The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-04-08
Johnny Kay
By ROBERT VREELAND


| that he had a roll of greenbacks with
total valuation OF $500 in his trou-
sers' pocket did not trouble him either.
Twenty-four hours later was to see
him steaming westward in search for
a new field in which to ply his trade
of sign painting. and Johnny Kay was
very glad to feel that he possessed
| $500 of good money with which to set
himself up in business in a booming
little western city that he had in
mind.
AS Johnny shaded off letter he felt
the staging trembe slightly as some
| one put foot on the ladder below
! Johnny looked to see who might be
| the intruder.
Hello" said the man who was com,
ing over the side of the staging; he
| was a siX-foot one-inch man, whom
Johnny had never seen before.
"Hello," said Johnny.
The six-foot one.inch man stepped
close to Johnny.
Got a bit of hard cash handy, my
| lIlSuu ne asked.
Johnny saw a peculiar CLINT in the
strangers eyes; he noticed further
that the shade of one eye differed very
slightly from that of the other, SO
slightly that it was probably not gen
| orally noticeable.
thirsty asked John. putting a
hand to his change pocket for dime.
The siNtoot one-inch man put out a
strong hand and gripped Johnuy's col
| lar.
Il am in need of your roll" he said,
briefly.
Being a decidedly understood spoci-
men Of humanity, johnny could not
protest effectively against the grip Of
the siX-root onefnch man. and their
position on the slender staging for.
bade any such protest which he might
have attempted on terra frma.
Il am in need of greenbacks, and /
want your little roll" said the siX-loot
one-inch man
Johnny felt the hold ON his collar
tighten, then he was lifted from his
| footing on the staging and swung out.
his feet wrigglcd convulsiyply for .
moment and he looked down
Sixty feet below he saw the brick
pavement cleaning red in the morning
sunlight, and for the first time i'm his
30 years OF living lohnny's stout heart
| quailed. From some seemingly re
mote distance a low voice was com
handing his attention.
My friend | am in need Of your lit
tie roll; YOU are to hand It over ana
leave me "A hours before telling your
little story, or"
Ihe silence was oppressive johnny
| looked down again The brick pave
ment still cleaned red in the sunlight:
| and it was full 60 perpendicular feet
below. The mans grip seemed to be
loosoning on his collar Johnny silent
| ly reached toward his pocket.
You're a little durcr" said the
man as he put Johnny down on the
staging.
Johnny handed over his roll and
spoke briefly. tie did not whistle after
| the siXiuot one-inch man had gone.
! still he considered that there might
have been a genuine tragedy and was
comforted.
Tn smalEsized parcel. but |
guess I'm worth $500 to Johnny Kay
| And there's another couple Of hundred
sailed down whore | can get hold of
it, he said.
One morning two years later johnny
Kay was laying god-leaf ON big
plate glass window in the booming lit
tie western city to which he had gone
and set up in business. A crowd stood
outside watching the mon at work and
johnny turned to the young man who
was helping him
What do you feel like, Dick?" he
asked
The young man laughed uervously
Like a monkey in a glass cage" ne
said.
when you've been at it a month
you'll feel like a great man before the
public laughed johnny. Then ne
glanced at the faces outside and
paused.
Dick, you keep working. or pretend
ing to-" he said under his breath. and.
with seeming dclibcrution. but ON his
coat and joined the crowd outside He
spoke word TO a couple Of policemen
and edged his way to the side Of
large man.
Looking your work oyer?" asked