Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-11-21
A PIANO PIECEMEAL.

From Pearl street to the river there was
not a more attractive girl than Mag i
O'Brien. Her hair might have been termed
red, but it was the red OF highly polished
brick, and the sunbeams became entangled
in the locks Mag was the belle Of Cherry !
street. the social leader Of the district, and /,
when she said NAV" it went. The Boil
var gang m ade up her band Of loyal knights
and were ever in attendance, but Patsy
Dugan, the leader, was her own especial
cavalier. Patsy wore not his heart upon
his sleeve, but he carried chip upon his
shoulder for Mag's sweet sake. And Patsy
was terror when he got going.
One soft August evening they sat upon
the stringpiece of wharf and watched the
bobbing lights in the flood below. A picnic
barge passed, and sweet strains of Com
rades" floated across the tide, whereat Mag
sighed as one who longeth for the unattain-
able.
Say, Mag, what's de matter!" asked
Patsy in a solicitous whisper.
But Mag only looked across at the dark
shadows of Brooklyn and sighed again.
"Whatcher want?" again asked Patsy.
"Tell us, an I'll git it. See!"
"Iwant apianny," sighed Mag as though
she feared to breathe the wish. The silence
that followed was broken only by the rip
ple of the waters, and the gloom Of the
night seemed to gather like frown which
reproved the enormity OF the girls ambi-
ton. Suddenly Patsy put one foot on the
wharf, preparatory to rising.
"Now, look a-here," he said in a strong
whisper, don't say nawthin, an III git do
PLAINLY, see?"
The deep shadows closed about his re-
treating form, and Mag sighed again. She
had learned to rely upon Patsy's word, but
that he should keep it in this instance
seemed almost too good to be true. She
wendell her lonely homeward way, deeply
engrossed in unusual thought. 1t was after
midnight when the voice Of Patsy was
heard outside her door, and Mag opened it
full of doubt and fear There stood Patsy
with his arms encircling some huge burden,
and as he staggered into the moonlight that
sifted through the dirty window panes the
girl saw that he carried ono leg Of the Gov
eted instrument.
II know where dey grows" painted Patsy,
IAN I'ze got one OATS near ripe. Now, dom
say nawt'n now-wait. See?" and Patsy
departed, giving vent to intermittent grunts
| that suggested COluraueS.
Late that night Patsy brought in another
leg, and then the smile that Mag had worn
all day became brighter and wider, for she
seemed to understand his scheme. 1t was
evident that Patsy procured the piano on
the installment plan, as Mag had often seen
advertised, and she wondered If he worked
during the day. The idea Of work troubled
her, and her heart was touched at the
thought of this knightly devotion. Her
hand trembled as she assisted him in with
the third load on the third night.
"Dis is nawful job" sighed Patsy, de-
, posting leg three in the corner, but yer'll
hev de PLAINLY, Mag, or and the brow OF
the Young knight clouded as he thought OF
the consequences if
Day after day passed on devoid of Incl
; dent.
"Termorrer, said Patsy as he deposited
the salmon plush stool in front OF the
yawning instrument, well hev dance,
; and Mag's bright eyes glistened. The NOR
row would bring the fulfllment of hel
hopes, her widest dreams and ambitions
She sat down before the piano and pounded
on the dumb keys, while Patsy tried to i'm
! itate the calliope and grunted very fairly.
] OQ, IdVSys Mug do Phi tiASs'
h Slowly passed the next day; the eventid
' was slower still. The early hours Of th
/ night fingered and hesitated, but at las
8 midnight came. The fateful hour brough
s no Patsy.
The dawn lighted the Brooklynward sky
; the street lamps were eXtinguished, and tn
: rattle of the early milk wagon was heard
but her Grant lover came not.
Before the skeleton frame, which was
dumb mockery of her hopes, sat Mag los
9 in wonder She knew not why her cavale
n should linger-she started at every moist
J sitting, picture of grief. before the unflr
IS ished monument of Patsy's love. Sh
h thought how tenderly he had brought I
d each piece-the sides, the pedals, the top:
II the ivory keys-and fixed them togethe
II with an air Of professional pride. WheI
8. was he now?
AS If in answer to her thought stealth
step was heard outside, and Patsy entered
wearied-wan-with no portion of the p
ano. He scarcely looked at Mag, but hui
ried toward the piano, and lifting the cove
crawled into the empty frame. Then froi
8, the interior came one whistled strain frol
8, Patsy's lips, and Mag repeated the wore
n that accompanied it-"They're After Me.
et Then tread-tread-came up the stat
10 and stopped at the door. A moment an
a. the door opened, and two stalwart me-
o each wearing brown derby and heay
IN black mustache, entered. They stood a.
rs palled before the beauty of Mag, and bot
removed their hats.
EXCUSE us, miss" sold the lorenzo
one, "but me friend is looking for piann
m viii you kindly let him play us tun'
ia We won't be but minute, cause the r
re- amy dat he wants is fer deaf man, an
"a can tell what it is right away" Here
IN winked at Mag, who stood like statue
Of "Set down, Tom," continued the spea
~ er, pointing to the plano stool there in !
~ salmon plush glory. Tom obeyed. T
ar swung around ON the stool once or twi
and then addressed his friend: -
If "Say, Bill" he asked, grinning broadl
b1 did you hear about dat Teller JPN Fiji
4 avenue what had his PLAINLY stolen? "
II, sir-man big enough in this town to steal
~ pianny-great town this"
- Mag returned the smile directed at h
~ with a look of anger, and then Bill spoke
~ "Give us Comrades Tom," he said.
~ Toms huge, brawny hand came down
the keys with thump, and from the
= terror of the instrument came a smother
sound like steam calliope in the distan
y -"Oodle-ooodle-ood
Mag clasped her hands in delight. 1
imitation Of Patsy was expert, perfect
these intruders would never know
what she had real piano-complete in
ery detail and Patsy would escape. 4
the two men burst into roar OF Taught
"Ooodlede-do-de do" Mag grew frig
ened. What was III
n "Ob, Bill" cried Tom.
II "Oh, Tom," cried Bill, and they laugh
- loud and long. Then they grew sudde'
..,.a.o. the rattle of a chain caused Mag