Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-11-27

But En- nOt-a poilCemanI said Mr..
Bpwnlow in breath. He began to
fsel the awkardness Of the situation, for
= crowd was gathering. s'Come inside
the door with me. and tell me what you
we're crying about, won't YOUR
The girl Iifted her ear-streaked face,
looked at the buttons on his coat, and
followed him up the steps without q
wurd, Mrs. Brownlow patiently bringing
up the rear with the carpet bag.
"Now, my DEAR" said Mr.. Browlow,
in his pleasant, fatherly way. "tell me
ell about it."
.Marm's gone t. the Island," replied
Rags concisely, pushing back her long
tangled hair from her forehead.
"Why-" Mr.. Brownlow paused deli
cstely, but Rags answered without the
slightest hesitation. s'Comm'n drunk
three months"
Mrs. Brownlow started mvoluntarily,
and said, "Dear mer' several times un-
der her breath.
"Is your father alive?"
"Sure he is that, sir. Hewor-rks fer
the city, he does. an he didn't git no
wor-r TX ter-day, at all, an marin she got
hold o. the pay Yesterday, an dhrinked,
an she wus took up, an father he amt
got nothin' fer breakfast, ter-morrer, an
We amt had no supper, an Mike an
mes got to 60 out fer cold vittles, ag'in,
--an I'm so hungry"
She had delivered all this without
stopping, and with great rapidity, until
near the end, when che faltered more
and more, and at last began to cry in a
silent, hopeless way, with now and then
the same piteous sob which had found
it's way through the falling flakes to the
good mans heart.
He could bear it no longer, but with
glistening ewes beckoned his wife to one
side, held brief consultation with her
in low whisper. The girls ears were
quick, however, and she could catch
scraps Of the conversation, although she
did not know in the least what they
meant. With that infallible instinct OF
childhood which distinguishes friend
and foe and good men from bad, she
trusted, and waited.
'The chicken-it's such big one
plenty-no need-just as well-they'n
have grand" "Jittle girl" said Mr..
Brownlow, breaking off tho conference,
and turning to Rags, "what il your
name?"
"Mary Finnegan, sir"
"Well, Mary, will you show us the
way to your house"
81 will that, sir. Gimme q hold o.
that baskit." And before he could stop
her, she had lifted it from the floor,
chicken and all, and was staggering
sway down the street, lifting her bare
feet very quickly at first az they struck
the snowy bricks.
It was not long walk. They soon
turned out of North street, toward the
water, and presently all three came to a
standstin at the mouth of a narrow.cov-
cred alley or arch-way.
"Yer'd better shtop out here" said
Marry Finnegan, as watt of Ill odors
drifted out of this dark hole.
Mr.. Brownlow looked at his wife irreso-
lutely. It was plain he was only con-
cerned for her. With characteristic
spirit she Immediately entered the pas
sage way, and cnly paused for moment
to allow their guide to precede her.
Stepping cautiously over damp and
decaying boards, separated by intervals
of unpleasantly soft mud, which could
be felt but not seen, the foul air growing
denser as they advanced, they reacLed a
rough board partition which was evident
~ the end of the walk. The girl CROPPED
in the darkness for knob, tuned it,
and led the way into small low proved
room, lighted by feeble, half choked
fire which shone through the bars of the
stove.
The place was full of tobacco smoke,
and was intensely not. Even in that
dim light Mrs. Brownlow observed with
q house wifely shudder a number of
reaches wandering at will over the dis
colored plastering and among a small
heap of potato parings upon grimy
table which stood against the wall. Be-
side the stove sat man in his shirt
sleeves, holding pale baby in his lap
and smoking stupidity. His red hair and
beard were tangled in dense, bushy
mass. He hardly looked up as the Wis
itors came in, but continued stoidly
gazing at the stove snd the cracked tea
pot, which had evidently been suffered
to boil away, upon it. What did he
care for these strangers? There had
been so many in and out that day, be-
ginning with the officers, that it was all
very confusing. Pity the baby is so un-
easy! If it could only smoke, now!
The man gave one dull stare about him,
when his eye fell on the basket with its
brown paper parcels and yellow chicken
feet. As he turned his face to the new
corners with q sudden interest, they
could see his looks frightened and his
arm gave the baby such q quick clutch
that it walled feebly, and waved one of
its tiny hands to and fro helplsssly for q
This was too much for kind Mrs.
Brownlow. Down went the bag, and up