The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-06-03


Fourth street, and in consequence, as
far south as the eye could reach
stood row of motionless cars. Also
IN consequence, along the curb was
ranged fretting, impatient, helpless
crowd. among whom the most anx-
ious was probably Edward Billings
Henry.
In stature Edward Billings Henry
was briefer than his name would in
dicate, but to a certain two-room
dwelling on Jackson street he made
up In Importance what he lacked in
height, and it was his overwhelming
sense of this Importance which made
every thin muscle taut and strained
every nerve as he stood in the fore
front of the crowd, his bare feet
planted on the cold asphalt, one hand
gripping his remaining stock of pa
pers, the other clutching a nickel.
Il never was in a tearing hurry in
my life but what this thing hap
pened!" exploded a man just behind
the boy.
Edward Billings Henry turned and
booked up. The man was jingling a
lot of loose coins in his pocket. The
boy glanced down at his one nickel,
and said, with conviction, You can't
need to have 'em go like l do"
The big man stared down at the
little man in surprise with a gruff
Huh" but Edward Billings Henry
I had no time to repeat. His hope had
revived. The two men who lay on
their backs under the injured car be-
gan to crawl out and the boy rushed
forward.
"Will it go now?" he inquired of
one of the numerous conductors clus-
tered round.
Maybe so--in half an hour" re-
piled the conductor, carelessly.
"Oh," cried the boy, in dismay, 81
Just can't wait that long!"
Walk, them" said the conductor,
grossly.
Its too far" replied the boy,
when you've got stone toe."
"A what?" calculated the conduc-
tor, but his voice was lost in the
honk! honk! of big white touring
car which pushed slowly through the
crowd.
In front of the car Edward Billings
Henry raced limpingly on his "stone
toe" back to the curb and to the man
jingling the coins in hispocket. "Just
what time is it, please?" he asked.
The man pulled out a watch and
showed it to him.
Edward Billings Henry heaved a
great sigh. 'Half-past ten! It'll
likely be filled up before l can get
there"
What will be?"
"The place I'm after"
Skilfully he raised the limping foot,
laid 1t across theother leg, and nursed
the stone-bruised toe, his eyes on the
automobile, which had halted almost
in front of him.
Hello, Julius!" a voice in the
crowd sang out. Lucky dog, you,
not to have to depend on street cars!"
The driver of the car was a young
man. That is, Edward Billings Hen
ry judged him to be young by the
only feature visible, a flexible wide
mouth. with clean shavcn lips. His
eyes were behind goggles, and cap
covered his forehead and ears, meet
Ing the tip of high collar, which ef-
fectually concealed his chin.
But the mouth smiled as the Cog
giles turned toward the pavement, the
owner answering lightly, Hello,
yourself, Dick! Jump in and try my
luck"
Where you going?"
up to Congress Square,"
well. get along, then" returned
the other. That's no good to me-"
Congress Square. What luck! Ex-
actly where Edward Billings Henry
wished to go, and here was a rapid
transit vehicle with room enough for
ten such diminutive persons as he!
Without loss Of time he limped up on
his aching stone toe and logged the
arm of the driver.
Junius paused and looked down
Edward Billings Henry removed a
mans derby from his head and looked
up out of eyes kindling with hope, as
he asked eagerly:
DO you s'pose you could get me
up there inside of twenty-five min.
utes, mister?"
"What?" Junius stared hard
through his goggles.
ITO Congress Square," said Ed
ward Billings Henry, impatiently
Its business. and if / don't get there
I'm out of job, that's ALL" The
boy mounted the step and clung tc
the seat. proffering his nickel. "I'l
pay just what I'd pay on the car" he
argued. so you'd be making some
money as wells giving me lift"
The goggled eyes looked at the
nickel in the dirty hand, and ther