The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-11-09

nave cn0keQ up Win cInOtlOn anu oc
ceiyed me-? Could the tears that cours-
ed down his wrinkled cheeks have
been false? I am neither a child nor q
fool. woman"
NO: you simply gave up 80 cents to
a man who has been begging around
here for a year and has no claim on
any one"
Look here. woman" said Mr.. Bow
ser as be set his jaw. this matter o.
charity has come up between US be-
fore. and you have always tried to
make out that I was a soft mark. You
have gone too far with 1t. l believe
the old man can be found. II SO l will
bring him home with me. We will
hear his story. and when It has been
told you will go down on your knees
and beg his pardon"
81 will cheerfully do SO IL ] have
wronged him."
Mr.. Bowser put on his hat and left
the house. He knew that there was a
community tel blocks away where
many mendicants mad heir headquar'
tiers, and he headed fcr 1t, meanwhile
keeping a lookout for he old man as
he went. Nothing was zen OF him, but
Mr.. Bowser had the luck TO run across
the young man who supplied his house
with kindling wood and had occasion.
ally been given the job of beating the
rugs. When he had been hailed he
halted and asked:
Il suppose you know many Of the
people to be found around here"
For sure"
"a good many of the street beggars
| lodge here, don't theyT"
"Yes, most of them"
| Knew the Man.
"Well, I am looking for an old man.
! His hair is white and his face wrin-
! killed., and he speaks in a husky voice"
He ought to speak that way" grin
ned the young man.
"What do you mean"
"Why, his name is Husky Jim. You
mean the old fellow who wants to get
up to Troy to live with his daughter"
Eyes"
HE lodges right over there at No. 81
and is drinking a highball at this min
ute. I heard him telling Sleepy San
that he had struck an old bloke wht
came down handsomely"
"What-what did he mean by thatT
asked Mr.. Bowser as he began to fee
weak in the knees.
ooh, he cried to some one and tolt
his Troy story and got a quarter or .
cents. Husky is a slick n for a youn;
man"
young? Why, he must be seven.
years old"
"Hc isn't q day over twenty-five, Vi
Bowser. He goes about in disguise
YOU know. He can make up like a
actor. I put Mrs. Bowser up to his lii
tie game long ago. Don't you ever Civ
him a cent. II you want to see hin
come across the street and look int
the. window. Want to hire him to bea
the rugsT'
Moo. Some n was telling 10
about him. and | just wanted t
know"
Would Steal Anything.
"Well, don't you put any rugs int
his hands. If you Go he'll make
skate. Say, he has stolen more doc
mats than any ten Other men. Ii he
, left in the hall half q minute the spar
hats and umbrellas are his. You leav
it with Mrs. Bowser to turn him an
the other frauds down. Shall l ca
Husky out?"
ooh, no. 1 happened to be passin
, through this quarter, you know"
:. 81 see. Well, if Husky ever stoI
= you and begins choking up and She
i, ding tears and telling that Troy stol
you take him by his venerable viii
), kers and they will come off his chin
: a yank. Good night, Mr.. Bowser."
, During that walk of ten blocks bat
= home Mr.. Bowser had %seventet
thoughts. The thought that gave hi
the most pain vas that he must me
Mrs. Bowser ON his return. He walk
at a slow pace and finally decided
his course. He entered the house wi
a wag and stamped along to Il
sitting room, and of course b look
; up and asked:
" We'll, is the weeping old man on t
doorsteps?'
"Nhat weeping old man."
why, the one / AN W get uo"h
my knees to-"
u Il noticed you had a queer 10
% around your eyes at dinner time.
l. hope you are not getting wheels
IL your head"
With that be sat down and began
II read the evening paper, and nothi
'i further was said. It was the kindli
e, mood how rho told hoY all 9fOl1f If T,
'r days later, but in the goodness OF
oi heart she didn't make use of the knoV
edge. III. QUAD
" A Sense of Proportion.
LII SI~lrJN swlF5