Holbrook argus., 1901-09-21

ragged little shirt, and somehow that
mother face seemed to come to him
more clearly when anything tempted
him that was not just square"
"Extryv' yelled Jimmy suddenly.
And Stub started up with the rest of
the boys as the gong sounded down the
alley. The next moment he was in
line, struggling and yelling with the
rest, while the men showed bundles of
papers out to them and they paid for
their little brass checks at the window.
Then he was on the street with the
cry that the men had given out: "EX-
tryi All about de big railway ax'dent!
Extryw
Along the running board Of an cleo
trio car he darted to the smokers seats.
They were always the most hopeful.
An elderly gentleman boarded the car
at the same time and motioned Stub.
He stood on the running board as Stub
gave him the paper and took the coin.
Then the boy dropped to the ground.
AS he did so something rolled at his
feet-something bright and glittering.
Stub stopped and picked it up, and 1t
proved to be a plain gold locket, with
one spot of vivid light in the center.
And Stub gasped as he realized that
he held in his hand what was, to him,
dazzling light was a diamond of con-
siderable size.
Stub, tightly grasping his valuable
find in his hand, darted through the
throng of wagons and carriages to the
sidewalk. There he stood staring after
the car at was der OF gents" he
muttered to himself. 81 seen it swing
from der chain Nv his ticker. 1t mus
Nv caught in der seat as he got in del
car. An'-an'-he looks a rich I'm. He
kin buy anudder-lots more. An'-an
mel amt had a square meal dis
summer"
The papers were under his arm, for
gotten. The locket was clenched in his
fist. And down the crowded street be
could see the car that bore the elderly
gentleman, slowly making its way. He
watched it duly. Then he muttered tt
himself again.
'It-it goes round der loop. It-goe!
round der loop"
Far down the street he saw it at las
turn corner and disappear. Then h'
turned and looked up the street at hi
left. In a few minutes the car would
pass that corner block above.
HE kin-buy more" he mutterec
the words again, still watching tina
corner. Then suddenly the crowded
street blurred for a moment and b.
saw that sweet mother-face that some
times seemed so dim when he trie,
hardest to remember it. 1t was so clea
now-so clear!
Stub swallowed lump In his throat
: then with one spring he cleared tn
: gutter, lodged an express van, bumpe
. against a stately policeman, swun
around a changing automobile and foot
i ed 1t as fast as he could up the crowd
l ed sidewalk. In and out the crow
of business men and shopping wome
g he darted like an eel, then swung t
l the curb as he neared the corner. Be
S yond him was the car, already cross
j ing the street Setting his teeth, Stu
: again cleared the gutter with boun
and flew up the track.
: The motor and trailer were boun(
d ing ahead, but an italian, with his fru
cart got in the way. 1t was moment
pause, and Stub did his best. Pantin
and gasping, he reached the traile
Il caught the rail and sprang to tn
: step. Then he saw the elderly gentl'
: man, quietly reading the paper Stu
i had sold him.
y Stopping at his elbow, Stub reache
y out grimy little fist between the gol
y eye glasses and the paper, and opene
{ his fingers.
please, sir, yer dropped it. An
II an 1 jest ketched der car"
IS The elderly gentleman stared at IL
FL locket, picked it up from the grin
hand, and then Stub quietly droppe
to the ground as the conductor pusht
Ii him to one SIDE Making his way
C. the sidewalk, Stub stood still for m
ment.