Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1904-05-13
BEPPO
Copyright, 1904, by Daily story Pub. co..
FRANK II. SWEET

sharply on his reins, calling an
angry: "Out of the way, there!' as he
did so Then he leaned forward, cutting
down savagely with his whip. But his
Kissing tip only eurled harmlessly
through the air, as the driver knew it
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, his
backward, mocking glance and jeering
call were accompanied by a slight turn
OF his wrist which swerved the push cart
far enough to allow the big wheels 10
pass. ~ 4e
Beppo was we'll known on Elizabeth
street, to the policemen and hackmen
and street venders, as we'll 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 secret respect fol-
his hardihood and sturdy independence.
Now, at 15, he owned a push cart,
while many Of his older competitors only
rented-and 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 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 wasworse than themost 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 properly
developed boy of ten or 12.
So now, as he lodged and twisted and
wormed his push cart through the tele-
scoping traffic, jeering and yelling de-
flance at 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 in, not only
for his own sake, but for the streets" :"
he said, He's menace to everybody
and bad example in recklessness for
the-other boys. don't see how he got
under those horses heads without hav-
ing his 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 smash yet Pm
thinking it's not so reckless as 1t looks
to us.
"All the same he's tough case." per-
sisted the first speaker land 1t would be
a good thing for even a street like this If
he was off.
Hes tough, all right" readily, "and
a bad example in recklessness to the 9TH
er boys: but I've got 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 I've noticed that his recklessness is
always in the way of trade I've seen
him dodge and twist his cart through
as bad jam as the street ever had. Just
to sell few oranges to an old customer
he saw on the other sidewalk He'll do
anything for trade, and in spite of be-
ing so little. Wouldn't wonder IL he
sold twice as much as any other push
cart man on the street."
There was sound of alteration
among the push cart men lower down the
curb, and the policeman started in that
q direction, the last speaker dropping a
few cents upon Beppos cart as he
passed and picking up banana
The next day they were at almost the
same place, watching thickening con-
fusion of vehicles that threatened lam.
Beppo's cart was close by, alongside the
curb, and he was carrying on brisk
trade @#
Suddenly he turned from prospective
customer, glancing, sharply out into the
street. Then, with wild bound and
scramble that carried him almost under
pair OF prancing horses, and across the
very tongue of slow-moving carriage,
he was in the midst of the turmoil of We
hicles.
Both policemen sprang forward, but
for moment could not see what he was
after. Then a truck passed, and they
saw child, scarcely more than baby,
standing motionless and bewildered
On all sides were interlocking vehicles,
and horses legs were laundering upon
him and horses eyes glaring at him.
The child turned in one direction and
another, then screamed and sank upon
the ground, hiding its face,
Then another truck came in between,
but rot before they saw Beppo grasp the
child from the very wheels of a van and
swing it up to the arms of the driver
. and then. because his keen watchfulness
( was momentarily drawn from himself,
he was forced back under the wheels
froTn whicf he had saved the child.
: The policemen were in the street now
forcing horsesbackupon their launches,
i shouting to drivers, and enforcing COM
mands with their clubs, When they
reached Beppo they thought he was dead
But after being carried to the sidewalk,
while they were waiting for an ambu-
lance, he opened his eyes and struggled
half to his feet,
What you looking at me so for?" he
demanded, roughly. "I'm all right.
Get out the way and let me go to my
cart. I'm losing trade" and again he
tried TO raise himself. only to fall bacl;