Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-07-07
BEPPO
By
FRANK II. SWEET


did 50. Then he leaned forward, cutting
down sayagely with his whip But hi.
kissing TIP only Curled harmlessly
through the air, as the driver knew i
would Beppo's mocking, defiant eyes
had been watching him. as they had been
watching imminent collisions on all
other sides. and when the tip circled to-
ward him he lodged adroitly, just
enough To let it hiss by However, lis
backward, mocking glance and ieering
call were accompanied BY a slight turn
of his wrist which sweryed the push cart
far enough to allow the Big wheels to
pass
Beppo was we'll known on Elizabeth
street, to the policemen and hackmen
and street vendors, as well as to the
dray and van drivers, and though they
all scolded him and tried to chastise him
for his impudence and recklessness, not
one Of them but had a secret respect fol-
his hardihood and sturdy independence.
Now. at I5 he owned a push cart,
while many Of his older competitors only
rented-aud his push cart, in the morn
ing, was always well stocked with good
fruit And besides this. in one way and
another. he had picked up a crude
knowledge Of reading and writing.
But, save the toddlers, he had no
friends. He did not want any. And as
for sympathy, looked or expressed, well,
that was worse than the most vicious en-
nifty. He would have none Of It. The
world had cuffed and kicked him through
his early years, and perhaps he now
meant to retaliate. In spite Of his Is
years, he was no larger than a properly
developed boy Of ten or r.
So now, as he lodged and twisted and
wormed his push cart through the tele-
scoping traffic, ieering and yelling de-
fiance al the drivers. and even perhaps
showing open violence, there was no
friendly glance toward him save those |
of the two or three urchins who. even in !
this confusion of wheels and horses +,
feet, had found and were following him.
Two policemen stood near One of |
them shook his head.
That boy ought to be run IL, not only |
for his own sake, but for the streets"
he said Hes a menace to everybody.
and a bad example in recklessness for
the other boys | don't see how he got
under those horses heads without hav.
ing hts cart smashed and himself, too.
His companion smiled You've only
been on this beat month. Delehey." he
returned "and I've been here seven
years. That boy was here when came.
and he's been taking chances like that
all the time, and never a smash vet. I'm
thinking it's not so reckless as 1t looks
to US
All the same he's a tough case. +" per-
sisted the first speaker, "and II would be
a good thing for even a street like this II
he was of.
He's tough, all right" readily. "and
a bad example in recklessness to the 9th
ar boys; but I've got a good deal of re-
spect for Beppo Things have gone
tough with him, and that's had a good
deal to do with making him what he is.
And Eve noticed that his recklessness Is
always In the way of trade. I've seen
him dodge and twist his cart through
Is bad jam as the street ever had, Just
% sell few oranges to an old customer
be saw on the other sidewalk He'll do
anything for a trade, and In spite Of be- !
ing so little. Wouldn't wonder IL he
sold twice as much as any other push G
cart man on the street"
There was a sound Of alteration
among the push cart men lower down the {
'urb, and the policeman started in that
direction, the last speaker dropping a
ew cents upon Beppo's cart as he $
PASSED and picking up banana.
The next day they were at almost the
anne place, watching a thiekening con-
usion Of vehicles that threatened a lam E
8eppo's cart was close by. alongside the 4
urb, and he was carrying on a brisk
rade, a
suddenly he turned from prospective
ustomer glancing sharply out into the c
treet Then, with a wild bound and
cramble that carried him almost under Z
pair Of prancing horses. and across the Il
cry tongue Of a slow-moving carriage. b
Ie was in the midst OF the turmoil Of We
icles. =
Both policemen spTang forward. but =
or a moment could rot see what he was
fter Then a truck passed. and they :,
aw a child. scarcely more than baby.
landing motionless and bewildered. -
IN all sides were interlocking vehicles. {,
nd horses legs were laundering upon :
i'm and horses eyes glaring at him. 4
he child turned In one direction and 1
mother. then screamed and sank upon
be ground, hiding It's face.
Then another truck came in between. -
Ut not before they saw Beppo grasp the \
hid from the very wheels Of a van and !,
wing It up to the arms Of the driver !.
nd then. because his keen watchfuIness =
as momentarily drawn from himself =
E was forced back under the wheels !,
'om which be had saved the child. :.
The policemen were in the street now !,
'rcing horses back upon their launches !,
louting 70 drivers. and enforcing com n,
ands with their clubs When they
sached Beppo they thought he was dead
VI after being carried to the sidewalk :,