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The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, August 17, 1914, LAST EDITION, Image 18

Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1914-08-17/ed-1/seq-18/

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THE FRIEND IN NEED
By George Elmer Cobb.
h' (Copyright by W. G. Chapman.)
jr Bert Noble shivered as he glanced
4own the street, cold, icy, chilling as
$ne hearts of "the crowds that passed
j,him by unheeding.
"The last dime," he said slowly, se
jjriously. "I've got to invest it."
b- He moved towards the window of
othe neat, tasty bake shop. It was fill-
Js
It Was Filled With Both Solids and
Dainties
? ed, with both solids and dainties. A
.5 screened window below was open. It
led into the basement room, where
V - goodies were baked. A warm
,. of air struck his body. The
grateful. A delicious aroma
Of flavoring and spices assailed his
nostrils.
"Those cinnamon rolls," decided
Bert, and he went into the store, laid
down his dime and received a plumb
full bag. The cleanly damsel who
waited on his shot a quick glance at
his pale, distressed face and made the
dozen fourteen.
"If I was to tramp it," ruminated
Bert, as he regained the street, "I can
make this fare last me out three
whole days. A hundred and fifty
miles. Why, Napoleon's soldiers cov
ered a thousand with no food except
horseflesh and parched corn. Oh, if
mother only lasts out until I get
home!"
He gulped down a sob and set his
steps towards the railroad running
through the town. Then he checked
himself. He stood almost transfixed.
There, standing at the window, at the
very spot he had just vacated, was his
duplicate.
It was not that the person at whom
Bert gazed resembled him in face, for
the former was younger and more
lightly built. The similitude form,
present in the like shivering form,
overcoatless and shrinking from the
cold, m the ravenous eyes fixed upon
the tempting edibles displayed to view
beyond the glittering window frame.
He was a counterpart of Bert in all
this. He visibly stood for penniless,
suffering, mayhap desperate human
ity. As by a magnet Bert was drawn to
wards him. As though the forlorn
wayfarer was of the closest kin, he
could not resist the compelling influ
ence of interest, sympathy, aye, poor,
as he was, sympathy and help! Bert
came to his side. The other looked
him over keenly. Then he recognized
a fellow unlucky one.
"Looks tempting, doesn't it?" he
challenged quite cheerily. "If there
should be a fire now!" and he laughed
whimsically "or if we had a brick!"
"No need of that," retorted Bert in
like affected reckless vein. "See
here," and he shook the paper bag in.
r'r r hrriiHattlMifiiliiiai

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