News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-01-31
MACS GIRL.

It was while I was out West, report
ing for one of the leading dailies, tina
1t all happened-during my humdrun
existence as q police reporter. Tn
Daily Journal tour esteemed contempor
ary) had just put a new man upon the
''police run" and We took to each othe
from the start. getting fully acquainte,
in manner and with rapidity charac
teristic of bohemians. We saw much O
each other-''trotted in pairs," as h
used to put it in his quaint way. Hi
name was McMorris. be had a Chris
tian name, to be sure, but the affection
ately diminutive appellation of "Mac,
which came so readily to our lips auC
seemed so peculiarly fitted to him, sup
planted it. He was an Irishman-i
Limerick boy. Mac was q typical Celt
light hearted, witty, full of anecdotes
good-natured, good looking in his biz
ARE way, and a first-class newspape
man. His bright companionship served
to haste the dragging hours of many E:
weary night when the sergeant, the re
serve, Mac and myself sat there in the
gloomy Central Police Station, waiting
like the immortal Micawber, for some
thing to turn up. Now and then h,
sang US on Irish song in his irresistibly
comic manner, with q brogue that
smacked of the innermost recesses of the
bog, or some pathetic ballad of Erir
which brought tears to some eyes, ant
even subdued the dyspeptic jailer.
1t was in the spring, shortly aftel
twelve one night, that we sat in the
ohTnffc nffsnn ,1lorTp1. 10 IL
friendly game, when the patrol wagon
rolled up to the side door, and the ser
geant left us TO attend to the new arriv.
al. Mac aud took advantage of the
pause to fill our pipes, and awaited fol
the sergeant's return.
''What is it, Dempsey asked Mac,
as an officer passed through the hall.
''Simple drunk"
Just then noise-the sound of voices
came from the big room. Mac
started up.
ga woman q girl, and pretty one
at that, or her voice bellies her." he said.
''Sure it's not for Nc Morris to be cool
ing his heels outside when there's a
woman within. Let's have a look at
her."
Grumbling somewhat, hastily fol-
lowed. Macs quick ear and ready in
stinct had not deceived him. Before
the desk stood a girl of fifteen or there
abouts, pretty beyond question, with
one of those piquant faces which invari-
abb y attract one. She was poorly, but
neatly, dressed, and a glance at her face
was sufficient to convince q discerning
person that she was not one of those de-
praved creatures who are born in the
gutter and return to it at maturity. She
was undoubtedly under the influence OF
liquor to some extent, but the arrest,
the mad ride in the patrol, the sight of
the blue coats, and the examination had
sobered her somewhat. She looked from
face TO face with mute appeal i'll her
fearful, misty-gray eyes, and finding no
pity nor consideration there, now and
then glanced towards the door, as if con-
templatiDg a break for liberty. Mac
lounged up and looked Mt the sergeant's
record. 1t said maggie Ryan, drunk,
fifteen years, lrish-Amcrican, domestic.
No property on person.
He turned to the girl and again sur
veyed her, this time more critically and
with something like sOrroW in his face.
Her dull eyes met his, and their gaze
rove1 no further, as if in that frank and
honest countenance they saw-even
through the veil created by the fumes
of alcohol-pity, consideration, even
friendship.
'tLock her up" said the sergeant,
shortly.
"Wait minute" said Mac, without
taking his eyes from the face before him.
l started, for although he was crotch
ETY. to fault, had never seen him pay
the slightest attention to an ordinary
''drunk"
"Wait minnie, Cronin," he repeat
ed, addressing the jailer as that surly.
approached her.
"Wnit nothin' :" snarled the turnkey.
'1f you want to interview her, do it
through the gratin'."
'"rake your dirty hand of of her, you
blaggard or I'll break every
bone in your body !" cried Mac, who
was evidently in one of his moods, for
whenever he was excited or moved
touch O. the brogue colored his speech.
Then: "Sure, it's not for the likes of
you to touch her. Step back or I'll
take your kays away from you and lock
you up in one of your own dirty pens"
The turnkey wisely retreated, as he
knew better than to trife with the wild
1rishman when his blood was up, for the
manner in which Mac had tanned sever
al tough characters whom the police
could not handle was proof enough of
his bravery and prowess.
The girls eyes dilated ut this, and
looked wonderingly at her protector,
who, as calm as ever, leaned against the
lnaE nd ar-o1 har ,aaaoEI,-oI,,
"What kind of a girl is she2" he
hsked.
"a bad un," said one of the officers,
quickly, proceeding to give her de-
tsiled certificate of character that would
have sutficed for her commitment to
the House of Correction.
"It's not true " she cried hotly,
her blue grey Irish eyes flashing
iIe, 'Oh, sir, don't believe word of it.
He was civil enough to me coming
lp here in the wagon; but L slapped
MS face and he threatened to have me
,ent up for sixty days. I'd slap it
again, if could get at him now"
bravo " said Mac, nodling his head
Then he said sternly, "See
here, Murphy, man that will lie about
\ woman and willfully besmirch her
name is q coward. You are lying now,
'or | can see it in your face. If you
1on't take it back, I'll get the facts in
the case, hunt you down, roast you to O
turn, and demand your dismissal"
"Roast" was Macs pet synonym for q
personal attack through the columns of
MS paper. The officer hesitated, but |
finally said, rather shame-facedly:
'I-I don't know anything against
her. l.
'"There, that will do. 1 thought as
much, and I'll remember you for it,
Murphy. You're q burning disgrace to
the island you were born on"
Come, come, Mac, said the sergeant /
good -naturedly, don't keep US waiting
III night"
81 won't. Bring the girl into the
chiefs Office
None of us knew what he was driving |
It, and the sergeant and 1 were as much |
as the girl, whose face was a |
picture as she followed US in. Lock
ng the door, Mac questioned her, and |
ound that she was an orphan, was I
homeless, and had followed the occupa- |
ion of a domestic, but was hardly |
trong enough for the work. She had |
pent the evening with two other girls,
Tho had induced her to drink some |
liquor. Not being used to it, she had |