The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-26
PlETRO'S DAUGHTER.
BY JOHN NELSON.

Copyright. 1902. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Pietro was a familiar figure in The
Planet editorial rooms. and the men. the
old men, that is had begun to look upon
him az something OF nuisance. Inc
new men, those Just out OF college and
breaking in on little assignments. thought
him an interesting character and often
forgot the city. editors Injunction mot
to encourage the Dago. P1etro was
useful in his way, though for he some-
times brought in bits Of news from the
UP into Sunday stories, and when the
triple murder took place on Robert Street
two years ago 1t was Pfetro who put
Johnson. the police man. on to the hiding
place of the murderer. 1t was 2 big
beat for The Planet and Johnson got
his salary raised and compliment from
the "old man" at the same time. or
course johnson made 1t all right with
Pietro and kept mum as to the source
of his information.
But Ptetro was beginning to be both
er In the city room. coming In at all
hours Of the day and night with some
Of new baby. Or the nndlng OF whole
dress In the rag barrel: things in which
The Planet readers were not at all In,
terested. In the summer Ptetro ground
sHd in winter The Kept eDrnsa
FROM the newspaper offices. and no re-
porter known to the Italian ever failed
to stop and help himself when he passed
the stand. Pietros hurdy-gurdy was an
inharmonious machine that had long
since passed Its prime. but he ground 1t
every day in pleasant weather and the
children In the courts danced to Its tiny
notes.
Some days Pietro was accompanied by
his daughter. She played the tambou-
rine and collected the pennies with a
business-like air. She wasn't pretty ex-
cept In her eyes and hair. They were
jet black and sparkled when she moved
or spoke. She seemed about Is years old,
but like all Italian children, dressed as
though she were 10. She was childish
In her manners. however, and not alto
gether unattractive.
Planet once with her father. even the
City Editor forgot TO be grun, for there
was something instinctively gentle In
the girls manner of speaking. Her
the girl was his only companion. He
seemed to think a great deal Of her, and
always smiled when one Of the men COM
plimented her. The reporters began to
watch for her coming and whenever a
tambourine accompaniment was heard to
Pietro's hurdy-gurdy, at least one Of us
would take the trouble to go down stairs
and give the couple coin. No one ever
knew what the girl did in winter while
her father attended his chestnut stand.
and In fact. no one ever had occasion
to ask.
One, day toward the end of summer
Pietro came In. smiling. He had some
news, he said. Angelica, his daughter.
had suitori a certain Giacomo, who
owned a horse and wagon and did a
thriving business in the fruit line. Pietro
was enthusiastic about his future SON.
in-law.
He good man." he said. "Maka plenty
de mon. Got de boss an wagon. an
say he TAXA me in de biz witha heem.
Maka plenty de mon. sella de banan'.
Angelica, she lika heem mucha. Dey
git marry. Si!'
OF course. the staff individually and
collectively, congratulated him on his
prospects, and Hill, the youngest man
on the force who had picked up some
coarse Italian at his fathers commits
sion house. added a phrase. which SEEM
ed to please Pietro very much. but which
had an unpleasant sound to the rest of
us. The delighted old man promised to
bring Giacomo in to see us soon, and to
fetch Angelica. too. that she might be
congratulated in person.
True to his promise. the prospective
bride and groom were brought In next
day by the father. just as the men were
assembling for their afternoon work. and
-.,,- thursdays story. THE SHAME OF sIi