The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-12-10

delight to gravity, which change. II
my opinion, rather denotes lying TO DC
new thing to him. / cant be mis-
taken In the boy, for | noticed, as ne
turned to go, bald place on the DacB
Of his head, the left side, trade
mark first discovered last evening, as
he bent over the PROSTATE form OF MS
father
Il noticed a thin spot in his hair,
said |. land wondered at the time
what caused It,"
And don't you know
| shook my head.
Coal bins and entry floors. THAT
little fellow hasn't slept within bed
for years, perhaps"
"But he told you, as you say, last
night, he was taking the old man
| homer
Yes. home! can imagine that
boys home. There are myriads like 1t
in the city here-a cellar or a shed-a
box car or loft in some old shop, with
father to chase him from 1t In his
sober interludes, and to hold him from
! 1t in unconscious shame when help
! lessly drunk. Home, Sweet Home
| That boy has heard 1t on the hand
| organ. perhaps, but never in his heart
you couldn't grind 1t out of there
with thousand cranks."
The picture he drew was gloomy
enough, to be sure, but we recognized
It as true to life, for we, too, were not
unfamiliar with the sordid, ugly side
of existence In a large city. Our mer-
riment seemed to have evaporated,
our conversation languished and with
thoughts perhaps too sober for the
holiday time we soon separated and
went our respective ways
The remainder Of that day eluded
me somehow; | don't know how or
where 1t passed. | suppose it just
dropped into a comatose condition, and
so slipped away "urknelled. uncof-
fined. and unknown"
But one clear memory survives-an
experience so wildly imprinted on my
mind that / now recall its every de-
tail: Entering the Union depot that
evening to meet the train that was to
carry me away at six o'clock, muffled
closely in my overcoat, yet more close
ly mufiied in my gloomy thoughts,
was rather abruptly stopped by small
boy with cry of Here. you man
with the cigar; don't you want them
boots BACKED? Shine 'em fer ten
cents! Shine 'em fer a nickel-on'y
you mustn't give me away on that" he
added dropping on his knees near the
entrance, and motioning me to set my
foot upon the box.
1t was then too dark for me to see
his face clearly, but | had recognized
the voice the instant he had spoken,
and had paused and looked around.
"Oh, you'll have plenty O. time" he
urged, guessing at the cause Of my ap-
parent hesitation. None O. the trains
on time tonight-on'y the Panhandle.
and she's jist a-backin' in--won't start
fer 30 minutes" and he again beck
oned, and ratified a seductive tattoo on
the side of his box.
Well said l. with compromising
air, come inside, then, out of the
cold"
"'Ginst the rules-cops won't have
it, They jst fired me out O. there not
ten minutes ago. Oh, come, cap; step
out here; it won't take two minutes"
and the little fellow spat professional
ly upon his brush, with covert glance
of pleasure as he noted tie apparent
success Of the maneuver. You don't
live here, I'll bet" said the boy, setting
the first boot on the box, and pausing
to blow his hands.
How do you know that? Did you
never see me here before?"
'No, | never see you here before,
but that amt no reason. | can tell
you don't live here by them shoes
cause they've been put up In some lit
tie pennyroyal shop-that's how. When
you want fly shoe you want to git
somepin' about style. They's good
enough materl In that shoe, on'y she's
about two years off in style"
You're posted then, In shoes" said
|. with a laugh.
Il ort to be" he went on, pantingly,
a brush in either hand gyrating with a
velocity that jostled his hat over his
eyes, leaving most plainly exposed to
my investigating eye the trademark
before alluded to; Il ort to be posted
in shoes. cause amt done nothin but
black 'em fer five years.
You're an old hand, then. at the
business said |. Il didn't know but
maybe you were just starting out
What's an outfit like that WORTH"
"Thnkin' o startin' up?" he asked
facetiously.
ooh, no." said I, good humoredly. II
lust asked out Of idle curiosity. That's
new box, amt it?"
New" he repeated with q laugh
put up that other hoof New? Wy,
If that box had ever had eyes like a
human it would IA been a-wearln'
specs by this time; that's old-bald-
headed box. with one foot in the
grave
and what did the old fellow cost
you?" | asked, highly amused at the
quaint expressions Of the boy.
Cost? Cost nothin'-ony about a
hours work | made that box myself,
bout four year ago
All" said !.
yes" he went on, they don't cost
nothin' the boys makes EN- out o
o.hnr hnxno Won know Some of ,enn