Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-09-26
A PIANO PIECEMEAL.

brick, and the sunbeams became entanglet
In the locks Mag was the belle of Cherry
street, the social leader of the district, ant
when she said Nav" IL went. The Boil
var gang madeu her band OF loyal knight,
and were ever I'm attendance, but PATSY
Dugan, the leader, was her own especial
cavalier. Patsy wore not his heart upor
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 food 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 matteri" asked
Patsy in 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 II. Seer"
'Iwant apianny," sighed Mag, as though
she feared TO breathe the wish. The silence
that followed was broken only by the rip
pie OF the waters, and the gloom Of the
night seemed 10 gather like frown which
reproved the enormity OF the girls ambi-
tion. Suddenly Patsy put one foot on the
wharf, preparatory 10 rising.
"Now, look a-bere," he said In a strong
whisper, don't say nawthin, an I'll git de
pianny, seef"
The deep shadows closed about his re-
treating fern, and Mag sighed again. She
had learned to rely upon Patsy's word, but
that he should keep IL In this instance
seemed almost too good to be true She
wended her lonely homeward way, deeply
engrossed in unusual thought. II was after
midnight when the voice Of Patsy was
heard outside her door, and Mag opened il
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 one leg Of the Gov
eted instrument.
81 know where dey grows" painted Patsy,
''an Ize got one dats near ripe. Now, don't
say nawt'n now-wait. See" and Patsy
departed, giving vent TO intermittent grunts
that suggested Comrades"
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. IL was
evident that Patsy procured the piano on
the installment plan, as Mag had often seen
advertised, and she wondered II 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 pianny, Mag, orr 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 Mags bright eyes glistened. The NOR
row would bring the fulflllment Of her
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
"Oh, Patsy" said Mag at parting.
Slowly passed the next day; the eventide
was slower still. The early hours Of the
night fingered and hesitated but at last
midnight came. The fateful hour brought
no Patsy.
The dawn lighted the Brooklynward sky,
the street lamps were extinguished, and the
rattle Of the early milk wagon was heard,
but her errant lover came not.
Before the skeleton frame, which was a
dumb mockery Of her hopes. sat Mag lost
In wonder. She knew not why her cavalier
should linger-she started at every noise,
Asitting, picture Of grief. before the unfin-
ished monument OF Patsy's love. She
thought how tenderly he had brought In
each piece-the sides, the pedals, the tops.
the ivory keys-and fixed them together
with an air Of professional pride Where
was he nowf
AS II In answer TO her thought stealthy
step was heard outside, and Patsy entered,
wearied-wan-with no portion OF the pi-
ano. He scarcely looked at Mag, but hur.
ried toward the piano, and lifting the cover
crawled into the empty frame. Then from
the interior came one whistled strain from
Patsy's lips, and Mag repeated the words
that accompanied it-"They're After Me-"
Then tread-tread-came up the stairs
and stopped at the door. A moment and
the door opened, and two stalwart men,
each wearing a brown derby and heavy
black mustache, entered. They stood ap-
palled before the beauty Of Mag, and both
removed their hats.
Excuse us, miss" said the foremost
one, "but me friend is looking for pianny.
VIII you kindly let him play us tune,
We won't be but a minute, cause the pi-
amy dat he wants is fer deaf man, an he
can tell what 1t Is right away" Here he
winked at Mag, who stood like a statue.
'Set down, Tom, ;" continued the speak
er, pointing TO the piano stool there in its
salmon plush glory. Tom obeyed. He
swung around on the stool once or twice
and then addressed his friend:
Say, Bill" he asked, grinning broadly,
"did you hear about dat feller upn Fifth
avenue what had his pianny stoleni Yes,
sir-man big enough in this town to steal q
pianny-great town this"
Mag returned the smile directed at her
with look of anger, and then Bill spoke:
Give us Comrades Tom," he said.
Toms huge, brawny hand came down on
bhe keys with thump, and from the In
terror Of the instrument came n smothered
sound like steam calliope in the distance
-"Oodle-ooode-ood
Mag clasped her hands in delight. The
imitation OF Patsy was expert, perfect
these intrudcrs would never know but
what she had real piano-complete In ev-
cry detail, and Patsy would escape. But
the two men burst into roar Of laughter
"Ooodlede-do-de do" Mag grew fright
ened What was itf
"Oh, Bill" cried Tom.
"Oh, Tom" cried Bill, and they laughed
loud and long. Then they grew suddenly
look in their direction, and she gave a
/ -.