The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15
HE WOULD NOT TAKE J1MsEY's AMERICAN MONEY

small crowd Of boys and girls gazing curl
ousIy at him :and the green American mon
ey He was .ust putting the small change
away in his pocket when one boy, holder
, than the others. reached forward, snatched
away the half dollar and ran as fast as
his legs woull carry him up the street
Jimsey flung the loose change in his
pocket. but still holding the bills in his
hand gave chase to the Juvenile robber
Jimsey was a. swift runner and would have
overtaken the thief, but just as ne was
turning a corner a foot was projected and
Jimsey went zprawling on the street. When
he picked himself up he found his bills
missing and an unsympathetic crowd about
him.
1T amt no use TO squeal." said Jimsey
ito himself. bravely. and then. with fine
show of uncO1cern. he asked:
Say, feIlerS, whereabouts is Newspaper
row." !
''Booksellers' row, you mean" said one.
mo. I DON'T. / mean Newspaper row
the place who're the newspapers are sold"
"Oh. that's down in Stonecutter street.
or whitefriars street"
Ii was about three miles distant, but
with the occasional help of a policeman
Jimsey found mis- way to StOnecutter street,
for there, he telt. lay his chance of making
a living-sellihg newspapers. He still had
the loose change, and for the newspaper
business that was no small capital.
Jimsey surveyed the big Star building
with an air o. a capitalist about TO invest
fortunes, and having satisfied himself from
observation OF the newsies rushing hither
and thither that it good field for his
energies ne Went into a little restaurant
and ordered a frugal meal.
And here Jirnsey's real troubles in Eng
land began. His New York slang was ma
ture itself to him. and he could not drop it
for simpler speech. when he asked for
"a pale Jew and a shipwreck' the waiter
Indignantly re.orted:
'G'arn, quit yer kiddin''
Jimsey had difficulty in explaining that
ne wanted onl. cup OF coffee and beef
stew. When St came to paying. Jimsey
produced a dine. 1t rejected as bad
money. for to- the waiter all money not
English was bad money. but after lengthy
explanations and much ringing of the coin
upon the coun9er to test its metal it was
accepted.
new edition OF the Star was just being
sold when Jimfey went into the street and
he took place among the crowd strug
Cling to buy papers. He got thirteen to be-
gin with. and handed up dime 10 pay for
them. The mar behind the counter reached
out a long arm. grabbed the papers from
Jimsey and thfew the dime on the floor.
Bad bad,l ibad.l. Get out! Go away!
scoot. Scat! and go hence-bad money
amt wanted here" and ne almost shooed
Jimsey out OF Che place.
Jimsey picked up the dime disconsolately
IT was hard Is get used to these English
ways. With hapds in pockets he went out
side the door, .and. surveying the rushing
crowds OF bOys who had secured their pa
pers. spoke aloud Of his luck.
Tis the toughest graft I ever struck
against" said limsey, who had not noticed
q tall clean-sHaven man standing by the
door. This man. smiled when he heard Jim
sey's slang. for he had come from New
York himself. lind instantly recognized in
Jimsey a fellow citizen.
When Jimseyt had givC2 him a truthful
account of his adventures, he said:
well. I'll give you English money for
your American and then you can buy your
stock"
He gave the boy several shillings. and
thus Jimsey was established as a London
newsboy.
Jimsey was energetic, had a good voice
and swift legs and he made success Of
tie newspaper. business from the start.
When he came 10 know London better he
learned that money was to be made by
bringing reports OF fires and accidents TO
the Offices OF thA evening papers. and MANY
half crown and five shillings he earned
ir that way. His friend who had changed
his money always took a quiet interest in
HIM and as he was one OF the editors OF