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Show THE CRUST DROPPER. A New Version of a Very Old Fraud. FINDING i CRUST CN THE STREET A Mendicant's Game Worked Only on the Fair Sex. Life wu not a summer's dream, hut a igtitiuuru of culdui. The strwt ear ineu wen lashing their horsos; the drivers on the walks were duncing around tuid slapping their hands to force a warmth; the present tionarch cold had pltiyed liquor-ie tricks In it h the ears and nose of the temperance advocate ad-vocate as freelv and liberally as with his opponent, op-ponent, and everybody was rushing and trying try-ing to keep warm. Just aa I firmly planted the plates ol my French heels iu the lovely ice on the corner of Thirty-first street a poorly clad man jostled in front of n.e, and, Btoopiug, picked up from the pavement a crust of broad ! I paused, started. "Was it possible that any one m New York was no in want that ho needs must eagerly clutch a crust from beneath be-neath one's t'eeU Thus I Kudervd, as I watched him wipe it on his coat sleeve and eye it greedily. A little shudder swept over me, and as I felt for my purse I began to think where I could get him work. It must bo horrible to be hungry on a cold day. However, before I had opened my purse, thttt one thing which wrecks so much happiness in this world came to me doubt. I had traveled Broadway at all hours, seasons and times, and I never yet saw a crust of bread Oil the pavement. Of course it was not impossible im-possible for one to bo there, but it was most improbable. The more I thought, which was done quicker thnn I can write it, tlio more I became convinced that there was method iu the man's display of hunger. At last I thought it would not bo a ImuI idea to watch him and prove to my own satisfaction what 1 wanted to know. I would follow him and if he oto tho crust 1 could lavish on him tho charity that infused my soul before tliut demon doubt took possession of it. After Retting the crust ho had sUpied back of nio, and, in order to force him to take tho lead, I became very much interested in iome strawberries and tomatoes and cucumbers winch, dreams of summer, were staring winter in the face from a window. This little act had the desired elTect, and the man passed on. I started after, determined to settle the doubt that worried me. I hod a chance now to study his appearance. He was clean, so, despite other sins, ho was somewhat nearer to Godliness than most of the members mem-bers of his profession. Ho wore a reddish mustache and whiskers, and a black slouch j hat. IIo was well built, and doubtless 5 feet j 10 or 11 inches in height. Ho wore a short coat and blue overalls. I noticed that ho had j a stuffed appearance, as if ho was wearing two or more suits, so I decided that he was , not suffering from cold. I He hud passed several persons without dis- playing the crust, and I begun to think he was honest and my suspicions unfounded. I bad just concluded to sjMiak to him and offer j aid whon one of my feet started on a tobog- I ban excursion without warning its mate. As j I felt It go I murmured mentally: "Good-by, j perpendicular," when an outstretched arm helped mo to gain my balance. I looked up i Into a pair of dark eyes ami pressed a coat -I slocvo, while Ip-atefully expressed my thanks I for tho sorvica Tho smil in those dark eyes still burned in mine when I looked ahead and saw my honest man in search of a livelihood liveli-hood stoop before a richly clad woman, who had a girl with yellow, curly hair by the band. She stopped as she noticed tho act, and 1 forgot tho laughing, dark eyes as I hurried on in time to see the child look up into her face and say pleadingly; "Oh, mammal" Tbe mac had also stopped and seemingly was removing all dirt from the crust. I noticed no-ticed his eyes were fixed sharply on the woman. wo-man. She opened her purso, and tho child handed him some silver, which he received with uncovered head aud an affecting gesture ges-ture of a coat sleovo across supposedly bo-dimmed bo-dimmed eyes. No, I did not rush up and warn tho unsuspecting woman. I bate scenes; she would not miss tho money, and I wanted to see the play to tho end. I kept close to a window during this little act and endeavored to make my face speak an admiration I was far from feeling for the display therein. Up Broadway tho charitable charita-ble couple went, and down Broadway the needy man, with mo close by. I got closer than I expected, and was nonplussed whon ho stopped on the curb of the walk. I wondered won-dered what my best move was, for I dared not attract his attention by stopping or by passing him. I simply crossed tho street. It was in the middle of tho block, and the snow was rather deep, but I waded with the best possible grace, for I knew that we must pay for every pleasure, My boots were high, so I considered this amusement cheap. I quickly turned my eyes across the street just in timo to see tho object of my walk step in frout of two women and bend to the pavement. pave-ment. I saw his act clearly this time. Ho did not throw the crust on tho pavement, as I had supposed, but kept it in his hand and merely stooped in order to attract their attention, and in arising he deftly displayed tbe crust hi his hand as he brushed it ou his sleeve. The women did not look like 8. S. T.'s, but they both gave him money. Tho sanio touching thanks were completed, mv professional beggar started on down tho avenue, and so did L Onco again my beggar worked his littlo game ou two fat women, but they did not givo him anything. Tbe beggar never onco dropped tho crust before men. Trembling, I saw hira go quickly in a crowd and apparently pick up the crust from before tho feet of three women. The eldest of tho lot crossed to him where ho paused an instant on the curb and slipped something into his hand. I had just determined to walk up to him and quietly tell him he was watched when be saw me and recognized me, I am sure, from the expression that crossed his face. Ho knew that I was following him, for he lowered his head and hurried on down Broadway. His look of guilt increased my desire to follow him to his home, but I folt that it would bo useless to attempt it, since he kaew me. Nellie Bly in Now York World. |
