The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-07-21


window. He was short legged boy
with freckled face and a shock of
very black hair. He was older than
his stature would indicate, but not as
old as his sharp features and his
shrewd look seemed to make him.
The cashier was busy. His eyes
were On memorandum slip and his
lips were moving.
The boy rustled his paper. The
cashier family smiled and nodded,
but he did not turn away from the
slip and its long rows of figures.
Presently he looked up.
''Hello," he said and reached for
che paper.
Say" the boy remarked. you're
q wonder, all right. Why didn't you
get mad when l made de break an
you countin' dem tallies an only half
way down."
The young man laughed. He was
. good looking young man, tall and
we'll built.
"That would be a waste of tenn
per-" he said. 81 can't afford to be
wasteful of anything. Here, how
much do owe you?"
The youngster knitted his grimy
brows and half closed his black eyes.
"It's twelve cents" he announced.
"You don't owe it to me, but to de
kid that owns de customers. I'm
only takin' his place. He's sick"
The cashier pushed the money
across the glass shelf.
''Sick, Ell? And you are keeping
the route for him?"
yep" The boy drew the money
into his grimy palm. Hes gettin'
better. l won't be on de job much
longer. An dat suits me, too"
The phone bell rang. The cashier
turned away.
"Goodby," he called back.
The boy pushed the money into his
pocket. Then he turned and went
aut.
That's fine guy" he said.
The next afternoon he was back
again. This time the good-looking
NdohiCl was dL ltDtllys
"Hello," was his greeting. FLOWS
your friend?"
Hes on de rapid mend" replied
The boy. "Mebby he'll be out again
IN couple O. weeks. It's something
wrong in his insides an he's at de
hospital"
There was an attractive quality
about the cashiers smile.
whats your name?" he asked.
"Dey calls me Solly."
"Why?"
The boy chuckled.
II wuz up by one o. desc meetin's
fer de kids dat dey has at de gym
nasium, an de feller what run it he
got tired O. me askin' questions an
pretty soon he hands it out to me like
dis, An what has our wise little
Solomon to say to this?'"
The cashier laughed. The boys
imitation of the sarcastic drawl was
lnimitable.
II understand" the young man
said. 1.-THE boys caught on to the
name of Solomon, and then cut it
down to Solly."
"Dat's it," chuckled the boy "An'
amt maxim any howl about it.
Dey tell me he was de wise old guy.
all right"
The young man laughed.
"That's the reputation he bore"
he said. "See here, don't l owe you
something more?"
Solly shot glance at him.
you paid me las night, didn't
your"
Il paid you something. But
there's that sick boy, you know"
The freckled face flushed
de sick boys all right. He ain't
needin' nuthin'. When you owe me
you pay me, an not afore. See?"
The cashier laughed at the boys
vehemence.
"All right" he said That's
fair understanding. It's pity that
all commercial transactions can't be
conducted on the same honorable
basis"
The boy frowned.
Get it out O. your system" he ad-
tfsed. ut amt good stuff to carry
round"
He grinned broadly as he passed
out.
Two days later the cashier called
10 the boy as he was about to leave.
. ''Solly."
The boy turned quickly.
"Wot is it," he asked.
"Come here"
The cashier leaned forward.
whats all this in the morning
paper about newsboy called Solly
who pulled a girl out of the river at
the foot of e. Fourth street,"
The boys sharp face flushed and
frowned.
Gee, dey put everything in de pa
per-" he growled.
'That was fine." said the cashier
softly.
Come Off" growled the boy. at
amt nothin'. l kin swim like fish. F"
The cashier stretched his hand
across the glass shelf.