The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-15
A STOLEN PIE.

SsSOuu LTlSco&A uoO uOU to8I6O IOOO IOT 20
hours He was absolutely penniless. AZ
he walked up Fifth avenue, clad In fash
ionable suit Of clothes, with a shiny silk
hat on his head, few people could suspect
that he was suffering for want of food.
He pursued his course up Fifth avenue
and finally reached Central park.
Weak and faint, but still maintaining
an Indifferent mien, he entered the park.
He strolled along its shady lanes, pausing
st some water fountain to quench his
thirst.
He sat down at intervals and rested his
weak limbs, but the act of sitting seemed
to remind him more Of his hunger.
1t Is hard trial for a young, vigorous
and healthy man to 90 for any great length
of time without food, and especially SO In
q rich, populous city. II he had been
dressed In rags, he would have begged, but
Il was utterly impossible for him to do
that with his present appearance.
After awhile no found himself In very
secluded part of the park. He seated him
self on a bench by the lake The birds
were gayly singing overhead, there was q
fragrant scent OF flowers in the air, the
waters were rippling and sparkling, and
themselves on the breast Of the lake. The
sounds Of childish laughter and merry
shouts were waited to his ears. He felt
moody and despondent; he wished no wera
a swan or duck, or bird-in fact, anything
but human being. He .cursed fate; hs
cursed everything. my God, he thought,
"how 1 would like n morsel Of foodp' He
felt like committing robbery, murder,
any crime at all, only something that
would bring him food.
A light footstcp near him aroused him
from his reveric. There before him stood
u fat, chubby, rosy checked little child,
gazing at him with wide, staring eyes. In
his plump little hands he held u large
homemade pie.
Driscoll started up. The sight of that
pie was most tantalizing In Its effect upon
him. How he would like to eat It'll
There was no one In the Immediate vi
cinity, no one to observe him. The child
was fat and we'll fed, and he (DriscolD was
starving.
He arose and approached the child. my
little man." said he, smiling rs graciousiy
as 1t was possible for him to do, come
here"
What have You there, my dear?" said
Driscoll, "pie?"
18th, thir," lispcd the little one.
"Let me sec it, baby" he said, but the
little one shook his head and held the pin
behind his back. ~
Come" said Driscoll, won't baby let
me see It's pie?"
The child gravely gave negative shake
of the head.
''Please let unclo see it," said Driscoll
coaxingly and mt the same time making
an effort to take 1t.
"No, no; me ANTS 1t, :" said baby.
"Let me have 1t" said Driscoll impa-
tiently.
The little ono made movement az
though to run away.
Tired of importuning the baby and fear
full lest its mother or nurse should appear
and spoil his opportunity, he suddenly
bent his face close to that Of the child. As
suming the most diabolical and forbilding
expression 10 was possible for him to do,
ne hissed out, "Givc me that pie; give me
that pie quick, or III murder and eat you.
quick"
The child gave terrified scream, let thu
pie drop at DrscQll's feet and scampcred
down side path As rapidly as his short
little legs could travel. Driscoll quickly
picked the pic up held 1t In one hand.
which he placed in the breast of his coat,
and sauntered nonchalantly away. In a
few moments he heard in the rear of him
the little child: There he goes nusscy;
there no goes, nussey. He got my pie.
Nonsense, child" said female voice,
"that gentleman did not take It, 1t was
some one else"
The child persisted in his statement, but
the nurse refused to believe 1t, and mean
while Driscoll had passed beyond hearing.
He wanted to find some quiet spot where,
unmolested, he could eat his stolen pie,
but everywhere he went he found ono or
more persons. At leIfgth he reached u
very secluded out of tho way corner, and,
sitting himself on the grass, drew forth
his precions pie.
Tho righteousness Of tho thing now
struck him, and he burst into hearty
peal of laughter. He held the pie at arms
length and looked at 1t. He was just about
to place 1t to his mouth; but, alas and
alack, there Is many slip 'twixt cup
and lipr' A great, large Newfoundland
dog mt this juncture jumped from clumP
of bushes, snatched the pie from his hands
and bosndcd swiftly away.
Poor Briscoll All the mcrriment fled
from his heart at once. His pie was gone.
am afraid he gave vent to his feelings In
rather more profanc language than IL
would he well to record here.
Fate is against me, he sadly muttercd
as he arose TO his feet and walked away.
"My God" he thought, "have l got to
starve to death surrounded by plenty? II
is pretty hard. Well, I will hold up as long
as have strength, only It Is hard death"
When he turned out Of the park, IL was
well along In the afternoon. He wandered
aimlessly along the streets, scarcely know
ing In which direction he was going.
As he passed certain house he heard q
childish voice In his rear exclaim, Papa,
papa, there II the man that took my piel'
Turning, he beheld the identical little
child whose pie he had taken clinging ta
the hand OF gentleman, evidently just re-
turning from business.
The gentleman's face seemed familiar,
and no sooner had he scanned Driscoll's
countenarcc than he cried out, John
Driscoll, how are your" and at tho same
time held out his hand for the other to
take. This Driscoll did, and as remem-