The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-10
The Newsboy
Cripple
Cheese it, fellers. cheese it, The

There was a scurrying Of feet and
a confusion Of grimy hands in the
struggle to recover the dice and pen.
mics scattered within the snug circle
of excited newsboys gathered far up
D lane enjoying, apparently heed
less Of consequences, a midday game
Of much-forbidden crap"
In the wild scramble to save their
gambling implements" and neverthe-
less escape the bluecoated official
striding upon them, nobody thought of
poor Billy. But, with his papers I'M
der one arm, his crutch resting be-
meath the other and an empty trous-
ers leg dangling in the breeze, Billy,
with his companions, sought self
preservation.
D. lane, for the surefooted was
none too good walking, and a treach-
erous spot found Billy in his mis-
fortune and brought him heavily to
the ground, his papers in an untidy
pile beside him and the crutch quite
beyond his reach
The corners of his mouth dropped
ever so little as he looked up from
his uncomfortable position and beheld
the officer towering above him.
We'll my lad, you seem to be the
one to go along with me. All the
rest have made good to get out Of the
way, I'm mighty sorry I've got to
take you-one Of the others would
have suited me better-much better.
But the sergeant detailed me especial
ly to stop this crap shooting. He says
it can't go on"
The policeman spoke not unkindly,
but Billy, from his seat of earth,
heard, and knew that a plea for re-
lease would be wasted.
Here's your crutch, my boy. Come
on"
Jaw, let him off, can't yer?"
Billy and the policeman wheeled
about at this unexpected interference
from the rear. There, crawling from
beneath an empty barrel set forth by
one of the many restaurants along the
lane, his face and hair generously
streaked with a covering Of flour TAX
en- on in his place of refuge, came a
boy not much larger than Billy him
self-one Of the circle Of former "crap
shooters"
Il say, Billy amt done nothin'. He
warn't shOotin' with the bunch. The
last I see of Billy he was settin'
there eatin his handout. Weren't
you, Billy?" Billy nodded complacent-
ly. Eyer pinchin', a innocent man,
boss; straight goods.
Now" the boy went on pushing his
hands deep into his pockets and broad
ening his base, now, I'm one of the
bunch. I've got pull with the gang,
If | do say it myself, and if--if-you-
could only let Billy off-'cause he
amt done nothin' &nyhow-I'll use my
'nflooence with the crowd to stop the
shootin'- after-I- get-out-of the
lookup"
For an instant a CLEAN of merrf-
ment beamed in the officers eyes, and
it was with difficulty that he re-
strained burst of genuine laughter.
But can't do that for you; 1
can't let either of you of" he said,
at last. "You know right from wrong
and-ah, here comes the sergeant
we'll let him settle it,"
Billy shrank closer to- his champion
as he felt his own tiny atom of self
oVershadowed by this for
giant with shining buttons
and chevrons. The contact lent the
strength for final appeal.
Sergeant, can l speak to you for
Billy? | don't mind for myself, but
Billy just can't go to the lookup"
Nervously the child's fingers locked
and interlocked, but his gaze met that
of the stalwart officer Of the law I'M
flinchingly. Breathlessly, he rushed
on.
"Billy's mother is home sick in bed.
She's what you call an invalid. Some
times she can woTk and help out and
sometimes Billy's got to do it all him
self cause he amt got no brothers
nor sisters, nor no father-just his
mother. So we fellers found him a
good stand up in the square, but he
can't run after trade since he's lost
his leg. Some swell guy run over him
with his auto and never stopped to
say howdy or good-by, and Billy's
been up against it ever since and
and-shall tell 1t, Billy, bout slingin'
the dice?" Billy hesitated. Shall /.
Billy? It's up to you"
Billy tried to grasp the significance
Of this sudden bestowal Of responsible
ity and bowed a bewildered approval.
We'll, then, bout this game O. crap,
sergeant" The boy lowered his eyes
and poked the dirt with the toe of his
muddy boot.
about this game Of crap--Billy's
business hasn't been rushing lately
and SO we rather planned to give him
q boost with crap game noontime.
till his ma got better. Some o. the
crowd got more'n you'd think out Of
their papers and they have a pocket.
full left for themselves. So they put
a good BIT Of It up in a game o. Gran
for Billy, just to boost him along
That's what we was dom today. ser |
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