The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-18

quarter he saw me slip her: nnd 70
jigt happened run into him that eve
ming and got him in. or he'd froze to
death. ] guess he must "a kin6 o hud
'em last night. cause he was the wild.
est man you ever see-seW grasshop-
pers with paper collaro on. ard old
BOWS with feather-duster tailg-thO
durndest program you ever heard OF!
And he got 30 bad onc't he was a-goin'
to belt Sis. and did try 1t: and-and I
lad to chug him one or he'd a done il.
And then he cried, and Sis cried, and
/ cri-. l. Dern him! you can bet yer
life / didn't cryi" And as the boy
| spoke, the lips auivered into stern com.
preston, the little hands gripped closer
| at his side. but for all that the flashing
eyes grew blurred and the lids dropped
downward
That's boss shine on them Shoes
was mechanically telling over In
my hand the three small coins had
drawn from my pocket.
THAT is n nice job" said gazing
with an unusual show of admiration at
the work; "and thought" continued
]. with real regret, that /, had two
dimes and q nickel there, and was
thinking that. as these were Christmas
times. I'd just give you o quarter for
your work."
Honest, Cap?"
"Honest!" repeated, "but the fact
is the two dimes. as I thought they
were. are only tyo three-cent pieces, SO
have only 'deven cents in change.
after ALL"
"Spect they'd change bill fer you
'crost there at the lunch counter" he
suggested. with charming artlessness
Wont have time-there's my train
just coupling. But take this-I1l see
you again some time, perhaps"
How big bill is 1t you want
changed?" asked the little fellow, with
most acquisitive expression, and q
swift glance at our then lonely sur
roundings.
Il only have one bill with me-" said
/. nervously. "and that's 9 FIVE"
We'll. here, then" said the boy, hur.
riedly, with another and more scrutin
izing glance about him-"guess / car
'commodate you" And as ! turned
in wonder. he drew from some mysteri
GUS recess in the lining OF his coat q
roll OF bills, from which he hastily de
tached four In number, then returned
the roll: and before had recovered
from my surprise, he had whisked the
note from my fingers and left in my
hand instead the proper change.
"This is on the dead. now, Cap
Don't you ever cheep about me havin'
wealth, you know; cause 1t ain't mine
| that is, 1t is mine, but I'm a.
There goes yer train. Ta-ta!"
"The day before Christmas" said /
snatching his hand, and speaking hur
riedly-"the day before, Christmag, rm
coming back, ana IL you'll be here
when the five-thirty train rolls In you'n
find q man that wants his boots
blacked-maybe to get married In, or
Icmething-anyway hell want O shine
like this. and he'll come prepared to
! pay the highest market price-do you
understand"
you jist tell that feller fer me-"
said the boy. eclipsing the twinkle OF
one eye. and dropping his voice to an
infection OF strictest confidence-'you
jist tell that feller fer me that I'm his
oyster!"
And you'll meet him. sure?" said I.
Il WILL" said the boy. And he kept
his word.
My ride homo was an incoherent
duttering OF the wings Of time, in
which travail one fretful hour was
born, to gasp its frst few minutes bslp.
lessly: then moan. roll over and kick
out Its legs and sprawl about; then
crawl little-stagger to its feet and
totter on; then tumble down O time or
two and knock its empty head against
the floor and howl; then loom up awk-
wardly on gangling legs, too much In