Show on the bridge at by B monon R reagan 40 C Newa Vr TERY nw now years BY the tb old lady caina had bad ben beau watching hor bar now for several years always about the same sama time or twelve she would crame came end and uke lake her stand in tho the rold mid MO of the bridge adrid 0 O looking expectantly down the river As the dA darham Ai palta raaM an old barge ani raged in the ind indian trade and scheduled sch duld to arrive annually in london on january 1 L sailed up tho the river she became viole violently atly agitated wian when it passed directly under her sho she shouted blandly in a cracked hoarse voice roice and totted a purse down to a certain sailor on the deck who greeted hr her with wild cheers she would watch the old boat glide easily up the river tw till it was out of sight t then quietly sha turned toward the south and walked away now nony hoskins was a conscientious thief it was not hla policy to rob old women ol of their purses the opulent old men of alyde park and tho the young men too were ivere ills alc garner game but lately there were too many in the business tor for any profit and the newspapers were against him dally daily r e minding their readers to be ware wara of pock people watched ono more mora now and one had bad to be on ones one inard guard i nard at all times reluctantly hoskins forsook tho the old field of Us his activities and sought other prey jt it was a hard year however ho waver what little ha be picked up from the christmas shoppers he already owed to friends he DO was waa facing the nw now year almost penniless then ha be re the old lady and her fat 1 purse no do despised himself for thinking of it ho bo a raan man of principles but starvation Is starvation and it was new years eve tonight she would come he concealed himself in an old clovise in the masonry it was waa a perfect hiding place he ha could seo out easily and not be seen been by anyone about midnight he ha heard the slow slaw 1 heavy step of the old lady she passed close by hlin him and advanced a few yards lie he emerged from aja haj hiding biding place placa and followed follows 4 about to mako make a quick spring at her she turned and faced him no himself with difficulty tipped Us hat and bid her happy new naw year in a weak strained voice oh thank oa sir tho the same to yo yoo str b fina weather we itne indeed and fine tor for that boy 0 mma mine colln tn in tonight from them ot places tue aba old lady Q Ilo akira edged add a attla closer 1 her aint seen yer baa for some otna time only from flom fl om tue rodga are a year aint ma en adm to ICU cm in fa my arms since he was a lad 01 twelve the hoarse hoara rid old voice trembled a little attla a imort 1 m 0 t broke down atar an ard life for ft a ltd lad 6 that on t hin h 0 ra ships shim and no lome ome and in an larder arder life for me in hla his lawful mother never to lay idy an arm on him tn in an all these yeam here dere she broke into a heartbreaking sob ira a bad un nn ive been air I 1 let itt that lad 0 zaino mine see his mother was such each a miserable old witch break bla eart I 1 get together all I 1 can call in the world and give it to him net a year rear for hla his oll day its the beat bast 1 can do for im dont know who ho he thinks I 1 tin he amr tzou troubled blod to find vat OBI bot TY ey ey there ther she hooted suddenly the alna Am lla was wa sto min F up tho th river riter it WM was directly under MOM now nott and nd a little youth la im uniform jumped about gerly on dock signaling to the old woman on the tha balds she dropped the purse squarely tato bato big hl banda boray for er majesty called tho the youth his gay voice continuing to sound merrily as the barge clap kenred up the river icely the old wom woman turned to good sir and god au u in the new year she be meld bid bofto and walked away hoskins siofia lass gazing up the tha river after the tha small hazy object that was waa the barge thore there was a sentimental look in his eyo and a softness in the droop of his mouth god bless thorn them ho he breathed atwould Tw a been a bad way that mat to begin the new year |