Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-05-31
HOW JOHNNY
GOT A JOB
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowtaz.,
By H BARRETT SMITH


The hour WAS early, the store doors
Scarcely open, but efewds had already
hegua to pour iabe the shopping dis
triet. In a big show wlndew,, now
a fairy grotto ala frost and silver and
green, Santa Claus greeted the carry
comeFs. He knew his business, toe,
this Santa Claus, He was not in the
show window for his health. He
locked d tri1e weary-i1e had been
working overtime-hut he nodded and
smiled and smtFked and winksd at the
boys and girls outside the window.
Johnny stood Hear the foot OF the
elevated station, not far from Santa
Claus. There was cutting wind, a
lowering sky, and Jehnny's Jacket was
ragged, SO were the knee pants' tina.
reached to- his ankles; but Johnny
shu4Hed his feet and whistled SUNNY
Africa" to keep warm. The passer-hy
who happened to catch Johnny's eye
turned TO look at him again. True,
Johnny had d wonderful pair Of orbs;
big, brown, wide open and touching,
they we're dumbiY eloquent; bur
Johnny's appeal was entirely uncoE-
scious, nor was it his desire to at
tract attention. He whistIed, jiggec
and looked innocent-there was a
game OF craps under the elevated
stairs, and Johnny was ''layin' fer tha
COP
Johnny felt he should not inger at
the. corner this morning, but it his
''fren should win OUT the order
would be coffee and rolls for two.
Johnny had to live. So he waited for
his breakfast, while his breakfast
waited on Iuck-not an unusual situ-
alton for Johnny.
Come crap-e0me seven," a thro v
OF the dice, cry Of victory, an oath
Of defeat, and Johnny's whistle and jig
came to dead stop together. Johnny's
''fren'" went broke.
Johnnys eyes grew wide and sol
emn. He looked at his ''fren'' Nh
man could tell what Johnny was think
ing. Johnny said:
Yer chumpH'
TITS Tough, said his 'fren'."
dis bein' a sport on a couple o.
cents!" said Johnny, in fine disda1n.
st tolt cher not t. do it on an empty
stomick. II yer got t. gamble yec
oughtn't never t. do it II yer ain t
first got<rar roii-an' cup O. coffee Ga
the side
AT this the curbstone winner and
loser Joined forces and sent up d howl
OF derision, hurting at Johnny the
choicest bits of their picturesque vo-
cabulary
'G'wan,, youseI" retorted Johnny.
Then, adhering to his policy of "havin'
yer say an aujttin',' he suddenly re-
membered-J always renem-
bered in the nick of time-that he had
urgent business with Santa Claus.
Now the big show window and tie
grotto therein had no attraction for
Johnny-Johnny had an artistic tenn
permanent, an imagination. The dis
guise OF this Santa Claus was too
thin" He was not the Kris kringle
OF JohnnY's dream. Johnny thought
there must be something queer with
the crowd that allowed itself to, be
taken in by dat wise old guy
Johnny expected no Christmas gift;
but his spirit was not disconsolate.
neither was there rebellion in his
heart Johnny's crying want came
from his stomach; he had to live,
SO be turned his attention to the crowd
going into the store. For a few mo-
ments he was lost in a moving mass,
then he emerged on the inside OF the
great swinging doors. How dead
easy Johnny thought. The warm
air took him in it's fond embrace-ho
nice it was But suddenly he squirmea
and almost doubled himself He felt
hand grab his jacket at the back of
his, neck,
What are you doing here%'
Johnny shot a look over his Shout.
der and thought he saw giant stand-
ing over HIM. It was only floor
walker "
''I-Em lookin' fer job. Don't cher
want no more cash boysH
AHC SpohC4 "oIl WO1llO uaNSg lCtllc:l,
but Johnny's eyes: got in their fine
work.
"HOw old are YOU anyhow"
Johnny looked small for ten. He
might be a year or two oIder;; but
Johnny had to live, and with as much
gertrude as If he had his birth GER
tidcate. to back him up, he answered.:
i Fourteen 20
The giant looked q,1izzicaIIy at the
midget
/ "We11," he said, this is; the last day
/ OF the rush., but they are taking every
body On You might go up and see
the, superintendent. His office is at
the head of the stairs there"
Johnny made for the stairs. Seem
fngIy he lost no time as be zigzagged
through the crowd of shoppers, but
in that short passage Johnny saw
"heaped counters OF riches" he saw
''pecketbooks, in every hand, and out
OF the poclsetbo0ks iowad streams OF
money" When Johnny reached the
top OF the stairs, be paused and looked
back. then darted across the hall Not