Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-16
How PietrO
Paid His Debt.
By saba B. CUSHMAN.
Copyright, 1907, by Mary McKeon.
BY saba B. CUSHMAN

tro's heart sank as low as the hoard of
silver in his tattered purse. If it would
only rain, then the gentlemen hurrying
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 Well
close up for the night The process of
closing up consisted of packing his
brushes, backing and various nipple
ments into a small box and singing
the same by a strap from his shoulder.
One watching Pietro's closing up
could determine the proceeds of the
days business. If he moved with alac-
rity, the jingling silver in his purse
promised we'll for the necessities of
life; if he moved reluctantly, pausing
now and then to see if perchance there
might yet be a patron for him, the
purse was lamentably light and Pie
tro's supper must be likewise. Tonight
he knew that the persistent craving in
his stomach must go entirely unappeas-
ed. for there was no more than enough
silver to satisfy the voraciousness of
4SOnUCIS, IuG IIOIlOy SlIdlh, VI w dlCL
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.
"Aw. no use kicking" remarked Pie
tro philosOphically as he slowed away
his last brush; eve 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 fol-
the sunshine of her own land, returned
to him. His own eyes filled with I'M
wonted tears, shutting out for a mo-
ment 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 debonair
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
glance at the dirty face of the urchin
and another at the brilliantly lighted
entrance of the opera house, he hur-
ried on. He must be quick or there
WOulO D0 l0II iiOI even SlduuIuS IOOlI,
which was all that he could afford to
pay for At the ticket window a 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 its
dirt, would not be banished. When the
old gentleman had relieved his mind
and turned away, the ticket seller
looked at Grayson expectantly; but,
with a muttered malediction 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
sthe 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 and q voice asked
gruffly:
What were you crying for, kid"
CAV, what yer giyin' US, dude? l
warn't cryin'."
'All right, but what's wrong? Bank
rupt?" with a quizzical 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 l find it so myself.
What do you say to a good hot steak
in here?'
They were passing a little restau-
rant, and the aroma of hot coffee and
frying meat foated 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 a rabbits.
''Sure, but dis is a 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 confden-
tial and told GraysOn the story of his
struggles, first to provide necessities
for his dying mother and then to es-
cape the clutches Of the money lender,
11Ou NuOuI uG udu 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 had been re-
turned with triple interest, he took the
matter into his own hands, and the
money lender, looking at those same
strong clinched hands, admitted that
he had asked Pietro to call again only
that he might give him a receipt for
the full amount of his debt.
Loath to part with his amusing COM
panion, Grayson invited him to share
his dingy lodgings for the night, and
Grayson's comrades significantly tap
ped their foreheads at this latest &C.
centricity of their friend for though
they We're possessed of numerous &C.
centricities of their own. as men of