River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-10-17

and presently he led the way through
the street The four others followed.
Now sleet fell, and the wind was high.
~ don't like this, Jack, whispered
Tom. who brought mp the rear.
"Why?" asked Jack.
Il don't like that mans looks"
Meaning Ritter? You're right.
He's a scOundrel, they tel me. And
the others aren't just what a man
would pick for company on a dark
night Shall we hand back our half
dollars aud leave them? For it may
not be fair piece of work he wants
done"
NO. we won't If it isn't far, we
may be able to make it so.
"Goody' said Jack.
The wind was gale. bitter and cut
ting. The singing sleet drove hard
into their faces before they reached a
miserable part of the city, given over
10 barrooms, scanty shops and wretch
ed tenementS Into one of these they
went, and ~ three flights of rickety
stair that creaked and groaned under
tneiS weight. On a narrow landing
they stopped.
Go ahead. your said the constable,
showing Jack, who vas the biggest,
first into the room, and then retiring
behind the rest
This is far worse room than mine, y
thought Jack. II beg your pardon,
ma'am," he added, aloud
On a broken-down bed in a corner
lay q woman. with a child two OF
three years old in her arms They
were dressed. but huddled together
for warmth under a thin blanket. A
candle stuck in bottle gave q cheer
less light
A little boy had come forward, and
now stood backing away toward his
mother. tiny stove without a fire, a
few potatoes in a corner, a barrel with
flour enough hardly 10 cover the bot
tom, a pail OF water, frozen over. on
the floor. a lev poor garments hang
ing on the wa4l-such was the room.
a door opened to an inner room,
through which Tom saw a couple of
rats skurry. and which was furnished
with child's crib. us your husband
home?" said the constable.
ME man Tim. is it? No. he's down
the road on job he got at last, glory
be To GOd.''
Can you pay me the reEt?"
IF ven jist wait till to-morry night,
sorr, me man Tim. bein' home then an
paid off. will give We all that's due.
sorr He's gittin' good wages now
Il don't care what wages he's get
ting. l promised your man Tim that
unless he paid tonight he should go
out I'm a man of my word; so the
sooner you pack up those brats of
yours and be off, the BETTER"
such a night as th,s," said the
proud that Tins wages were good,
and that he would he ready to settle
next day-and now it all went for
nothing!
Not tonight. sorr," The sleet rat
tied against the window. The house
rocked and the wind whistled under
the caves
Yes, tonight I don't make the
weather. Come, these four men'n help
you move all this property"
He stepped toward her, and she
the lutte ckild, who began to cry, not
with the loud bawling of a healthy
child. but with the wall of little one
whose lungs and chest are weak from
poor air and scanty food.
But me baby is sick" pleaded the
mother.
That don't pay the rent said the
constable.
''Sha'n't touch me uudder." cried
the little boy, standing forth with
doubled-up fists
Ritter bounced with a snarl on the
boy; but DIR. Thomas Bradbury, COM
ing close up to him, said in very
gentle voice, soft but exceedingly dis
tinct: Let him alone; the boy is
right"
Jack recognized that extreme mild
ness of Toms which was always a
danger signal. Big Jack smiled. and
his blue eyes twinkled with anticipa-
ton.
II tell you the boy is right. The
woman is not TO be moved-or touched
or troubled"
''Who are y0u'" snarIed Ritter.
Il am DIR. Bradbury" more gently
still.
DIR. Quackl A pretty doctor, you!
Likely, You're my servant till you've
earned the pay give you. That's who
you arel Come now, Mrs. Tim! Be off
with you, Out with 'em, boys!"
Wait moment" said the doctor.
you can't legally turn this woman
out at night"
Lawyer, too, are you?" sneered
Ritter.
The law is common sense said the
doctor, ''Or ought to be. You can't
turn this woman out tonight"
i can't, can't 70" said Ritter. BY
way of restoring Mrs. O'Flynn from a
faint into which she had fallen, he was
about to shake her. when there came
upon his person set of bony knuckles.
app led with an intimate knowledge of
the weaknesses of the human frame.
Then the doctor, having opened the
action, was hustled aside by Jack.
Let me nave chance, Tom" said
he.
The rough, rushing forward to help
Ritter, was met by a mighty shoulder
that almost knocked the breath from
his body. Then Jack, in spite of a
shower OF blows at close quarters and
the interference of the loafer, flung
the rough upon the stairs. He rolled
half way down the first fight before
stopping.
The fellow, by no means deficient in
courage, was coming up to renew the
conflict, when he was met by the
lOafer descending at great speed. and
the two came upon the landing in a
heap. to which their employer, Mr..
Ritter. was promptly added.
They sat for some seconds feeling
their bruises, and doubtful whether to
continue the struggle. Then Jack de-
scended to them. At his approach
they rose, doubtful whether to fight or
fly. But Jack said. sweetly:
Don't be scared. I'm not going TO
kick you down another fiight-not if
you're peaceable, Ritter. just want
to hand you back those two half
dollars you gave us We haven't ex-
aetly earned them. you know"
Jack tossed the none 10 Ritter and
went laughing upstairs
Then the loafer, for the first time
that evening, spoke:
Seems likes easier a-goin' down
two flight than a-goin' up one-somc-
timesi"
trl,;e counsel ,,rax-afrad aud kl,a +braa