Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-09-01

no tramp ldu uaItu 10 UtS ia tit NtJy.
Food for one long week, for two peo-
pies" Petro added, conyincingly,
Yes yes, yes" the woman broke in
sharply, you must, Tony. I'll help
you"
"All right" lazily, "but you needn't
help. l guess I can manage it
Where's your cart boss?"
An hour later the last load had been
taken and dumped into the harbor,
and Tony was back for his bananas.
But as the misshapen bunch with it's
decayed cluster was handed out his
face wrinliled doubtfully
"Shrunk some, amt it, boss?" he
asked, suspiciously. AN gettin' gray
fast? But never mind, though" his
voice suddenly changing as he got
whif of the fragrance. 81 guess we
can eat even the stalk just now.
Here, give it to me, quick! Well take
it down to one O. the wharves where
we can eat sort O quiet like"
But before they reached the first cor
ner there came the sound Of slow,
measured steps, which to their prac.
ticed ears was unmistakable. A pO.
| liceman was approaching, and in
another minute would swing round
upon their street. Beside them was a
narrow alley leading to the back en-
/ trance of a house, and the gate was
| unfastened Tonys movements were
| sluggish only on unimportant oCca-
sions When the policeman turned
! the corner they we're crouching in the
alley behind an ash barrel, scarcely
daring to breathe.
Not until the measured steps had
gone beyond hearing did they venture
out. Tony was breathing heavily.
Il can't stand this much longer,
Pima" he gasped. Seven watch
dogs this day have we lodged. and
by a hairs breadth. If we're caught
it'll be "a month, maybe two, maybe
six, and with hard work. for the city,
too. If it keeps on like this I'll be
tempted to go to work for myself"
Yes the woman acquiesced, bet.
ter work for self than for city"
They had made but a few blocks to-
ward the wharyes when Tonys rest
less eyes caught sight Of another
policeman rounding a corner ahead,
only one block away. And, worse yet,
he turned in their direction. There
was no alley near, no side street, no
open doorway into which they could
dodge-nothing but a garbage barrel
waiting for the street cleaners, with a
board leaning against it,. Tonys eyes
made one comprehensive sweep and
then stopped at the barrel
"Quick, Pima. Quick! Quick!" he
whispered. Drop down your skirt,
the under red one. l want it."
In an instant he had swung the
board across the barrel. caught the
torn red skirt which Seppina handed
him, and draped it deXterously so that
both the board and barrel were con-
cealed and the folds covered their own
rents. 1t was an ideal stand of the
small, Italian type, with its covering
Of dirty, gray-colored cloth.
) Now, help break up the bananas,
Pima" he whispered, brisldy, "in one
two, an three, an make EN- spread
} over the stand. We're sellin' fruit,
; you know"
The policeman was not yet half up
the block. When he drew near Tony
was shouting, cheerily: Bananas
| here; bananas, only-two-cents
, apiece!"
: The policeman looked at them rather
, sharply, Tony thought, though he
passed on without saying anything.
} But as soon as he reached the next
block Tony began to gather up the
fruit.
! We've got TO get away from here,
5 quick" he calculated. THAT felers
comm back in a few minutes to ask
, for our stand license. | seen it in his
T eyes An it'll be worse for us than
2 just bein tramps. I guess we'd better
+ be leaVin' the city, though | hate to-
it's such nice place. wanted to
l hang out here all winter"
5 How much for your bananas?
Q came a voice from above. Tony
2 started and looked up. A woman was
l leaning from a window.
"Why, 1.-two cents" he STAN
' mered.
. q know heard that mean for
Y the lot?"
' Tony glanced obviously at his fruit
/, There's 3d." he said, slowly; "but
. some's spilled. I guess so cents"
Y VERY well. I'll take them. Hand
D them in at the door Here's your
@ money" and a coin ratified on the
e pavement at Tonys feet.
2 lie had not thought of selling any
bananas-had not wanted to. in fact
9 But there was no help for it now. A
o few minutes later he was hurtyina
g down the sidewalk with Seppina, the
I 30 cents clutched in his fingers.
t ''Spose we go straight an blow this
e into grub house?" he said.
5 But Seppina was looking thought
full.
o ..LNhM not 90 and huN hanann s2n she