The bee., 1909-02-25
JohnnyKay
By ROBERT vREELAND

that he had 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 I'm business In a booming
little western city that he had in
mind
AS Johnny shaded off a letter he felt
the staging tremble slightly as some
one put a 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 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
friend?" he 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, sc
slightly that 1t was probably not gen
orally noticeable.
thirsty" asked John, putting .
hand to his change pocket for a dime
The six-foot one-inch man put out
strong hand and gripped Johnny's col
lar.
Il am in need of your roll" he said,
briefly.
Being a decidedly understood speci
men OF humanity, Johnny could moi
protest effectively against the grip OF
the six-foot one-inch man, and their
position on the slender staging for
babe any such protest which he might
have attempted on terra firma.
Il am in need OF greenbacks, and
want your little roll" said the six-foot
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 wriggled convulsively 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 in his
30 years Of living Johnny'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 1T
tie roll; you are to hand Il over and
leave me "a hours before telling your
little story, or"
The silence was oppressive. Johnny
looked down again. The brick pave.
ment still cleaned red in the sunlight
and 1t was full so perpendicular feet
below. The mans grip seemed to be
loosenins on his collar. Johnny silent
~ reached toward his pocket
You're q little dutfer," said the
man as he put Johnny down on the
staging.
Johnny handed over his roll and
spoke briefly. He did not whistle after
the SixfoOt oneInch man had gone
still he considered that there might
have been a genuine tragedy and was
comforted.
I'm a smallsized,, parcel, but III
guess I'm worth $500 to Johnny Kay
And there's another couple Of hundred
sailed down where l can get hold OF
It" he said.
one morning two years later Johnny
Kay was laying gold-leaf on a big
plate-glass window in the booming 1T.
tie western city to which he had gone
and set up in business. A crowd stood |
outside watching the men at work and
Johnny turned to the young man who
was helping him.
What do you feel like. Dickg" he
asked.
The young man laughed nervously. |
Like a monkey in glass cage" he
said
When you've been at It a month
you'll feel like a great man before the
public" laughed Johnny. Then he
glanced at the faces outside and
paused.
DICK, you keep working, or pretend,
ing 10, he said under his breath, and,
with seeming elaboration, put on his
coat and Joined the crowd outside. He
spoke a word to couple Of policemen
and edged his way to the side Of a
large man.
Looking your work over?" asked
big man.
Johnny looked into the mans face
and spoke gently
I've been looking for YOU" he said
Later at the police station, he told
his story.
rive been looking for this man for
TWO years. I've looked good many
crowds over when was doing window
signs In hopes to see this pair Of eyes.
amt learned man. your honor, but
have a notion that about every man
has a share OF old Adams curiosity;
We fellows always draw a crowd, and
had a sort of feeling that this man
would come TO my window some day.
He got $4,000 from the Franklin /