peered between the bars.
WISulhs ne could reach if from the ont
sue hut that WIS impossible so no
went INTO The store and told Mr. Viu
tue baker about the lost quarter,
Ana you want 10 get H. hov2"
Wen, the window inside the t,ratfnP>s
haiied up hut here's a hatchet and you
Jims heart beat fast as he made his
way through the basement 4 quarter
ana all his own lie bad never han so
much in his life. Tho first thing wouig
DE breakfaSt-rusk9 six when Won
houeht five cents worth a wholesale
dealing in which Jim had never before
INDUCED.
with an amount Of dust. which set him
sneezing the window was oncned and
Jim began carefully searching among tho
shaNlnEs. bits OF paper and cigar ends
which lay three or four inches deep un-
def The grating. II was very evident
mat tho shovcling in % the coal ala not
UIefuTn much Gffrrfrtt~
bon hands his quick hands soon caught
the CLEAN OF silver
There us No-why It's ten cents.
Some one else must "a dropped IT,"
With quick movements he continued
"A cont.
What a treasure house IL was inns
face grew grave with sublucd excite
ment as no thought OF the years and
years in which the old bakery had proha-
bly, stood there. and the chances that
eidung had had OF gathering in stray
DTS OF change.
The quarter soon appeared having been
hidden By only a lose shaving or two.
But Jim now began. from the farthest
corner out. a careful stirring of the coal
bish
Another dime A two-ceut piece And
could il be? Another quarter 4 nickel
another. More cents Then as ne stirred
out a remote corner with biz OF stick
Ills heart gave a sudden jump That was
NOT Ni II copper OF Wllfe silver. IL SnOle
yellow. like the sun which was throwing
IN "a bright rey. IL was gold
Jim had never come near enough 10
gold 10 know exactly how much this
piece might be worth But he knew it
was a great deal Enough 10 buy more
than q nundl ca rusks.
There vas q little tromble I'm his hands
40 he kept on until he had gone through
the whole OF the ruhbs. Then he stop
ped 20 count his wealth
Six dollars and fhirty-fve cents. Scarce
" could he restrain a whOop OF delight.
Was ever before such fortunate boy
But suddenly into his heart came tho
thought:
And thought crowded thought as he
nailed az the window.
II found it-CoLrse I ala. It's been
there FOR months AMI years. likely. IT'S
not anybody olsCs. 'Tisn't Mr. Hils. II
ia had "a been 'usn't likely he'd a let
II stay there In the dirt Course It's
mine Course there's no need O my tell
] glad 1 never had so much money in
my life"
III Jim was 50 glad why was 81 that he
went with slow step and downcast eyes
10 return the ihatchet TO Mr. Hi? lie
had made up his mind not 70 let him
know OF the finding OF anything more
than the quarter. And he did not stop
10 esk himself VIII. he did not want Mr.
Iil 10 know he had found anything else
"Fornd III" asked Mr.. HIN.
Yes" said Jim. without raising his
eyes.
lin walked cut OF the store without
having sry rusks. He hsE fcgotten all
sAaut them. II he bad found only the