The Oakes times., 1912-08-08
The Newsbov
Cripple
Cheese it. fellers, cheese it. Th


struggle to recover the dice and pen.
nes scattered within the snug circle
OF excited newsboys gathered far UP
D. lane enjoying, apparently heed
less Of consequences, midday game
OF much-forbidden crap"
In the wild scramble to save their
gambling implements" and neverthe
less escape the bluecsated official
striding upon them, nobody thought OF
poor Billy. But, with his papers un
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 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 behed
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
1t 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"
"Aw. let him off, can't yer?"
Billy and the policeman wheeled
nbout 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 covering of -four 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 see of Billy he was settin'
there eatin' his handout. Weren't
you, Billy" Billy nodded complacent-
ly. Yer pinchin'. innocent man.
boss; straight goods.
Now" the boy went on pushing his
bands deep into his pockets and broad
ening his base, now. I'm one of the
bunch. I've got pull with the gang,
ii do say 1t myself, and if-if-you-
could only let Billy off-'cause he
amt done nothin' anyhow-Ill use my
'nflooence with the crowd to stop the
shootin'-after-I-get-out-of the
lookup"
For an instant CLEAN OF merit
ment beamed in the officers eyes, and
1t was with difficulty that he re-
strained a burst of genuine laughter.
But I can't do that for you;
can't let either Of you off," he said,
at last. "You know right from wrong
and-ah, here comes the sergeant
Well let him settle It,"
Billy shrank closer to his champion
as he felt his own tiny atom of self
completely overshadowed by this for
midable giant with shining buttons
and chevrons. The contact lent the
lntercessor strength for final appeal.
Sergeant. can 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 lnterlocked, but his gaze met that
Of the stalwart officer of the law un-
1inchingly. Breathlessly, he rushed
pn, -~ssss. sse:zsrfsS $s:SSss,r<.I
"Billy's mother is home sick in bed.
She's what you call an invalid. Some
times she can work and help out and
sometimes Billy's got to do 1t 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
gay howdy or good-by, and Billy's
been up against 1t ever since and
and-shall tell 1t. Billy. bout slingin'
the dice?" Billy hesitated. "Shall l.,
Billy? It's up to you"
Billy tried to grasp the Significance
of this sudden bestowal of responsible
tty and bowed bewildered approval.
We'll, then. bout this game O. crap.
pergeant." 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
p boost with crap game noontime,
Till his ma got better. SoYle 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
q good bit of 1t up in game O. crap
for Billy, just to boost him along.
That's what we was doln' today, ser
geant, but we got pinched. If you
could only let Billy on-if-you-"
"That will do, my boy" The ser
geant's voice was very gentle. "You
tell the rest of tho boys they must
never throw dice again, never. Tel
them to boost Billy some other way
Now, get your papers and hustle bust
ness"
Good roads cannot be obtained by
bad methods.
fine TEST OF CLEAR SPEECH