Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-04-11
How Pietro
Paid His Debt.
Ry SABA &. CUSHMAN.
copyright, ls9,, By Mary MeKeon.


tro's heart sank as low as the hoard OF
silver in his tattered purse. If 1t would
only rain. then the gentlemen hurryins
by might need his services, but the
blinking stars. half hidden by the
smoke of the great city, found not
cloud behind which to retire, and Pie
tro concluded that he might as we'll
close up for the night The process OF
closing up consisted OF packing his
brushes. backing and various nipple
ments into q small box and Singing
the same by strap from his shoulder.
One watching Pietro's closing up
could determine the proceeds or the
DAYS business II he moved with alac-
rity. the ilngling silver in his purse
promised well for the necessities OF
life: if he moved reluctantly, pausing
now and then to see if perchance there
might vet be a patron for him, the
purse was lamentably light and Pie
tro's supper must he likewise. Tonight
he knew that the persistent craving In
his stomach must 90 entirely unappeas-
ed. for there was no more than enough
silver to satisfy the voraciousness OF
Isenber-. the money shark, of Water
street into whose clutches the lad had
fallen and who found means of exact
ing his dues even though there was
no money left for food.
Jaw. no use Kicking remarked Pie
tro philosophically as he slowed away
his last brush: "I've seed worser luck
dan dis here Anyhow mother amt
cold nor hungry
His philosophy deserted him as the
poignant memory Of the great soft eyes
of his mother, wistful with longing for
the sunshine of her ownIand returned
to him. His own eyes filled with I'M
wonted tears, shutting out for a mo-
,nent the sight of the stream OF gay
humanity that thronged past on its
way to the opera. He did not see the
tall young fellow with the dfponair
| air and shabby coat who paused for an
| instant beside him nor did he notice
the evident struggle that went on in
the young mans mind as with q
glance at the dirty face Of the urchin
and another at the brilliantly lighted
entrance OF the opera house, he hul-
rled on. He must be quick or there
| would be left not even standing room
which was al that he could afford to
pay for. At the ticket window q fat
old gentleman was wrangling over his
| tickets.
The enforced delay gave the young
man time to think, and the face of the
street child. pathetic through all it's
dirt, would not be banished. When the
old gentleman had relieved his nina
and termed away. the ticket seller
| looked ut Grayson cXpectantly; but
with muttered nalediction at his
chicken heart. as he chose to term It,
Grayson turned away. Pietro was
| trudging YEARLY down the street to-
ward that part of the city from which
the rich fee and where the poor and
| the wicked find refuge. Revolving in
his mind the weary question OF
| finances, he did not heed the approach
ing footsteps until a hand grasped him
unceremoniously aud voice asked
gruffiy:
What We're you crying for, kid?"
"Aw, what yer givin' us, dude?
warn't cryin'"
"All right, but what's wrong? Bank
rupt?' with a quizzicA glance at the
others stock in trade
Nope" replied Pietro. "Got my out
fit left. That's about all, though. Bust
ness is pretty dead now. Be better aft
er election"
Grayson laughed.
That's right. | find It so myself.
What do you say TO a good hot steak
in here?"
They were passing a little restau-
rant, ana the aroma of hot coffee and
frying meat floated out to them. re-
minding Grayson that his evening
meal had been dispensed with to make
up the amount necessary for his admit
lance to the land of hearts desire and
causing the nostrils of his companion
to twitch like rabbits.
Sure, but dis is bum joint. Come
to Maginty's It's swell there"
They went to Maginty's. and over a
cup of strong coffee and their steak
and potatoes Pietro became cor ti,ien-
tial and told Gray son the story Of his
struggles, first 10 provide necessities
FOR his dying mother and then to es-
cape the clutches of the money lender,
from whom he had borrowed money
that his mother might have a burial fit
for human being.
When Grayson. familiar with the
ways of the willy money lenders. dis
covered that the amount bad been re-
turned with triple interest. he took the
matter into his own hands. ana the
money lender, looking at those same
strong clinched hands, admitted that
he had asked Pietro to call again only
mat he might give him n receipt for
the full amount of his debt.
Loath to part with his amusing COM
panion. Grayson invited him to share
MS dingy lodgings for the night and
drayson's comrades significantly tan
ped their foreheads ut this latest ec-
centricity of their friend. for. though
Ihey were possessed of numerous &C.
eehtricities of their own. as men of
genus must ever be. surely oven they
might deem 1t the hallmark of insanity
70 tahe from the street Il ragged young