The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-16
HAD IA. LOST A QUARTER
PATHETIC STORY OF A STREET
URCHIN UNDER SEARCH LIGHT :.
OF INQUIRY
HE TELLS. THE STORY WELL

HE TELLS THE STORY WELL
As Needs Must BE, Because He Tells
1t Often and to So Many Differ
ent People-ArtfuI Ruse of a
Gamin to Prey Upon the Sympa-
thies of His Auditors-What Mr..
Hutchins Says of the Game.
What's the matter. my boy. wherefore
all these weeps." laughingly inquired
kindly disposed pedestrian of a small.
dirtyfaced boy who Numbered dismally
as he wandered along Sixth street the
other evening just before the perform
ance commenced at the Grand opera
house.
81 lost quarter, boo-hoo," mournfully
replied the sorrowful youth. as he draw
his coat sleeve across his face, and gave
vent to a prolonged shuttle. The str set
was well filled with people going toward
the theater, and while each turned to sur
vey the weeping boy they alt like the
Pharlsee, passed by on the other side.
leaving the kindly disposed Samaritan ito
interrogate the youth, and If possible Ito
ossuage the fountain of tears that gave
no indication of cessation.
You lost quarter? Why, that's
strange thing for big boy like you TO
cry about. Where did you lose it.?
Il don't know where 1 lost it, boo-hoo.
1 lost 1T out OF my pocket what's got a
hole in it,"
Well, can't you get another quarter
when you get home,'' cheerfully suggest
ed the benevolent one.
No. I'll get a lickin II go home. Ny
mother Civ me the quarter to get some
cough medicine for her." and the lad
continued 20 sob profusely.
So your mothers sick. is she? Well.
where do you live, and what's your
name?"
Frank Giasiki and live under the high
bridge, on the fats" replied the boy, as
he shivered trifie, and made an effort
to draw his buttonless jacket more tight
ly around him.
His -questioner hesitated, then glanced
quickly up and down the street to make
sure that no acquaintance were observ-
ms the incident, and then said: well, I
don't know, I'm sure. I'm afraid you are
only pretending. You know there are lots
of bad little boys around town who tell
just such stories to get people to give
them money. and then spend 1t for other
things
Yes. ma am shivered the boy. ''but I
amt tellin' no story" and he proceeded
to resume his weeping with renewed
vigor
There, now; don't make so much noise
about it. Look up and let me see If those
tears are. genuine, and then come with
me-"
The boy raised mournful and very
dirty face, down which great. crocodile
tears were coursing.
"All right, I'll risk it." observed the
charitable newspaper woman as she men
tally figured how she could manage to
get that quarter carried into her weekly
expense account. you come with me to
a. drug store. and I will get you a bottle
of cough medicine for your mother"
They started down Sixth street, the boy.
meanwhile. allowing his sobs to become
less and less frequent. and when they
reached Wabashas be turned towards
Fifth street. =
Here where are you goiny:" inquired
his companion.
THE drug store she told me to go to
is down here replied tho dtminutivo
weeper as he pointed gr!niy index fin
ger in the direction Of the river "Oh,
never mind that. Here Is u drug store
right across the street that will do, every
bit as well, md the poor, misguided
scribe set her teeth and deLefminedly
forced her way through a throng of
street loafers, closely followed by her
mournfll protege into a spacious phar--
macy where she briefly related the case
to the smiling young druggist and in
quired il he considered the charity a
worthy enc.
1T looks genuine" he said. after a
moments contemplation Of the youth
who, at the slight Indication of hesitancy
and suspicion on the part of his benefac7.
tress, was preparing to begin his weep
ing anew.
tot,
IDLY soliloquiZed the woman as she care
fully extracted a quarter from her purse
and prepared to select bottle Of cough
mixture from the geodiy assortment rec
commended by the druggist. Il wonder If
the youngster knows Mr.. Hutchins?"
ooh, yes. ma am" quickly iuterspersed
the youngster referred to. II know him
My mother gets work there. She scrubs
and gets sewing.
That statement Immediately settled the
matter of the purchase Of the medicine
and the boy was speedily given the Gus
toby of Decent vial and three nice.
bright nickels, for which he murmured
profuse thanks and achieved great sue
cess in his efforts to assume an innocent
end grateful expression Of countenance
The druggist politely held the door ajar
and the boy passed out into the night
The newspaper woman turned to pick
UP the folds of her Gown, proceeded down
the steps and looked around for the
grateful object of her charity lie was
not there. She looked up Wabasha and
down Wabasha. She walked to the cor
ner and hastily scanned Sixth street in
both directions. She gazed at the stars
and then glanced in a bewidering man.
ner at the huge piles Of snow on the
ground. But the boy had disappeared as
suddenly and as completely as though
transferred into vspOr. She felt her face
grow crimson with the knowledge that
she had been yictimized by child a
clever little street arab who probably
only wanted lime to get a front seat
In the gallery to witness the first produc,
ton of Hogans Alley in ST. Paul
But revenge is sweet and the Journal
istic samaritan Immediately called I'D M.
l.. Hutchins, of the Relief society.
Yes said that gentleman, II know
the boy and the entire family. They have
been yictimizing ST. Paul people all win
ter. He is not the only one either We
have on our lists the names given by
several other boys who have become yery
adept In shamning grief and aff1iction
and who have sWindled people cut of any
number of quarters and dimes by that
very same story. II the people would
only report such cases more frequently
to me before dispensing charity 1t would
be better for their pecketbeoks and bet
ter for the mendicants themselves. The
same boy who lost the quarter tonight
Is without doubt the one who lost dime
this afternoon. If all the stories told by
the small frauds were true the streets
of st. Paul would be a veritable Klon-
dixie and pedestrians instead Of RAISING
along and giving money away would be
picking up enough nickels, quarters and
dimes to stock the Lenten mite boxes
Of u MI 1I10y- - 10.