MEMBERS OF THE EAST SIDE AUXILIARY.
CHAPTER XVII.
It was just before Christmas; the streets and stores were crowded with people purchasing presents.
An old lady was standing on the corner waiting for a street car. In her hand she held a small package, a Christmas present for someone. A boy, about fourteen years of age, darted out from a door-way, grabbed the package, hastened down the street and dodged into an alley. A newsboy who saw the act started after the thief, and as he ran several other newsboys joined in the chase. While they were gone another newsboy went to the lady expressing regret at her loss, but assuring her the boy who stole the package would be caught.
With tears in her eyes the old lady told the boy that the box contained a number of presents for a little girl who was confined to the house on account of being a cripple for life. That the purchase was the result of many weeks’ hard work, sewing for some of her neighbors, that she might earn the money to get a present for the little girl.