The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-19
ONE OF THE BOYS.

This is q leftover from Christmas,
bur 1t bears repeating many times"
sail the suddenly grown serious fat
man, who had been urged to tell a
good story. So he settled the very
satisfactory cigar into the corner of
his mouth. crossed his legs comfort
ably. wrapped his arms around one
pest of the chair, interlocked his
chubby fingers. and began:
II was passing through Columbia
about two days before Christmas.
friend took me up 10 the club, nice
place, jolly lot of feiiows---O. yes Got
n little appetizer for dinner. you know;
had little game. Then we started
down ~ get dinner at the restaurant
near by.
NO. this Is all right thank you.
Heigh there. Bob want 10 see you
before l leave, Yes. going down to
Charleston. You know SAM. well.
now just rect yourself comforta bly,.
I'm telling 4 story. Can't begin again,
SO you'll Just have to swing on sofne-
where
20. well. Sam and came out those
revolving doors, gafeiy-good exer-
else, isn't II? The air was quite nippy;
lots OF Christmas shoppers moving
around; crowd OF men around the
acor watching the people. Right in
front of the entrance to this wonder
fui skys0faper, from which every
other point In the universe Is meas.
ured. by the way. Was one OF those
tripods with a pot hanging, like the
picture.. we used TO see in eur geogra-
rhier OF the Indians cooking their
stun"
"yes. good thing. that Salvation
Army: used to have meeting hall in
same building where our club had
quarters"
We'll, one of those little Salvation
ressies' was starding there just ring.
ing "a bell for all she was worth.
New recruit. / think: looked IS.
should think, red cheeks, blue eyes,
real genuine innocent pleading stare.
pdn't have on the regulation Saliva
Il. Army dress and bonnet; all that
told what she was. was little red
ribbon pinned across her black straw
sailor hat"
Took her In. you bet I did. Have
quite an eye for feminine beauty.
Ought to have been a painter, or
theater manager. But Sam. he saw
more than just the pretty face that
was like some of the new calendars.
He saw how cold and rcd her hands
were. how tired and home-s!ck she
looked"
well. he marched right UP to her.
i thought he was Just up To some Of
his pranks. But, o, 1t was Just like
Sam. l might have known. He spoke
to that pretty little Salvation iassie
just as grandly as he would IL she had
been In a $4,000 auto. and had stop
ped at the curb and he was leaning on
the door. holding his silk hat in his
hand. You wouldn't have known the
difference just looking at Sam as he
lifted hts hat and smiled and spoke to
the little Salvation girl.
won't you come and get some din
ner2. said -he--AHd she didn't seem
much surprised either. The look in
her eyes was like she'd met friend
from down on the farm. And she was
hungry. too, and she wanted to go,
but she looked back at the pot which
/ suppose had but few pennies In 1t,
and thought OF the Christmas dinner
for the poor that these pennies were
to buy.
II can't leave here" she explained,
biting her lips to keep back the tears.
and then began bravely TO ring the
bell,
"Just give that to me-" said Sam.
''and here you. Bill, take this young
lady In there, and tell old Ben said
give her the best dinner In his shop, II
he knows what's good for him."
well. siri Bill was surprised ana
impressed that he conducted little SAL
vdI4Ou bSaS lHtD tliAt A06tduIduL ana
treated her like a queen. Old Ben
went and looked out OF the window to
see what was going on. and there WAS
Sam with the grandest smile on his
miachievous. handsome face - God
bless him!---and he was ringing that
bell like the dickens. and stopping all
the men as they came down from tho
club. and they were plugging In the
dollars. till the little old pot could
hardly swing. and. when the lassia
came out Of the restaurant. rosy and
weil-fed looking. Sam was bracing up
the tripod, the pot was so heavy"
why Sam. you rascal. when'd you
get In. Yes. I'm going to take that
train. Goodbye. boys."---Columbia
State. ss~,ss .1ssgss.sss N
Fully Prepared.
what abaht this ERE Alleys