The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-28
A Female Reformer
She Was Mistaken for a Villain


a stomach pump have they had sue
had Tuesday afternoon. Mrs. Gas
kin's Billy was the hero. A woman
belonging TO some reform society wa
the heavy Villain The reformer ha'
spent most OF the forenoon listenin.
TO a lecture on Duty to our Fellow
Men" In the afternoon she Went t
| Sixty-sixth street to see what gooc
she could do The first person SHE
found to exercise her usefulness upon
was Billy Gaskins
Billy was clearly in need Of assist
ance He sat on the front steps OF
a fye-story tenement bowling for all
he was worth. His face was solid
smear of dirt, upon which tiny riyu
let's had been traced by the steadily
flowing tears,
% you poor little darling she
said. Are you slc5?"
Wow Wow! Vow" roared Billy.
To anybody else that reply would
have been unintelIigihle. but The re-
former understood it perfectly
"Why, you're not sick at all" she
cried You're lost that what ais
you Come. let's 90 and md mamma
This time Billy emphasized his
howls with kicks and punches but
not even that demonstration sweryed
he reformer from her benevolent pur
pose Heavy as he was, she gathered
Billy up and started down the street
At every step his struggles became
more violent In the tussle the re
formers hat Went awry her skirts got
twisted and her boa traiIed off her
shoulders, hut she forged valiantly
ahead. surrounded by an eyer-increas-
ng swarm Of hooting eesticuIatin2
'hildreu At the corner the crowd
vas augmented by a policeman.
Hi there he said, what you
loin with that kid?'
Hes lost replied the reformer
I'm to find
NO. he amt lost. plped a thin
voice beside her. De lady swiped
i'm. seen er Here comes is ma.
low
"His mother" said the reformer
Thank heaven"
She turned and pumped into the I.
sudsey arms Of barheadel woman
in blue calico gown, who REINFORCED I
by half the adult population of Sixty /
sixth street, came pelting along in
pursuit Of Billy Gaskins, At the sight (
1f the bare-headed woman Bully ceased +
bowling and lunged forwari raptur-
0usly
"Mam-m he gurgIed.
The woman gurgled, too. 'Muz-
lers pwecious title pet. she said
Did 70 Massey CONAN steal muzzer's
darling right off his own doorstep?
Was she wicked CONAN, and shall
mamma smash er face for here
Billy Gaskins was too deeply en-
crossed in his own troubles just then
10 give advice on that momentous
question, but bis mother made up her !
mind to do it anyhow. With a skill
BORN Of much physical exercise she
Billy on one arm. while with
he other soapy fist she grazed the tip
# the reformers nose. The reformer
5Quealed and jumped behind the po-
iceman for protection.
say" said the officer TO Mrs Gas
iIns, no more Of that. III tend to her
Vow you" he added turning to the
eiulmvi. come along with me
where to?' asked the refOrmer.
ITO the police station You've been
.aught tryin TO run away with an
,ther womans kid and its up to you
o square yourself
The reformer went and pleaded The
,oliceman. however, was obdurate.
Thanked on one side by the officer On I,
ne other by Mrs. Gaskins and Billy
nd followed by suc1 OF the population
4 Slxty-siNth street az were not cor
med indoors hy extreme youth. oh
&c. or other insu~mountable infrU
.y the reformer headed fo- the st-
ion. There the policeman preferred
lis charge of kidnapping IN which b.
vas volubly seconded BY Mrs. Gas
lns
This LOOKS bad" said the sergeant ,
o the pr ouer. What cid you want
With this woman's child2' S
Want with him2" screamed the To {
ormer Good heavens. didn't want s
i'm. wouldn't have h:m as pre- q
tcus Gift. lie was CRYING dt 10 split d
IFS lungs thought he was lost =
,as only trying 10 help. But IRIS hand
FORK 10 help some people I'm not y
ding 10 try II any more. I'm going
ONE and mind my own business" a
The sergeant leaned across the desk "
nd nodded encouraginglr. {
say" he said. do you really mean a
p If YOU do III Jet vo1 70. I'll iet
my woman go thstn promise to tend
o. her own business"
At any other time tho reformer
.ould have resented this insult. but
er spirit was 50 broken by her ex J
eriences with ihr mon that she actu-
liy said: Thank YOU. promise.
M then hurried out before Ms 2
asbins conld saw half the mean
iinss she had in her mind to say
T. y Press.