Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-01-13
Published by special Arrangemcnt with The
Chicago Tribune 6yndicate)
THE STORY so FAR

midnight. Benny's father was q pushcart
man, and his wares did not find q ready
market during the hot weather. Benny's
only playmate was Nora Riley. While doing
an act Of kindness for her. Benny is OBJ
served by a middle aged Hebrew who offers
Benny a dime. Benny asks him for five
dollars as he has conceived the idea of
selling ice cream cones to the sweltering
Inhabitants of the street. He offers to go
ffty-hfty with the stranger.
And now the story
The first nickel was fifteen minutes In
coming. Benny's first customer was Rose
LapidowttZ, and within the next ten
minutes she was used as an argument
In a hundred homes. Family pride was
aroused. II Mrs. Lapidowltz could buy
her daughter q cone, SO could Mrs. Elan
nagan n Mrs. Leskosky. Benny's stock
disappeared rapidly. And Nora? Nora
was back for SO many samples h did
not seem to have left at all. After her
ninth cone her enthusiasm subsidized. She
took her tenth unwillingly and absolute
~ refused her eleventh. Her eyes glazed.
Her belly protruded 30 that she even no.
ticed 1t herself. She thought 1t looked
like a balloon. Then she ceased to think.
She was in the grip Of a violent unrest.
Coin home" she declared vaguely,
and left, staggering a little.
GLORY be to God" said Mrs. Riley.
Whats happened to your"
Sick" explained Nora, and straight
way proved.
What were you eatin'?"
"Nothin'."
"Gwanl' c~ontradicted Tommy, Nora's
ten year old brother. She's just ct a
hundred ice cream cones dat Benny
Mishkin's sellin.'. And dat big stiff
Moiphy is hangin' around. I didn't get
any"
"Oh, dat XIX give 'em to her. He's
always givin' her s%omethin'."
Hes q fine lad, SO he is" defended
Mrs. Riley. And him crippled. And
you run down to the corner n get ten
cents worth Of castor oil. That's what a
little girl gets for maxim q pig OF her
self"
That afternoon the stranger appeared
even as the last cone from the second
contained melted In a satisfied custom
er's mouth.
"How's business?" he greeted.
Benny stared at him with burning
eyes and pulled about eight pounds OF
nickels and dimes from his blouse and
pockets.
Some Dough- he gasped. Maxim
moneys q pipel"
You said feefty-feefty," the stranger
reminded him.
Sure" said Benny.
The stranger squatted at the curb and
counted the money.
First I take my investment he stat
ed. Five dullars und feefty cents" He
put that pile into his coat pockets and
swiftly divided the rest into two piles.
'Tventy-one dullars und feefty cents
he announced triumphantly. And half
for you is ten dullars wit seventy-fve
cents. And by me 1t is the same. Dots
yours. Benny. some day, mebbe, you'll
be a great moichant-like Able, hahi"
But Benny didn't care much for praise.
He was very tired. His head ached and
his leg throbbed.
We'll, come around again when you
need some dough-" he said with an at
tempt at c~heerfulness. I'm goin' home"
The stranged watched him as he hob
bled along.
"Tchkl TchkI A genius he said. It'll
take him In business"
He hurried down the line of pushcarts
until he reached Benny's father. Max
Mishkin sat disconsolate. His sales had
been few and far between and the ba-
nanas were willing and turning black,
His day showed a big loss.
Maxi" greeted the stranger. stretching
out his hand.
"Ab Mishkin!" acknowledged the
vendor with awe. What Is it brings you
down here?"
"LissenI" said the great merchant. fish
ing for silver In his pockets n tossing
1T into the pushcart. You got by you q
son. Benny. Mop Veil. he is a better
business man as is in New York. Today
/ becked him on feefty-feefty. Dis is my
share. I tuk 1t. / want him to learn to
kip by his word But you should have
1t. And you should not toll him 1t was
me-"
Bye, bye, now. Shuie ma lakem."
And the merchant was gone. Max. be-
wildered. picked up the money. With 1t
the accounts OF the house Of Mishkin
showed a big profit.
Benny's three stair climb to the tiny
fiat the Mishkins called home tired and
panied him, but he greeted his mother
with a smile.
Look, mommA," he said with stimu-
lated eagerness. IT was in business to-
day. / made ten bucks and over"
He showered the silver IN the table
But Mrs. Mishkin, a short, heavy set lit
tie woman, didn't even look at 1t. Hes
brown dreamer's eyes, so like her sons
serched his face and caught in it the
lines Of suffering n fatigue.
Poor baby" she crooned. Come tt
momma. He's tired, my boy"
Benny crept into the cradle OF her lar
and gratefully laid his head upon hel
ample breast.
"Yeh, momma," he admitted. Il don
feel 30 good. My leg hurts kinda bad
"Momma1l get some milk. You drink
it and go to bed"
"Yeh, momma. I'm awful tired"
A half hour later Max Mishkin burst
into the kitchen, swollen with pride anc
burning with excitement.
Nominal" he began Our little
Benny"
"Shl" warned Mrs. Mishkin. "He'i
asleep. / know. He told me-" Tear
welled suddenly In her eyes and she sal
down and rocked her body to and fro
What do / care II he makes money o.
don't make it?" she cried. All / wan
is him, my baby. He Is 80 brave abou'
his leg, SO cheerful, like an angel. AnC
something tells me he will not be with
us long. Like An angel he will go away
0, Benny, my baby. my little boyl"
"Liebschenl" comforted Max, takinl
her in his arms. 80. Dunt cry. You'll
wake him."
But Benny was not asleep. Heat ant
pain kept him tossing on the bed excrr
when his mother crept into the room
Then he breathed heavily until she hat
tiptoed out, convinced that he slum
bered.
Down the street in the Riley fat Nora
purged Of the sin Of gluttony, slept Xix
q lamb.
dds here's a cigar lighter. You pusl
dis n 1t sets fire to dat. SEQ? 1t don
woik, but it's nickel and maybe I cal
get a dime for It. And. even II I can