The National tribune., 1897-05-27
Copyright, 1897, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
CHAPTER I.
IN THE COAL YARDS NEIGHBoRHooD.

Moderate excitement pervaded the COM
munity inhabiting the two or three score
acres of monotonously similar frame houses
forming the Coal Yards Neighborhood of
the West Side of Chicago. Moderate ex-
element" is used advisediy. The languor
of the hot Summer day that broiled fiercely
over the square furlongs of low shiDge roofs,
over miles of unpaved, dusty, wheel-rutted
streets, over endless stretches of board side
walks, had been only rippled by the an
nouncement that the body of a murdered
man, turned up to the surface of the filthy
water of the South Branch by the wheel of
a propeller, had been drawn ashore, and was
now lying in a coal shed awaiting the arrival
of the Coroner.
Dragging corpses-at least of non-resi-
dents-out of that great open sewer, the
South Branch, was too minor and frequent
| an incident to stir the Coal Yards Neighbor-
hood more than specifically.
BLAST the bloody stiff" growled Wat
Sparger, the Englishman who kept the
corner grocery and butcher shop. when asked
if he was going over to look at the body.
"W't tell do Hi want to see hit for? Some
bloomin' plug 'as knocked hanother bloomin
plug hoG the dock hinio the drink. Honly
wish at both hon 'em 'ad gone hin together.
Too bloomin many o. that blarsted kind hin
! this DANCED town."
Wat Sparger was one Of the Superior
Beings of the Neighborhood, whose fbers
only responded to such high-class events as
a set-to between two frst-rate men, big
fire, scientific dog-fght, or general riot.
The lesser natures were deeply moved by
casual scraps" between gents" who oc-
cupied the brown and yellow frame houses,
and heaved coal in the yards, by impromptu
| collisions of the dogs of the Neighborhood,
or by the efforts of the police to get to the
lookup some Coal Yarder whose full load
of beer disagreed with the politics or card
playing of some other Coal Yarder.
Hauling murdered stranger out of the
turbid South Branch did not rise to the pro-
portions of an exciting incident.
No, he's not plng," said Con Purtell,
the Irish draymap, who had been asked the
question; "sames more loke an Out-0-town
merchant or sthorekaper.D
"Some Jay from Oshkosh or Sheboygan,"
returned Wat Sparger, "come to town to
ave fling on the money e got for Us 'ogs.
'E's been tolled down Polk street and sand
bagged."
The women of the Neighborhood showed
more interest. They could be depended on
to do that. The fact that the Coroner was
coming to hold an inquest raised the event
almost to the dignity and interest of a
Neishborheod funeral. An experienced OBJ
server could always discover by the appear
ance of the women as he entered the Neigh
borhosd whether anything unusual was
going on. If so, they had generally sus-
pended household employment, put on clean
calico dresses, combed their hair, and were
standing at their front gates in attitudes OF
easy watchfulness, white they picked their
teeth with pins. He measured the magni-
tude of the event and the nearuess Of his
approach to its scene by the increase in the
number Of the danes in s1eekly-combed
hair and calico fresh from the ironing-table.
There comes the Coroner now" said Con
Purtell, as a man with GAR button IN
his lapel descended laboredly from the
horse-car. Poor old Jack. The same
volley which kilt me brother tak off Jacks
leg. He's gittin fatter and clumsier every
year, because he can't take proper exercise.
Pm going to give him me arm"
"'Es gittin bloody well paid for that
bloomin leg" growIed Wat Sparger. "The
Ceroner's jobs werth at least So, 600 n year
twice wat e could make if ED both legs"
swell, both av me legs is cork, but cork
ez they are, Oi wuddent give wan av thin
fur tin such jaabs al the Kahroner's," said
| Con, as he started off to the assistance of the
Coroner.
3Dang that bloomin' old joke hof yours"
| grumbled Wat, looking after him. Both
hof yer legs is cork, because " were born in
| Cork. Yer alluz workin' hit hoff. A fea-
| ther-'eaded Irishman as 10 ave lis joke"
Good morning, Mr. Sparger," said Coro-
ner Jack" Blasdel, hanging his cane on
his arm that he might use both hands in
wiping the perspiration from the inside of
his Panama. "This is a scorcher, isn't it ?
| Hottest of the season"
| "Hit's the way with the bloomin' weather
| in this DANCED town. Heither SO cold has to
freeze yer toenails hoff, hor 'ot henuf to roast
heggs."
"Wat, yon'd grumble if y wuz goin' to be
hung said Con. Fwy don't y go back TO
old Hingland, stead o. stayin' here and
abusing US Amerikins and our country?"
"'Ell of Amerikin you are. Air not hoff
yer teeth yet, ye fiannel-mOuthed Mick"
The Coroner was used to these pleasant
ries of the Coal Yard Neghborhood.
Sorry could not get here earlier" he
resumed, but had two other inquests this
morning. Bad times, tell you. This re-
building the city costs as many lives as war.
I'll have to summon you and Con on the
| INT Sotut OtueE UleU, please, 10
make up the number"
Don't know as can serve. HIM not a
citizen o. this bloomin' country. But about
| ali the decent men are at their work. Ere
| comes Kent 'Alliday for is break FAST 'E's
a prin ter, and don't go to work till one clock
Summon 'im."
Kent Halliday was impaneled.
We'll, don't mind making dollar this
morning in the interests of Justice and good
| Government he remarked pleasantly.
"Feich out your stiff, and I'll view him
according to The peace and dignity of the
people OF Illinois. and the statutes in that
case made and provided"
Kent Halliday had yet TO reach his 23d
year. He had been brought up iu the Coal
Yards Neighborhood where his father had
labored and died, leaving the support of his
mother TO him. In the course of years he
had developt from a galley boy |" in the
Tribune office to a iull-fedged compositor
earning what WIS prncely wages for the
Coal Yards Neighborhood He had clear.
cut, alert face, aud decision of character
shone out of his quick, grayish-blue eyes.
Enough men TO complete the jury wer,
soon collected. and the party, which hat
been increased by the arrival Of the County
Physician and three reporters, who looked
as il the biggest bore in life was attendanc,
upon Coroner's inquests, proceeded to tn,
shed where the body lay.
Been In the water over q week. said on
Of tie reporters, with the ready judgment O