El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24

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 WON
an looked dizzy She only said in Ger
man, at was his picture, my Emil 5
picturel'
"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 watch2'
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 a window
sill
The junk dealer had his box on the
floor, meditating over it, screwdriver
in his hand. as if preparing to open it
by the hinges. 1t was a clumsy box Of
wood with iron hinges A friend near
by wagged sympathizing and curious
head on the other side.
'sInvoiced at STA said the friend.
''That aim no $12 box. Dorryl"
{ Tommy. whose hurry had been dis
placed by the idlest sauntering air.
craned his neck forward. ''That' s
right. said he. ttThere amt $12 worth
of truck in that box The government s
got a great head running this kind of
lottery business. Things of value are
bound to be claimed.
The junk dealer playfully cooked one
eye. "You trying to buy that box. my
Christian friendf'
''Big finds in those boxes sometimes.
said the junk dealers crony.
'tBig disappointments, too" said
Tommy. II bet that you'll be swear
ing mad when you open that box
Chow much do you betf" sneered
the junk dealer, trying his screwdriver
on the heads of the screws.
''Well, l bet So to a nickel you can't
sell the whole contents of that box for
$12. 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 gamer said one
man.
'I'm not likely to make much by
it, said Tommy. Give dollars to a
nickelr'
''Let's see your money" said the re-
porter, glancing out of the tail of his
eye at the dealer, whom he knew
slightly.
The dealer laughed. He WASH t afraid
of games, he said, and he proffered his
nickel to the reporter. Tommy gravely
placed bank note beside it.
'tWell, " said the dealer. 81 don't OBJ
ject TO giving you all a peep. But
who's to decide as to the value?''
jcl- icl-
one said Tommy carelessly. AS he
the dealer chose his friend
and the reporter Tommy hit at random
the attitude and the wide footed stand
ing posture of IL steamer deck.
The dealer found little difficulty in
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
better than Il neatly folded
layer of coarse and worn wooden cloth
ing, the cause of the heavy duty. These
displaced by the seamen, there came a
cheap German Bible, pair of heavy
patched shoes, and a small box orna-
mented with shells. most of which were
broken. At the sight of the box the
dealer color turned, and he held out his
hand. IN take that, said he. 1.-The
value of the box is in there!''
''No, you won't take it. Play fair,
said Tommy. ''But 1 guess you are
right about the value of the box being
here. Please open it, captain"
The sailor-he really was a first
mate, but ne took the title without
wincing-lifted the unlocked cover of
he box and took out photograph of a
nan. The man in his ill fitting tidy
holiday suit, with smile on his honest
ace, and both large, toll marked hands |
pread on his knees, was, one could !
'asily guess, the owner of the clothes |
n the box.
''That's ALL, said the sailor,