The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-22

something. Presently the manager appeared
| and announced with much rubbing of his
claws that Miss Jean Heath, the vocalist would
not appear that night, owing to illness, and SO
on.
Tho Kid cursed under his breath and went
ont, and followed him.
"Do You know where Miss Heath lives?"
asked.
He surveyed me from head to foot in the
electric light.
"W'ats it to your" he demanded. fercely.
"Who are youse, amy how?"
"Do you know her address," / repeated.
"Yes or nor"
/ did not know why had asked the ques-
ton in the first place, but his defiance nettled
me, and was determined to have an answer.
| "Yas, know de address. Wat of it, ole
| MANI"
He looked as if he wanted to fight me- There
was no use in trying to bully him.
81 want to see her." l said "she is SICK"
| Are youse friend of hers?"
"Yes"
| Ibid not know why said that, but somehow
that sad little face had risen up before me, and
yes would be her friend if l could. She
had said she would give up Lawrie. Yes, l
was her friend.
"Dat's all right, den," he said, in Modified
tone. "Youse look honest. She's sick an
1
| Are you a friend of hers" asked, as we
went along.
Nav she doan' know Pm on cart. See? y"
| He told me something of the girls history as
| We went on. He was we'll posted for total
stranger. He wanted to talk of her after his
tongue was loosened.
"Me advice is dat youse take her away from
dat t'eatre," he said, after Q while. ats no
| place for girl like dat"
"How do you know she isn't that kind |"
| asked.
"How do know" He stopped and faced
me fercely, his hands close to his side and his
chin thrust forward from between his thick
shoulders. "Looky here, youse! Dat girl is
| as pure as dem sweet ole songs she sings. Youse
| Youse had mudder once. Jest remember dat
dis girl is as pure as your mudder was-de kind
| of girl dat man dreams of for his sweet
| heart, am Come on"
And then I understood. This young thug
had been better for the sweet old songs sung in
| that rowdy place by the girl who didn't even
know he was on cart" The man in him had
been awakened.
"Perhaps she will never sing there again."
I said, just before We reached the end of our
journey.
Oats right" he answered, approvingly.
take her away. An'-an'-dis is de place!
Good by, ole man Some sometime wen
she's almost forgot about dis hard life, tell her
tell her God bless her for mel"
And he turned and shambled rapidly down
the street, with his chin drawn down between
his shoulders. Poor devil!
The door of the humble boarding. house was
opened by Halloran. He had seen me coming.
Perhaps he had been waiting for me.
"What do you want?" he demanded.
"Is-is Lawrie here?" ! asked.
"What do you want?"
Tat all cd
"No!" he answered. go down them steps
or I'll throw you down, COLONEL"
"Why confound you'll" began. "Fll -
"No, you won't! Dan Whitrick, 60 back to
your hotel. That poor girl is sick, perhaps
dyin'. You killed the one ray of sunshine
that had come into her hard life. She was
goin' down to the river last night. ! stopped
her. Lawrie is with her. If she lives he'll
marry her. You know me, Dan Whitrick, an
you'll find that Pm too many for you now. We
have been friends a long time, but it is all past
now. Go down them steps!"
"I-Lawre"-
she is a mani"
$50 am j, Halloranl love my lad, and
but, LIP
Something in my tone must have moved him,
for he stepped back to let me pass and / fol-
lowed him up the stairs. His hand was heavy
on my shoulder when we passed into the room
where the sick girl lay.
Lawrie was with her. He was sitting be-
side the bed, holding one of her hands And
The girls thin little face grew whittier when
she saw me, but the big appealing eyes looked
bravely into mine.
"Take him away, Col. Whitrick," her weak
voice said go, Lawrie. And, oh, God bless
you. my love! God bless you'll"
Hush. Jean!" said my lad, without looking
round. 81 am not going"
% batf HILL
my shoulder was like iron. "Whitrck, this is
no business of your'n! Coz
/ looked this way and that. And-and, then
saw Alright.
take your hand of from me, Halloran!"
vapored. "Confound it! What dye mean?
This is my lad, snd-and this is my girl, and ("
"What?"
"What business is it Of yours if choose to
to say II was wrong and to ask them TOTO
forgive me?"
But, didn't fool them with all my buster |
Halloran bad me by the hand In an instant and |
was pumphandling it at great rate; and Law |
rie-well, the boy bad his arm around my neck, |
and-and-I kissed his curs.
at is all right" he said. joyously.
"You bet it's ali right" cried Halloran.
didn't say all the time that ole Dan Whit
rick was -
"No-no"-the girl quavered. "I-you"
LOOK here. young woman" said I. "Pve |
heard ali about you, and If Lawrie wants you |
and i want you, why -
"Come along out O. that, DAM" said Halo.
ran, dragging me out into the hall. LET 'em |
fix it up between themselves. 1t hain't no !
place for two sech old fools as we are"
And, just then. the Christmas chimes pealed |
forth from the steeple in the next block.
That was two years ago. / spend more OF |
my time on the ranch nowadays than / used |
to. 1t isn't SO lonesome as it once was, for |
Lawrie is there, and so is Jean. You wouldn't |
know her. Her eyes don't look so big now,
for the thin face is round and pinky checked.
Pm needed at the ranch these days, for |
there is little Dan Whitricls the second, about |
o foot-and-a-half long, who likes nobody quite |
SO well as the old man. They call me |
" Grandpa" now. What do you think of that? |
The little chan has Jean's ayea hrt Tawrias |