Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25

lodgin' for my ma and grub for both of U.S.
She was too much tuckered out to work
for anythin'."
Why Billy" exclaimed a startled voice
up in the gallery.
Inc whole convention turned and looked
to see Mrs. Sucker, pale, sad-eyed, aston
lshed, gazing at her son.
But Billy paid no heed to her. The only
comment was from the charman's desk
sam Bull, looking at the little figure on the
desk, said slowly and with real sympathy
a tremble in his voice:
Pore little feler!"
Il went up TO that house" continued Ri
ly, and asked the man when he come to
the back door, as polite and nice as l
knoWed how, to help us out. I told him
that l was more than willin' to do
anything L could and that he wanted to
nave done, so's't l could pay for what
we ct and give him somethin' over for the
place we slept in. Kind of rent, you know
Sam Bull by this time leaned far over
from his desk. His lanky form was rigid
In his interest as he gaZed down upon the
boy. The story was not quite as new 20
him as he would have had it seem, but its
telling quite unexpected and his look
sent through the hall a feeling that a mat
ter of great Importance was impending
The place was almost breathless as he
asked:
What did he say?"
The words were uttered solemnly It was
as If a question had been put in court to
some witness whose testimony would con-
Wet or save. Billy's eyes ashed as he
looked back at him Then they showed a
little CLINT of mischief
Il can't quite say it here" he answered
slowly, 'for there is ladies in the gallery.
But he told me-yes, l will-he said that l
could go to hell and git somethin' nice and
hot to eat there if the devird give it 10
me-"
There were murmurs from the audience,
and Musser half rose from his seat But
Billy had not finished. He looked about
then added 1v
intensely:
"And-he set his dog on mar
There was a thrill of scorn and accusa-
ton in his boyish voice, as he stood there
OF that desk making PLAIN statement of
real fact which the most eloquent and able
public speaker could not have counterfeited.
Not person in the hall could doubt his
truth, or doubt the presence in his youthful
heart of that bright spark of manliness
that warns every decent human male of
the unworthineSs of warning upon women
he MADE no complaint about the lack of
common charity which had met him when
he had been unable to take away entirely
the signs of want that slowed upon his
pinched and earnest face.
The delegates who had sat absorbed dur-
ing his crude recital. still were tense there
IN their places. waiting. 1t was observable
that almost all of them We're leaning for
ward slightly in their seats, and more than
one pair of grarled hands 2ripped the rail
In front of them with force enough to drive
the blood out from their knuckles and
leave them whitened spots upon the sun
burned skin. There had been an honest
edrnestness of condemnation in what the
boy had said, an inward ring of truth in
his recital that had affected everybody He
cid not ask for pity, and few felt it for
him then, but the righteous wrath that
gllstened in his face was really hypnotic
Sam Bull broke the silence and he voiced
the sentiments of nearly every man there
present with his muttered:
The d--n cuSSi'
Instantly Billy spoke again. and the hush
which, in another second would have been
broken by an uproar, fell once more COM
plete.
Hold on there"' he said waruingly. "Do
you know who that man was?"
Musser was squirming in his seat and
burst out foolishly, with:
II protest.
Men who did not even take their eyes
from off the boy long enough to look at
the man hushed him to silence.
Who do you suppose he VASE" said Billy
Sucker
And the last word of the question left
his tense, small mouth, he raised his hand
and pointed.
That's the man." he said
And the steady finger forced attention
full on Jacob Musser.
You lie" cried MusSer, angrily.
A protesting murmur rose from all parts
of the hall. but Billy scarcely glanced at
him. 1t If the little fat man had
filled his place in the proceedings of the
day and now was not important.
mo, l don't. You know don't" he an
swered, very calmly, and then he started to
speak again.
but / amt told all my story" he con-
tinued in much different voice.