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.5
.. Thank you, thank you. if you could permit me to
!our great exhibition for afew moments--’, '
"Wid pleasure,” broke in the kid.
"You are very kind. Bourbonville shall hear of this
generosity, I assure you. If it not against yourrule,
I season ticket given to me‘: "
“Jist what I was going to propose. 33” CUPS-
"As, my dear boy," and Potter’s eyes glisteued with
joy. for he thought he had struck a soft thing, "I shall
“write a long description ofyour show for the Glare if
-Light this very day, and at a word from me. when you go
to Bourbonville, twenty thousand people, sir, twenty
thousand, will welcome Y0“ WW1 013811 “In!-
And he went right on to strike while the iron was
t. '
“I wish to ask a triiling favor, and if it is at all in-
tonvenieut to you to grant it. I P”? Y0“ 501105 he ‘
late through fear of wounding my delicate feelings to
let me know at once. Of course by my notice I can
throw a great deal of money in your way. My remit-
tance this week has not yet arrived from my paper, and
ifyou could accommodate me with asmail loan, sayx
-nnd here he halted for a moment to think about how
‘high it would be safe to go, "say, Iorty dollars for a
day or two:" . ‘ ,
"Wid pleasure," interrupted the kid. ' Ilon t men-
tion it. Walk in an’ look at der show, an when we
come out der cashier ‘ll be here, an‘ I'll git yer der
season ticket an’ der money." )
They; went inside, and for a moment letter felt a
pango regre - -
He was sorry he hadnlt made it ilfty.
The kid, beginning on the lower tioor. took him all
through the building. explained everything,introduced
him to everybody, and did his st to entertain him.
Potter pretended to be greatly pleased and praised
gverythiug to the skies. s
When they got to the top door the kid proposed going
-up on the roof where, he said. could be had amagaim
zent view of the city from the Battery in Harlem.
LPotter went up the steps ilrst, Shorty Junior follow-
ing on behind, his face now oua bro 1:.
When the GlarcQfL1gM representative stepped out on
the roof, the kid, who was still inside, quickly closed
oc it, put the key in his pocket, and
with a highly satisded sir walked down stairs.
"I’ll let dat darn fraud loai up dere till he freezes
‘ himself ter a chunk ofice," he inn e
tter d.
It was a piercing cold day, the wind blew a gale and
eountr . Ho vainly called for aid, tried to pry open
the scuyttle and shlvered and shook as ifhad the ague.
He danced up and down with rage and swore like a
:1-oo When almost dead with cold, he espied a
ladder leading down to the roof oi’ the house next door.
as quickly descended this and soon got into the
building.
Ila thought he was safe, but alas I he met a woman
in the upper hall who mistook him for a. burglar.
she yelled with fright. and her husband rushing out
seized the unfortunate deadhead, and alter giving him
-a terrible beating handed him over to the police.
I‘he last the kid saw of him, was marching od’, all
ziloody and battered, in the hands ofan ohlcer.
"He'll git a free ticket now, I'll bet a dollar,“
Chi . v
Mzl'].eI"1ottei'p:ever turned up again and the balance of
the deodheads. knowing his fate, kept religiously away.
VIlI.
s..“.’.’.’i.i‘.’..‘$i‘Z’.Ei‘.S .“23.:.“.ff.‘il.Xi‘$’t.3.“.3f5.:2.i
’x:‘i1:;l,;%;E‘iyv?agc:ie1lgylIit.l-I-edeath oi cold," he granted to
‘h..omgJ.;ng‘:rt'er court for it an‘ git cured." observed
outh.
‘hitlgenayl gal-L" moaned Buster. with s lugubrious look.
users all over: eyes bloov.lshot." ‘
awe yer orteu ter soar all over der way yer do:
‘n- .5 at ygr eye, '1 yer EH11 glt cured of dat its
,..
“"l'elio kid: after these remarks, was about moving oil.
but being struck with an idea, and always on A racket,
he stopped and renewed the conversation. .
1- 1' aka him tink1he'smgoin‘&er croak ‘lore X's thro'
4 nl ," h lll1Ck]&( to nice
‘L Ye:ndoeselgok dre'ful bad dis mornin'. llr. Buster."
, nu ma k1d,looking as and as the comic uchitectureof
u.i
us features wo d allow. “Doesn't that it's auytiug
..
htB.1il'5It1:1! lioava! a melancholy sigh, and looked as
[the already saw himself re sin beneath a second-
hand tombstone in some neg ecte churchyard.
.- ye; mite die, dat‘s fact.” exclaimed Shorty Junior;
an’ 1'” givin' it ter yer straight and not cranked."
mister mined and turned pale. '
as why on’: yer manufacter yer will I’ asked the
‘M. wiping ‘way an imaginary chunk of liquid grief.
. 1 Wm," said the disconsolate Buster.
-1 don't ls ect yer kin der lt,bat yer ougliter brace
jp. Yer see t.aln't min’ me rite. it doesn t say any-
mm in yer contract ‘bout dyin’, In '1' yer is in der
habit of twin’ dis sort of tina durin our englgement.
"1 oughter tel’ me 'bout it afo ."
Buster felt too bad to notice that his boss -as cod-
mm; mm, and when he was left alone hi.-i t ougtits
s ones I) an means.
"$173.3; 5:123:13!‘ in a do efu mood, the kid want out
ma sent in I dozen men .one after the other to
tell his victim that they had never seen so sick I look-
[ng mania their lives as he appeared to boat that mo
meat.
1 king iirst-rate, and them was
oI3il1.!1a::l.10lll: svggoufothe matter with him than s at
:‘the blues: but when everybody told. him, with s
.7i1oR1'r JUN!-OR oN'IIIs' misc. ‘
sigh and aglance of pity,that he looked swml. he
straightway made up nis mind that he was going to
shuiiie. . 7 v -
And then the kid went at him again. r This time in
another way.‘ ‘ ’ ‘ -
He got right behind him. where Buster could hear
every word, and began talking to his dad. who was in
the joke of course. V
“Dis a sad case, dad," he began.
“It's ter bad,” sighed Shorty.
"Er big like him is liable 'to shake out any
minute. I know'd a fat party just his size an’ build,
dat was tuck sick like dis, and der .fat inside him melt-
B(ii,dII' he ’splodedall of a sudden intern thousand
eces."
Buster twitchad nervously at this, and vainly tried
to hear no more. >
“ Oughter have der coroner on ha.u'," continued the
uninercihil kid with an enormous wink.
" ‘Spect it ‘ed be best." answered his dad.
" Have ter have der coifln made ter order, I reckon."
‘Yes, an’ der hearse. ter."
Buster could stand no more, and he got up and fee-
bly waddled away. ,
shorty Junior followed him and began feeling his
4
pulse. ,
" Got akinder of a goneness feelin’ 'hout ysr, ain't I
d.
it 7" e anxiously inguire .
“That's it," gaspe Buster, faintly.
"Yes, it all ers takes ‘in: dat way. Radder weak in
yer legs, hey 2"’ -
"Yes. yes." groaned Buster.
" Tort so. ll?‘ yer don't git better putty soon yer’ll be
a goner.“
"Send for doctor." cried Buster, now thoroughly
alarmed. ' ’
"One doctor’s ner good:man‘s big as yer is wants
tree or four of 'em." p
“ Get a dozen.“ ' > ’
“ 0n’y one thing’! save yer. I got a dose dat'll
eidder make yer continue ter hol' der iort or send yer
up ter shove clouds." , '
“ a me. Gimme two doses.”
The kid. looking as solemn as a whole medical fao
ulty. said: - . ’
" Keep perfectly quiet while 1's gone, an’ I tinkl kin
save yer." , v
Iiewent out to an apothecary's and had I dose of
medicine put up, the mere smell ofwhich. was enough
to have knocked over an elephant. , -
The drugs were harmless, but one swallow of the
mixture was quite enough to reconcile amen to almost
any manner ordeeth that onered.
He went back. and pouring out nearly r. tumbler full
of his prpscription, handed it to Buster, and told him
to swollow it down.
The fat man. groaning and sighin had come to the
conclusion that nothing could save m, and he looked
the picture of despair. : a
He tried hard to get the kid's dose inside ofhim but
the awful taste and smell were too much for any ordin-
ary igortalt creaitur'e.
“ an‘: alle t,‘ he muttered, faintl , -qggmme 0
quite“: bledb k l a Y S
e um so on a ounge an closed his e so.
“but yer mus take it," cried Shorty Junior. y
“ $pose 1 a gain ter waste a clo1lar‘s wort’ of cod
nledlclne fer nothln' 2 Here, some of yer fallen end
a h '.”
E
Iialfa doz n in ,, ‘
.......:,.:;";..::,.:=“::.-.s::.:’.::.G;‘.z.;'.;: was
the kid inch (1 his a '
down hislthroai. m“’“-A poured the mixture
When the last dr 2 k H: mm
more demoraiized-ltzglriviaig-g l;a1elnVL!e hgicer seeunp' ma a
lie coughed,strangled, spit and aware 3113:6133
"Savadl savedl" yelled the kid,dsncing around-and
waving the bottle o er hi h ad. “ W1; ,
dred per tgentilbettez 'read .3. y In looks mm
' LI. 0 . o l d--n l" splnttered Buster. -‘That
dosoumakes me feel as if-l'd been-drugged through
c. ,
." it wasn't that kind on d p ,"1 h .1 cm
Everybody now took the 1’)-gpositaeu lace: indp:'esm-ea
Buster that he was all right and beginnina to look is
hearty as abuck. The excitement had malfnad him up
and cured his at of blues, and in a lime whue he
acknowledged that he felt as good as ever.
He was the most innocent of men,and had no'more
idea oia racket than I spit: dogof climbing s ti-ea
e was over he d Sh t '
hand and thanked him efrltfly, Ill); l’.S:l'11tI'1ell(lnh‘l)gJ ‘:2
had saved his lifedand that he should never forget it.
most ms eth kid 1 h ,
trolled himself, and said: M" n is an bu‘ he can
" I tort a man dit pulled do 1. '
dead weight, could make deathw:aEi‘te.Y'en an Nd pounds
" I certainly thought, 1 had the cholera."
“ N0.".1okev.l the kid. " yer had dar blues. der melon.
cholera.‘
oaAil$ifIlilll]l of glee at the success at his racket, he walked
nosrmlgs had watched the whole operation. but ‘sale
it i‘
..i“’.i‘:.t‘,"‘:?.2.’:,“.:‘,‘i'.3f.l‘..‘.‘; i::.:':.';:::::'.:l'“.:.':.'5;.:::
mllinoerdiliciitlzrigthg :Kl1il:olvv“s1t‘:‘>es?c.e, and made arrangements
m'i?l;l: sptxizyllliellli ggtzinthe oiiico where he and his dad
"“-9.2.‘?-‘Z“2i“..'.“..“L55Ii..'.‘ 2.'i."n‘2$ ’i.‘.‘.i‘i'3.’i“i”2‘.?$; -. M
"‘1?&i’..i‘:‘:2‘:'a.;i.52;“;.‘3f‘i‘;?.?‘L:'13:E.5.: “
‘d M. : mark-
,“ l isn't any of (let kinder fruit.”
" Dat was a pretty tut dose yer shoved in him."
" Yes ; ’nuf to:-make him trow up everything. includ.
ing his ’gagement." l ' ' r
‘- Guess he won’t lose any ilesh by it.” .
"Ner’ losedesh. bust him : he's er solid man.” .
- The kid lit a. cigarette, poked up the bright 311. ll!
then lay back in an easy chair.
" Dail," said he, " dis Buster businessknocked some
ting out of mer head till just now, dat I want ter tel)
yer bout."
" I'm all ears, mer son."- -
" l’m alleaers sorry ter hear a men say dat, ‘cause 1
he's all ears, he must be a Jack -'--" ‘ .
“ Ass well leave dat nnsaid. Don't yer call V91‘ '13‘
names, or l‘il give yer a lessen ye'll remain r." '
"Lexxen yer chin, on’ lessen ter me. I s thinkin el
takiu' der gang out on a target excursion. What 3'3
tlnk of der idea?" e ‘ ' I 1
“Shoot it!" ,
4‘ What, der ideal’?
“ No. der target."
,1 '4 Idtznk ilt'1l give us a big dayls tun,an’everybod7’l
oy emse ves. -
" It's a big ting an’ chuck f‘ull’er rackets hdcrhlh
get parade. Don’t yer miss it, mer son ?” >
" Which, der target?"
" No, der racket."
“Will yer give us prizes to shoot fer ?"
“ Wouldn't (prise mer '11 did. I’ll give yerudlrl
caster." ‘ . ' .
“Caster dat lian'som Lee of yers 7" 4 r
“Yer kin git lot’s of prizes." ‘ .
" Atpr-‘xx ter suit der times. Every man dat hit-I
der target is target a prize, of course." .
“When ‘a s cumin‘ oil ?" asked Shorty. 3131 I
smile at his son‘s ready answers.
" Der sooner der better," answered the kid. " l tlnk
I'll go at it rite away. Want ter make a. sensation Win!
it, no I'll git it in all der papers. an’ mak' sure of a big
crowd anyhow."
He set about the preparations at once. and was kw‘
busy the balance of the day.
In the evening, as usual, the house was crowded.
and everything and everybody, including Mr. Buster.
who had entirely recovered both his health and good
humor, Stoutlad, the Rev. Guppy, and Pete, the learn-
ed pig. did iirst-class, and kept the audience amused
from the time they entered till the performance was
over.
It was noticed that Shanks failed to show up. though
nothing was said, and, in fact, very little thought
a ut it.
The kid left about ten o’clock, and being in a hurt!
to get home took sshort cut through the ack street-
As he went whistling merrily down a long. dlrl‘
block, a carriage suddenly dashed by and pulled u! '“
the curbstons just ahead of him.
The door tlew open and a man sprang out.
He looked about him as ii coniused, and spying 93'
kid, he addressed him. a
‘k'Ars you acquainted in this neighborhood?’ M
e
33 . .
-‘ Slightly," answered the kid coming to shalt.
“I am looking for s party called shorty Junior.’ 90” ,
tinned the man. " I was told he lived about here. bu’
I can get no trace of him.” s
The kids suspicions were aroused in a moment.
no thought it was ajob. e
;-iivim der yer want wid Shorty Junior 2" ho 03‘
x
cl m .
" Personally, nothing," replied the man. “but 31”’
in the coach who came over in the same steamer. 9
cry anxious to have amost important interview with
im."
v
h
This threw the kid oi! his guard, and he walked ‘I1?
to the carriage to take it look at its fair occupant.
Just as he got to the door he was quickly seized ‘77
two men who had kept concealed inside, and drlggd
in the coach. " . .
The man who had been talking to him, jumped 51!:
the door was slammed shut, and on they went at s 11!‘?
g t.
one ofhis captors draw out a revolver and P031333
it atxhis head, said: , d d In
" eep rfectl e or on are a ea man
rm. kidpseaw n.3.‘i.‘Z‘..‘;. in’: bad box. and as aecosld
do nothing against three vigorous men, he 11801119’
mained passive an sed.
At am he thought their purpose was robbeflu 5
soll.i roll of greeubacks.
mnut he soon made out in the dlm'&lghtatliat two 83
9. men wers,b their uniforms. ce 0 cers.
The whole thidg was done so snxdodenly and so mysv
terlously that he knew not what to think ofit.
lie was not at all frightened-nothing could scare
him-and resolved to see the adventure throng‘ “ h‘
must, but to escape if be con]
After rattling along at a furious rate for some time.
in profound silence. the coach hauled up in front of I
large granite building. ‘
The kid thought now was his time to get awai’- W’
he was ilrmly seized by the two oclcerl. N5 “Wu”
stopped, and in amonient he was within the maul"
wsll oi the frowning pile.
lie was swiftly conveyed through numerous 1411!!
dark halls. and dually. alter a whispered conversation
that he failed to understand, a great usken door ‘"3
thrown open, and he lound himself in s dimly-lliilm’
room. '
The apartment was a ood-sized one, the ceilins10“Y'
and the windows were ike those on church.
A sickening smell pervaded the place and the air ‘"5
damp and heavy.
About twenty eople were in the room. I"0““7
young men the ki thought as well as he could see D;
the sickly light, and they sat grim and silent
it ioiigtsblo.