Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-12-18

iday wish OF the people
would be gratified.
The bright-eyed, thinly-clad boy on
,the steps OF one OF these beautiful
homes was not wasting any time IN
;envying the rich. He had waited
there for some minutes for the big au
komcbiIe he knew was due to arrive
from the hospital about that time each
day.
The big car pulled up beside the
curb. A big, kindly-faced man stepped
from it and started up the steps.
Say, are you the doc?"
The surgeon paused halfway up the
steps and glanced at the small bit OF
humanity balanced on the stone hand
rail
why. yes, my little man, what can
! do for you?" he asked tenderly, as
he stepped over and put hand on
the lads knee He was familiar with
The type of boy who had greeted him,
and it was type of boy he liked, a
fearless, independent, little waif OF
the streets. In the great hospital, OF
which he was the head, they were his
most accomplishing and appreciative
patients, even If they were not the
profitable ones.
"Nothin' fer meself; it's fer me brud-
der" The little fellow spoke earnest
" and looked straight into the emf
nent surgeons kindly gray eyes.
"Your brother? Oh, see. Well,
what's the matter with your brother?'
Cripple" The one word, with the
saddened tone, told the whole story
to Doctor Harrison. He knew the rest
of the tale from long experience, and
asked no further questions.
Come in the house, and let's talk 1t
over"
Say, doc. l don't believe you want
he to come in. amt got no money"
why, that's just the reason l want
you to come in," the doctor replied,
with a merry twinkle in his eye, and
ran up the steps closely followed by
The small urchin. AS the door closed
behind them he seized the youngster
In playful bear hug, and landed him
in heavily upholstered leather chair.
IT was such chair as that boy had
seen in the great shop windows, but
had never thought of sitting In, and
the warmth Of It's soft cushions gave
q pleasant thrill to his shivering lit
tie body.
What is your name?"
tom Mcclure. You know Pat Nc
CURE that tends bar down in East
Downey street,"
mo, l don't believe do"
We'll, he's me uncle, and he says
you set his leg, time Of the big rail-
road smash-up at Hanover"
Eyes, remember going out to Han
over with q lot of other doctors at the
fine Of the accident; but that was ten
years ago."
: 'That don't make any difference to
Uncle Pat. He never forgets favors.
Guess he amt had many in his life"
did your Uncle Pat send you to see
me?' asked the surgeon.
Nav, but it's because what he .old
me bout you made me think it might
be all right to come and see bout
Pete's leg"
; where is your brother. Thomas?"
Jaw, don't call me that. I amt
Thomas. I'm just Tom. Raggy Tom
they call me round the square. sells
bapes on the southwest corner of the
square. Business amt so bad this
Hme O. year, and I'm breakin' in
Pete"
"He can walk, then, can he?" The
physician had seated himself close to
his small caller, and was giving his
whole attention to the case in hand
TELL me more about Pete"
H"Pete was born that way. Doctor
said one leg wasn't no good and never
was goin' to be, SO when Pete got big
enough, saved me pennies and
bought him crutch, and after while
he got SOS he could use It, Then
took him down to the corner and he
helped me sell papes in rush hours
He likes to be doin' sonthin', but he
gets awful tired holdin' the papes and
hangin' on to his crutch."
&, "Doe5 he stay there all day."
i Nav, not all the time. Business
Amt rushin' only mornin's and
nights, and Pete stays home part OF
the time. On cold days he gifts shivery
'cause he can't get round very fast
so's to keep himself warm"
us there any news stand on that
corner?" the doctor asked, becoming
ktill more interested.
NAV, we dassen't put one up. Billy
Hahn, he's the Teller what had that
corner before me, he tried to get
leave to put up stand alongside OF
the fountain where there's plenty OF
room, but the aldermen turned him
down He didn't have no pull, and
amt got none neither. Me and Pete
was up on the northeast corner, and
when Billy got wet feet and pneumonia
and died, we come down to his cor
Nor"
!, "Tom. are your father and mother
living"
NAV is. l dunno much about paw
He amt no good. Uncle Pat says he
gees him hangin' round once in
awhile. Maws got two younger'n me
and Pete. I'm ten and Pete's goin' on
mine. Nav works awful hard takin
care Of the kids and SEWN fer a de-
baftment store. She says to me one
nine: Tom, you look after Pete and
I'm take care Of tho young uns.' Nav
ban't hardly get enough to buy 'em
Slothes. 10 I chip In when biz 10 good
hay, doc, read in my papes bout
hat kid you fixed up last week, and
I'm bet ten cents Pete's legs just like
HAT. Thinks I, when read that. I'm