Character Sketches

A dimmunve Doot.DiaeK, proiDaiDiy not more than nine years oíd, was dlligently wórfcing away endeavorlng to bring a sliine to the soiled surtace of a patr oí shocs worn by a srnall, inodest-looklng unan in front oí' orne of the principal hotels, wfaen the special polloe-nan attached to the hotel carne along with a swite'h iu his hand and gave the kul a cut ou his bare lege, as 'he gruílly bade him ".Move on." "This boy is shining my shoes," spoke up the little man, "and 1 waut him to finish lus job." "But he can't do it here. Gooii, now; get mt. oï here," he said sharply to the little fellow kneeling on the sidewalk. "Don't you do anything of the kind," said the man upon wTiose shoea the boy was operating. "You go right ahead and finish that shine." Mettnwhlle the man kept his íoot on the boy's box. "I tell you he can't shine shoes here. and I won't allow him to do it," said the "copper," "and what is more, if you don't quit throwing so much chin, yon will get into trotíble." Then the little man became angry as the cop touched the boy upon tüe lega wiili his switch again. "Nów, ' see here, you big stiff, I want you to let that boy alone, oí something will happen to you. X"his boy is on public property, nd I dify yon or any one else to make hira move off. I want my erhoes siiiued, and I propose to aave then: sliined. Now, my boy, go ahead with yonr work. The policeinan told the boy he had better not, and he was hesitatlng between two evils. To stop meant to lose his job, and to go ahead might mean no end of trouble with that terror, the policemaii. By this time fully J50 peojle had gathered around and ül were anxious to see how the affair would eiid. The boy wantod to lea ve, but the ïpan vsíis holding his t'oot en the box and the boy could not get it, The policemaii s:!v i hal his little victim was waveríiií:, and he bogar, again to gruffly order him to move on. The spectators were breathlessly interested. Just as it seemed that the littlo man and the boy had lost the day, a middle-aged man with :i kimlly face pushed iiis way quickjy fcürougïi the crowd and stopped bcfore the offi-cer. Then he cried in a heavy and authoritative voiee: "Boy, shine t lioso slioos: Offieer, give that lad a chance to make au honest living. Now, go away and leavo him alone, and if yon say anotht word to hun you will got iu trouble. Tliis is public property, to which that boy has as niuen riglit as you have. Bah. I would be ashamed of myself if I were you." The inidiüo-agod man walked rapidly away without disclosing his ident;ty. The offleer sueaked around the corner, and wuilc, tin; boy continued i rub at the shoes assiiluousiy. tiie orowd gnyed the cowed offleer. Then several óther men stod up in a lme and cach took a sliiuo from the little boy. rP!i(y dia not need The shines but men sametimes do these tliings.