The Bossier banner., 1905-01-12

nau decided leaning toward JenKlC.
son. He BILLY Burke) seemed pretty
well out of it. Miss Smith had meant
to be impartial, but Mr.. Jenkinson's
attentions had really overpowered her.
Tie hour of parting came. Mr.. Burke,
with a delicacy which he felt to be due
to the occasion, left first. He walked
slowly down the stairs and out into
the street. He shook his head. THAT
fellow" he exclaimed softly to himself
But, after all, it's none of my busi-
ness" He thought about it for long
while. Then, acting under impulse. he
thrust his hand into his inside pocket
and pulled out yellow paper. 1t was
a blank form which he had filled up.
Upon it appeared date, the name Of
John Jenkinson, and some figures In
the dollars and cents column. He hes
itated an instant, then he suddenly tore
it to pieces and threw it into the gut
ter
The next morning-Christmas morn
ing it was-he stepped into an office,
for no days were holidays to Burke. He
passed over some yellow slips. A man
looked at them and frowned
''You were on No. - yesterday?"
he asked.
Il was," Burke answered.
You got report against No. -
Jenkinson. his name is.''
Burke shook his head Il have not"
he answered.
''Then," said the other man, "we're
through with you; that's all. Jenkin-
son skinned us yesterday more than
we've ever been skinned, and, by
George. it happened that Barker was
spotting you while you were spotting
Jenkinson. You can go. We don't
want ii spotter who's in cahoots with
our conductors; that's ALL"
Burke turned red and white. He
started in to explain; then he stopped.
He thought of Miss Sallie Smith.
Christmas night Mr. Jenkinson called
upon Miss Sallie Smith. He was not
quite so brash as usual. But he had a
little box in his hand. ''Sallie," he
said, Il lost my job today. / don't
know why, but brought you little
Miss Sallie stopped him. Il know"
she said. She produced paper. That's
why" she exclaimed. "and know. be-
cause took the trouble to find out"
1t was a clipping headed:
JENKINSON. THE WORST EVER.
The Trolley Company Fires Man Who
Holds Holiday Knocked Down
Fare Record.
Jenkinson flushed, but he did not
dare to lie. "They-they all do it," he
remarked. II was caught: that's all.
After all. Sallie," he went on, II only
did it because wanted to get this for
you" He exhibited the box.
Sallie Smith stepped to the mantel-
piece. She took down a bundle. 1t
contained all the presents that Jenkin-
son had ever given her. She handed
them over You can CO." she said.
ANY man who would steal for me GER
tainly doesn't have much respect for
me-" Jenkinson looked stupidity at her.
"You may CO." she said. Jenkinson
went.
Billy Burke came later He was
| not SO well dressed this time "Sal-
lie,'' he said, II want to tell you some
thing. I've always been ashamed to
tell you what I was working at. I
I'm spotter on the trolley-I had to
bel couldn't get anything else to do.
They don't pay us. though, as well as
they do the motormen and the con-
ductors. But they-they've fired me-
| I'll tell you. They fired me because
| I didn't turn in the name of IA man
who knocked down fares. They were
right. didn't. 1t doesn't make any
difference why. But I'm out, and I've
| got to get another job, and I'm glad
of it."
| Miss Sallie Smith gasped. '"The man
you wouldn't report" she asked-"was
it John Jenkinson?" Burke's face gave
him away.
"How-how did you know?" he ask
ed
She paused a moment. "When did
you first meet him?" she inquired.
Last night" said Burke, flushing
still. was the first time. I didn't
want to-
Sallie held out her hand. ''Billy-
Billy" she exclaimed, land you did
it all for me-for me?' She paused a
moment. Where are your good
clothes?'' she asked as she looked ct
him.
I've got to tell you all about It,
Sallie." he answered. "You see, I al
ways had to wear good clothes, and
had to buy 'em and keep getting new
ones, SO that it would look as if l
was somebody. and they didn't pay
me enough hardly to get 'enl. Well,
I got sick of EN- And tell you, Sal
lie, what did. I up and pawned 'em,
and-and II did a nervy thing. IL
bought you this. was afraid-and I
wasn't sure. but He paused, stuck
his hand in his pocket and pulled out a
ring. Il haven't got job" he went
on. but
81 don't care" returned Miss Sallie
Smith. you've lost your Job. and
you've pawned your clothes. and all
for me. don't believe there's any
man would do as much. This is the
very incest Christmas that I've ever