The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-26

Gusseppi stood patiently in front OF
the bright new cart Before him the
incoming crowd of commuters surged
from the outlet door of the Union Sta
ton and some, attracted by his dis
play of fruit, stopped to purchase.
Gusseppi was glad. His first day was
not one-third ended and already he
had taken in a profit sufficient to pay
the rental of the cart and Its stock
from the padrone. who at night would
count the fruit and take back what was
unsold charging him only for that
which actually had been consumed.
At this rate he could save enough soon
to purchase a stand with a little hut
where In wet or cold weather he ana
the little one could sit sheltered. That
was Gusseppis ambition. He had not
been long in the country and higher
than that his ambition did not soar.
After a while the business fell off.
The suburban trains were all In and
the morning expresses had come and
gone. For a time there was rest for
those about the station. The newsboys
who had been crying the morning pa
pers had transferred their attention TO
games, with the exception of Skaggs
Murphy, who had transferred his atten-
ton TO Gusseppi.
Skages was the leader Of the Depot
Gang; a brave, adventurous spirit, VINO,
did not hesitate to head his forces even
when leading a forlorn hope. That
was the secret of Skaggs leadership.
He did not as other leaders did, d.
90
Whether IL was a raid on a fruit
cart or the achievement Of victory
over some opposing gang, Skaggs was
ever at the front and the Hey Skin
nyl" found him ready.
Just now Skaggs, like all good gen.
erals, was going over the scene of
impending conflict In person. Ever
since he had taken his stand on the
depot steps that morning he had noted
the advent of the new fruit pedler
with the calm Joy of one who looks
upon a victory as already won. Now
that he had the leisure he was sizing
up Gusseppi and forming his plan OF
attack. He decided that 1t would be
easy to run along the street with some
passing car until opposite the stand.
Then with a rush each could grab as
much fruit as possible.
Gusseppi in turn regarded the other.
Already he had been taught to regard
boys as his natural enemies. but
Skaggs in his meditation looked so
wistfuI that good-hearted Gusseppi
decided that here was a little fellow
who surely was without guile. The
speculative look in Skaggs' blue eyes
he mistool for longing. He picked up
a banana, not from the pile of black
ened two for cent ones, but one cost
ing a whole penny.
Here" he said simply, proffering the
fruit, "a banan'."
Skaggs was fairly staggered. whats
the matter with it?' he demanded sus-
piciously.
"Gooda e eat. Taxa" said Gusseppi.
and, treasured, Skaggs accepted both
the fruit and the kindly smile that ac-
companied it.
Slowly and deliberately he consumed
the banana. 1t was good; not a speck
marred the Wilderness of the pulp; to
him this was a new thing. Most of the
Italians of his acquaintance had stones
slowed in the wagon box that they
might make some feeble retaliation and
more than once had he felt heavy
stick across the shoulders. Here was
one who actually smiled as he passed
over the fruit. Clearly this was a mat
ter OF which the gang should be in
formed. He raised his voice.
Hey, SKINNY" he shouted, and from