Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-10
A RUNT BUNCH
 OF BANANAS Q
Bv FRANK H. SWEET
eCOpyrignt, 1904, by Daily Story rub. O.,

(CopyTz&nGs 1eV2 py DaaAy SUory EUos Vosb Y T was only scraNny, half-sized l bunch, with irregular. misshapen fingers that had been squeezed be- tween more thrifty punches on adjoin- ing stalks, but it proved the saliva tion of seppina Alfano and Tony. l At the Barratas fnca it was cut be- cause the parent stalk had to be cut and removed to make room for new growth, and the machete stroke was Iso careless as to clip the tips of 8 whole cluster of fingers That made premature decay inevitable.
 ] Of course the bunch was thrown out. tbut by some inadventure a field hand picked 1t up and included it with lot that was being hurried to vessel. There the clipped tips were unnoticed, kbecause at the moment the bunch passed the inspector his attention was divided by fiuttering handkerchief: but he waved the bearer of the fruit toward that portion of the hold where only half-bunches of the poorest dtial- ity were placed, for even the most cursory glance showed 1t had but two and half hands, with fingers of al- most unmarketable ugliness.
 Twenty hours later the vessel weighed anchor and left Trujillo, and lby the time it passed Cape Catoche, with the end of Cuba showing as a shadow off to the right, the injured Hips were in process of decay. At New Orleans the bunch was unhesitatingly discarded as being unfit for journey north. A hundred or more other punches were discarded at the same time, perfect fruit, except that they were shade too ripe for long jour- ney These were sold for trifie to city fruit vendors who were waiting about the wharf with their push carts, awatching for just such a chance to lbuy.
 Petro, the Italian who had stand in front of the St. Charles hotel. was the largest buyer; and as he started away with his fruit wharf hand picked up the decaying runt bunch and tossed it upon the load. It was easier to do that than to carry it to the wharf edge and drop it into the water. But lPetro, arrived at the hotel, threw this bunch with the litter behind his stand His was the show position of the city, with fastidious patronage, and even the best of those unshapely and undersized fingers among his fine stock would injure trade. The other fruit was carefully wiped and placed in attractive pyramids and cones, and all the refuse of straw and stalks thrown back upon the increasing pile lof litter. Then his keen, bead-like leyes went rowing thriftily up and down the street.
 A tramp was slouching furtively along the opposite sidewalk, apparent. fly uncertain where to go, and evidently afraid to remain where he was New Orleans was under wave of reform and the city was packed with it's GUS. ltomary winter tramps Every day hundreds of them were being run in land set to work, and the others were in constant dread of sharing the same hard fate. Many were leaving the city.
 Twenty yards back was a young woman, not so slouching nor SC ragged and disreputable looking as the first tramp, but just as furtive. Her head and face were concealed by a bii of frayed shawl. To all appearance the two were not aware of each others presence.
 Petro's thrifty eyes caught the mans furtive ones. and his hand went UT in beckoning. The tramp hesitated m%o IT. . street, his gaze rowing apprehensively from side to side. The woman fol lowed his example promptly. but with out looking at him. They reached Petro's stand but few feet apart.
 .sYou like fine, easy job?' asked Petro, persuasively. "All my refusa-s stuff here. banan' stalk, spoil apple an like dat. You take my push cart an jus walk along, oh, so easy an droI him in water off the wharf. Only four fl, six load, an give-a you-see!'
 best cluster should show just above the edge of the stand. lone whole bunch banan'. You look-a hun-gree an dis make food for three, four day -one whole week. The corners o1 his eyes took in the woman, whose bit of shawl had suddenly dropped, show ing pretty, pinched face that ex pressed pitlful mingling of hunger
 and longing. Even the mans eyes narrowed and gleamed little at the sight of the fruit. For two whole days no tramp had dared to beg in the city Food for one long week, for two peo pfes," Petro added, conyincingly. Yes, yes, yes" the woman broke 1T
 sharply, "you must, Tony. I'll hell
 you"
 All right" lazily, "but you needn'
 help. guess I can manage it
 Whara,s your cart boss 2''