Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-07-05
HOW JOHNNY
GOT A JOB
By II. BARRETT SMITH
lcopy rIrh., b. Jo.eph D. Bowler. }

II was the day before Christmas.
The hour was early. the store doors
scarcely open. but crowds had already
begun TO pour into the shipping dis
trlct. In n big show window. now
n fairy Irotto all lrSst and silver and
green. Santa Claus greeted the cary
Corners. He knew his business. too.
this Santa Claus. He was not In the
show window for his health. He
looked trifle weary-he had been
working overtime-but he nodded and
smiled and smirLel and winked at the
logs End girls outside the window.
Johnny stood near the foot Of the
elevated station. not far from Santa
Claus. There was. a cutting wind. n
lowering sky, and Johnny's jacket was
ragged, so were the knee pants" tina.
reached to his ankles; but Johnny
shuflled his feet and whistled ''Sunnv
Africa" to keep warm. The passer-by
who happened to catch Johnny's eye
turned to look at him again. True,
Johnny had a wonderful pair OF orbs;
big, brown, wide open and touching.
they were dumbly eloquent: but
Johnny's appeal was entirely uncoi.-
scious, nor was 1t his desire to at
tract attention. He whistled. jiggec
and looked innocent-there was u
game Of craps under the elevated
stairs. and Johnny was "layin' fer the
cop"
Johnny felt he should not linger at
the corner this morning. but II his
"-,ren'" 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 luck-not an unusual stu
alton for Johnny.
Come crap-come seven," a throw
Of the dice, a cry Of victory, an oath
of defeat, and Johnny's whistle and jig
came to dead stop together. Johnny's
"fren'" went broke.
Johnny's eyes grew wide and SOL
emn. He looked at his ''fren'." No
man could tell what Johnny was think
Ing. Johnny said:
Yer chump!"
ats tough said his "fren'."
"Dis bein' a sport on couple o
cents!" said Johnny. in fine disdaii
81 tolt cher not t do 1t on an empty
stomick. II yer got { gamble ye:
oughtn't never t do 1t II yer amt
first got yer roll-an' cup O. coffee Oh
the side"
At this the curbstone winner AMI
loser Joined forces and sent up a howl
of derision. hurting at Johnny the
choicest bits Of their picturesque vo-
'G'wan, youse!" retorted Johnny.
Then, adhering to his policy Of "havin'
yer say an quittin'," he suddenly re-
embered-Johnny always remem'
bered In the nick of time-that he he'd
urgent business with Santa Claus.
Now the big show window and the
grotto therein had no attraction for
had an artistic tenn
permanent, an imagination. The dis
guise of this Santa Claus was too
thin" He was not the Kris Kringie
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,
30 he 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 tn"
great swinging doors. How dead
easy" Johnny thought. The warm
air took him in Its fond embrace-how
nice It was. But suddenly he squirmed
and almost doubled himself. He felt
4 hand grab his jacket at the back OF
his neck.
What are you doing here!
Johnny shot look over his Shout
Ter and thought he saw giant stani-
ing over him. It was only floor
walker.
lin lookin' fer job. Don't cher
want no more cash boys?"
The spoken word would have failed.
but Johnny's eyes got in their fine
work.
How old are you. anyhow"
Johnny looked small for ten. He
night be a year or two older; bu:
Johnny had to live, and with as much
.ertitude as II he had his birth Ger.
ificate to back him up. he answered:
Fourteen"
The giant looked quizzically at the
midget.
WELL" he said, this is the last doy
Il the rush, but they are taking every
,ody On. You might go up and see
he superintendent. His ONCE Is OF
he head of the stairs there" |,
Johnny made for the stairs. Seem
ngly be lost no time as he zigzagge1
through the crowd OF shoppers. but
n that short passage Johnny saw
'heaped counters OF Riches" he saw
'pocketbooks in every hand" and out