The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-11-15

The Boy lie Was Looking For.
BY CHARLES FREDERICK GOSS.


'Inere s q boy in the electrical
shops that | want TO recommend to
your attention" said the superinten-
dent of the Eureka Manufacturing
Company, as he and the president
came down the steps Of the office, az
the noon hour.
what about him?" asked that
shrewd old gentleman.
Gle has an inventive turn OF mind,
and has already made several sug-
gestions that have saved us a lot of
money"
How old is he?"
Fifteen"
"Fifteen? lie is a mere child"
Z But he has mans head on his
shoulders. There he is now-the lit
tie fellow that just threw that hand
spring. He's the queerest possible
combination OF childhood and man
hood that / ever saw. What in the
world is he up to?"
y AS the superintendent paused. a
fair-haired. slightly built lad dlsen-
tangled himself from a crowd OF fifty
or sixty workmen who were hurrying
fnto the street, and hid behind n cor
ner Of the building, peering keenly
toward a figure coming slowly down
the road. The object of his attention,
a man of almost gigantic mould, was
dressed In his working clothes, hav-
ing evidently just come out OF the
rolling mill, where he had, no doubt,
been pudding iron. In spite OF his
dirt stained garments, he presented
not only an imposing but attractive
appearance. His great head was fine
1y poised upon his broad shoulders.
His features were strong, his blue
eyes keen, and his heavy shock of
hair so fiery red that his shopmates
called him the volcano"
The boy permitted him to pass the
corner, and then with an agile spring
bounded onto his huge back and
flung his arms around his neck.
"You little imp" the two observ-
ers heard the giant eXclaim, and then
saw him hoist his evidently not un-
welcome burden across his shoulders
and start down the street on run,
the boys musical laugh ringing out
on the air, and the crowd cheering.
That's his crony-Mike McGin-
mis-" said the superintendent.
"Quecrly mated pair" the presi-
dent replied
Perhaps you never heard how
they became friends"
"No."
"Well, this little shaver's name Is
Alfred Atherton. He lived in little
town up the State somewhere, and
when his parents died a couple Of
years ago, struck out for himself and
came down to Cincinnati. For few
weeks he sold papers; then got into
the messenger service, and finally
landed here. He was good-natured
and clever, making many friends;
but exciting some hostility by his in
domitable teetotalsm.
while he was not aggressive about
his temperance ideas, 1t became per-
fectly evident that he disapproved OF
his shopmates' habits of rushing the
growler.' They resented this, Of
course, ridiculing, abusing and tempt
ing him cruelty. Nothing could move
him, however, and they resorted TO
the scurviest trick you ever heard
about.
Eight or ten OF the biggest and
roughest boys in the shop devised n
scheme to inveigle him into one of the
saloons and either persuade or force
him TO drink glass of rum. Some
how or other, they got him inside
the door, and failing to make him
obey them voluntarily, began TO
threaten. Wen pour it down your
throat they said. You will?' he
cried, with flashing eyes. Wen see!
My father fills drunkard's grave
and l promised my mother on her
dying bed that Id never drink a
dropl Now make me break that
promise If you can With these
words still on his lips the little shaver
flung off his coat and set his back
against the wall.
"In a jiffy the crowd was on him
and he went down, but fighting lik,
wildcat! Several of them held hi
ndHuS anu ltSbs obheIS pIltu nls
mouth open, and one was just goinl
90 pour the whisky into It, when thi
same big Irishman sprang from hi
chair, and seizing them one after an
other. flung them across the room a
if they had been five-pound bags o
salt. When he came TO little Ather
ton at the bottom of the pile, h
picked him mp; set him on the bar
slapped him on the back, and said 1
him, You little spalpeen, you max
me want to sign the pledge.
~'Then do It., said Atherton.