Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-03-21

TietTO was Iamlilar nSure IN the
Planet editorial rooms, and the men,
the old men, that is, had begun to look
upon him as something of nuisance.
The new men. those just out of college
and breaking in on little assignments.
thought him an interesting character
and often forgot the city editors in
junction mot to encourage the Dago."
Pietro was useful in his way, though.
for he sometimes brought in bits of
news from the italian quarter that
could be worked up into Sunday stor-
les, and when the triple murder took
place on Robert street two years ago
1t was Pietro who put Johnson, the
police man, on to the hiding place OF
the murderer. 1t was big beat for
the planet and Johnson got his salary
raised and compliment from the
cold man" at the same time. or course,
Johnson made it all right with Pietro
and kept mum as to the source of his
information.
But Pietro was beginning to be
bother in the city room. coming in at
49, hOuio VI tho duy anu hi6ht WAsh
some piece of information about the
advent of new baby, or the finding
Of whole dress in the rag barrel;
things in which the Planet readers
were not at all interested. In the sum-
mer Pietro ground a hurdy-gurdy
and in winter kept chestnut stand
just around the corner from the news
paper Offices, and no reporter known
to the Italian ever failed to stop, and
help himself when he passed the stand.
Pietro's hurdy-gurdy was an inhar-
monious machine that had long since
passed Its prime, but he ground it
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 tam
BOURNE and collected the pennies with
a business-like air. She wasn't pretty,
except 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 child
rem. dressed as though she were 40.
She was childish in her manners, how
sver, and not altogether unattractive.
When she began coming into the
Planet Office with her father, even the
city editor forgot to be gruff, for there |
was something instinctively gentle in
the girls manner of speaking. Her |
mother was dead, Pietro had told us, |
and the girl was his only companion.
He seemed to think a great deal Of |
1er, and always smiled when one of |
he men complimented her. The re-
oorters began to watch for her coming
md whenever a tambourine accom-
)animent was heard to Pietro's hurdy-
yurdy, at least one of us would take
he trouble to 90 down stairs and give
he couple a coin. No one ever knew
what the girl did in winter while her
ather attended his chestnut stand, and
n fact, no one ever had occasion to |
lsk
One day toward the end Of summer
oietro came in, smiling. He had some
Jews, he said. Angelica, his daughter,
lad sutton; certain Giacomo, who
owned a horse and wagon and did
hriving business in the fruit line.
oietro was enthusiastic about his fu-
ure son-in-law.
HE good man. he said. "Maka
,lenty de mon. Gotta de boss an
wagon. an say he taxa me in de biz
vitha heem. Maka plenty de mon,
ella de banan'. Angelica she lika
leem mucha. Dey git marry. ST."
OF course, the staff individually and
congratulated him on his
and Hill, the youngest man
N the force, who had picked up some
oarse Italian at his fathers commits
ion house. added a phrase, which
eemed to please Pietro very much, but
which had an unpleasant sound to the
est Of US, The delighted old man
to bring Giacomo in to see
IS soon, and to fetch Angelica. too,
hat she might be congratulated in
'erson.
True to his promise. the prospective
ride and groom were brought in next