The Wilmington daily Republican., 1899-08-03

Ond Tommy thought that sno might
faint. and he hurried to put flask to
her lips while the newspaper man ran
for water She motioned the flask away.
Her eyes went piteously to the girl
"shan't help you outf" said Tom.
my. The words rolled back in the roof
of his mouth at the girls expression.
1--WE don't haf got no more money,
said she stolidly 1.-THE me her has been
saving for this year and also, and 1t
was $a7, but we haf also the car fare.
We bid all. 1t was not enough. No.
don't look, don't lookl" she cried in
her own tongue But the old woman
rose and watched the successful bidder
lift down the box, an irrepressible moan
bursting through her lips
"Say. why do you want the box'
asked Tommy. "Can't r.
ut was by mine vater." said the
girl "Dey vas lif 33 years by vun an.
udder, und dey vas nafar qvuarel, but
ven dey COON over he vas die on der
road, und dey put him in der sea. She
didn't have notings no grave. Und dey
vas charge 80 mooch vat you call it duty
dat We don't can take der box. und SO
she md We save But 1t vas NO usa
Koom, koomr'
She declined the tin cup which the
reporter was holding rather helplessly
at them. and would have supported her
mother out of the room. The old wom-
an looked dizzy She only said in Ger
man, at was bis picture. my Emils
pictured"
"You wait minute" said Tommy
"Don't you stir from her, and I'll see
If | can't buy that back. There is moth
ing Of value-no money. no watchf
He hardly waited their denial to rush
off with the unheeded and amused re-
porter at his heels The latter thought
fully poured the water on the floor be-
fore he put the tin cup on window
sill.
The junk dealer had his box on the
floor meditating over it, a screwdriver
in his hand. as if preparing to open it
by the hinges 1t was clumsy box OF
wood with iron hinges A friend near
by wagged sympathizing and curious
head on the other side.
"lnvoiced at sls, said the friend.
"That amt no sl2 box Dorryr
Tommy. whose hurry had been dis
placed by the idlest sauntering air,
craned his neck forward THAT'S
right. said he :There ain $ls worth
of truck in that box The governments
got great head running this kind of
lottery business Things of value are
bound to be claimed.
The junk dealer playfully cooked one
eye lyon trying to buy that box. my
Christian friendt'
"Big finds in those boxes sometimes.
aaid the junk dealers crony.
"Big disappointments too. aaid
Tommy. 81 bet that you'll be swear
ing mad when you open that box.
"How much do you betf'' sneered
the junk dealer, trying his screwdriver
on the heads of the screws.
"Well. bet S. to nickel you can't
sell the whole contents of that box for
S12. How's that?"
Two or three men drew nearer, and
instantly dozen more were drawn by
the sight of them, as is the way Of a
crowd
SIS it kind Of game?' said one
man.
''I'm not likely to make much by
it," said Tommy "Five dollars to
nickel"
LET see your money" said the re-
porter, glancing out of the tail of his
eye at the dealer, whom be knew
slightly
The dealer laughed. He WASH t afraid
of games, he said, and he proifered his
nickel to the reporter Tommy gravely
placed n bank note beside it.
"Well" said the dealer, II don't OBJ
ject to giving you all a peep But
VINO s to decide as TO the valuef''
"You car. pick two men and I'll pick
one, said Tommy carelessly As he
anticipated, the dealer chose his friend
and the reporter Tommy hit at random
on a grave and rubicund man who had
the attitude and the wide footed stand
ing posture of a steamer deck.
The dealer found little difficulty in
wrenching one-half of the hinges free.
He lifted the lid and forced it back on
the lock.
'.Let the referees take out the
things. said Tommy.
There was revealed at first glimpse
nothing better than neatly folded
layer of coarse and worn woolen cloth
ing, the cause of the heavy duty. These
displaced by the seamen. there came
cheap German Bible, pair of heavy,
patched shoes, and small box orna.
mented with shells, most Of which were
broken. At the sight Of the box the
dealers color turned. and he held out his
hand I'll take that, said he. ''Iho
value Of the box is in therel'
'No, you won t take it. Play fair,
raid Tommy. ''But | guess you are
right about the value Of the box being
there Please open it. captain.
The saior-he really was first
mate, but he took the title without
wincing--lifted the unlocked cover Of
the box and took ont photograph of n
man The man in his i'll fitting tidy
holiday suit. with smile on his honest
face, and both large, toll marked hands
spread on his knees was, one could
easily guess. the owner of the clothes
in the box,
'Thats all, " said the sailor
The reporter and the other represent
ative Of the junk dealer quickly veri.
fed his words That was all An oath
slid between the dealers teeth. He
seized on the clothes and examined ev.
cry pocket, every seam Some one made
jocose comment, and the crowd
laughed.
"No." said Tommy, II won't take
your money. knew what was in that
trunk, and that poor old soul who had
been saving for year knew too. Gen
Glemen" turned to the crowd,
sizahle number by this time and agog
with curiosity--''let me explain, "
So-Tommy with all the fiery Irish
eloquence in his power explained. And
then, while the crowd settled closer, he
Aunu his offor Mt the he Wil1erpl dealer