Sheridan High School - Bronc Yearbook (Sheridan, WY)

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XShe OCKSHEPETUVA Vol. I Sheridan. Wyoming, October. 1908 JVo. | WHO WAS THE CRIMINAL? | By Josephine Adams, ’ll. :• 'I- v . 5 £ f vfr'J fr ! 5» ‘ 3 f I v It was the second day of the new year, and It was Icy cold. In a small room on the upper floor of a tenement house in Kansas City, a girl, not more than 18, sat by the bedside of a small boy who w’as evidently quite ill. She was sewing industriously. The boy was propped up in b?d with a bowl of broth before him at which he was looking in a manner that showed it did not tempt his appetite. “Drink it. dear, said the girl, “and tomorrow I will buy you some oranges when Mrs. Morton pays m? for this sewing.” “1 don’t want oranges,” said the boy, pevishly. “I want grapes.” “Alright, Paul, you shall have the grapes If you will only drink the broth.” The boy managed to drink the great? part, and soon after, dropped into a fitful steep. Hut the girl sewed on until she finished the sewing, and then went to bed. It was almost midnight and she was very tired for she had worked all day long. But even then, she could not steep but lay thinking and wondering how she would manage to get the fruit. She cou.d dot take the money she Would get tomorrow, for the rent was due, and she had to get more coal. Sh? would keep the room warm for the sick boy if she Went without food herself. At last she made up her mind that she Would take the money and for once indulge in some luxury for the sick boy. The next morning she overslept, but was finally awakened by the boy who was talking to himself about the grapes. After she had straightened the little room and made Paul as comfortable as possible, giving him books and pictures, with which to amuse himself, she put on her wraps, took the sewing, and started for the home of Mrs. Morton. It was quite a distance, and when she arrived, she was informed that Mrs. Morton Was about to start downtown, shopping. She w'as showrn into the sewing room. After Waiting a few' minutes, the lady came downstairs. After mentioning some slight alterations which she wished made in the dress, she said, “I cannot pay o i today for I have no money in the house and I will have to draw it from the bank. I will send it to you tomorrow,” Alice's heart sank Within her. She kiew that to enter any protest probably meant the loss of her most Wealthy and profitable customer. But she could not disappoint poor little Paul. He had talked of the grapes all morning and had hardly tasted his breakfast. Mustering her courage, she said, “Mrs. Morton, I must have the money today; my rent is due; I am out of coal, and besides, I have promised my brothei some grapes. ' Drawing herself up haughtily the lady said, “You will have to Wait until tomor row’. I am too busy to attend to it today. And then, as an afterthought, she addj i, “It seems to me that grapes are an expert3 sive luxury for you at this time of the year.” With this she passed out to her carriage. Whert she Was left alone, Alice, While making the alterations on the dress, sat wondering how she would be able to go home and tell Paul, “Oh, how could she be so heartless? ' she whispered, “and she has sb much, too. She glanced up and saw the butler pass the open door, carrying a basket of grapes into the dining room, and place them on the sideboard. Th injustice of it all rendered her for the moment desperate. The butler left the room, and, without a moment’s thought, she dropped the dress, went into the dining room, seized the grapes and hurried through the front door. As she w’ent, she heard a commotion behind her, but she stopped for nothing. Down streets and around corners she fled. But the butler had discovered his loss and was in pursuit. Summoning a policeman, he soon overtook her, and placed her under arrest. She w as then taken to a police station. While Mr. and Mrs. Morton sat talking in Mr. Morton’s private office, they received a telephone message from the butler, telling them of the theft of the grapes. Mrs