The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-25
HALF DEVIL, HALF CHILD

before the conductor and the two po-
heemen. who volleyed in chorus Tho
lads aim vas true. whatever the Others.
and with sob the huge head sank aad
the woman released her hold. she had
been tugging at the dogs tail
Don't waste your shots. Billy" said
the motorman. quietly; "hes done FOR. :
Say. Is the kid harteag'
He dropped the head and stood up be-
side the dead terror and looked over the
crowd. which with amazing cele-ity had
closed again. She's all right" a vo-
mans voice called back. good for you"
And how are you. grandma" said the
motorpian, eheerfuily.
The woman was rubbing her hands on
the sides Of her ApS She looked at hira,
and kind OF smile broke over her fac.
i didn't know II I could hold him" sai
, she. You're a mighty brave fe.ler"
Il got baby like her to home said
| he.
| Il had one" said she.
Il lost baby once" he said. nodGing
/ his head; my goodness, amt Il toughY'
| In her turn she aseuiesceG she looked
az him, and. for the first time. she be
came aware Of the disorder OF her toilet.
/ Seeiug his sorn clothing and the smears
1
/ size adjusted the gap in her bodice. and
aosuly pinned It. Directly she smoothsi
/ her gray head. II got all raussea uP.
must git home" said she. Look here--''
! she half turned the crowd was watching
:; they were curiously quiet. how did
decent man as you ever come 10
I scab?"
Cas street was so still now that most
, ci them heard his answer. given with no
/ excitement, but in steady. rather mel
| a=choly. voice: II was where those fell
/ ers are"-pointing his thumb at the side
! Walk hollering 'scab' as loud as they
are. In the Cleveland strike: but the strike
/ Iai;ed; held out longs anybody: but Il
/ was on; and then there was no more
strike benefits or nothing: and I got a
| wife and two children; and got tired OF
seeing my wife feed us all by washing.
The unions left me high and dry. and I'm
taking the best job can git, without any
BACK talk I'd rather be a scab than
starve; and that's the size OF H."
The woman looked at the boys listening.
no longer furious: her eyes passed ;hen
10 the little silent group OF tanned-faccd
men. God knows" she muttered. II
! can't make out the rights OF II. maybe.
! II ii come our turn next Say. you boys.
what you standing here for. blocking IN
the street? Go home and help your moth
ers II you amt got no better 10 do; and
I'd like to know why that there dog amt
moved with two cops. already. I'm go
| ing home"
The boys laughed good-naturedly enough.
Some OF them Joined the policeman ard
onered their help TO carry away the dead
dog. eventually hoisted on to the street
car The others imperceptibly dIsap-
peared, as did the women, and at last the
few men. The motorman followed the
woman few steps His face was work.
/ ing under a jaunty air: his hand stole
back to his pocket He sIdled up 10 her
as he muttered: Say, grandma. IL YOU
got kids al home. what's the harm you
| taking a"
He was stopped by her quick mo. you
don't / don't need it, I got plenty lad
by. You git back and git your truck
clear while you got the chsncer'
He went back to a placid street. almost
deserted. and the passengers helped with
the conductor until assistance came No
one could have believed that such a storm
had ragged over so tame a scene. The
salool-keeper after a while came out and
proffered beer and talked about mad dogs
and a small group OF children drank In
with delighted shivers divers CHASTITY tales
| When the car moved on two boys waved
| their hands and the saloon-keeper and
the green grocer and an Italian fruit wo-
man all nodded cordially.
We'll" remarked the thin man with
| the book how mob can change! Half
| devil and half childr'
| "if we only knew how TO get hold OF
! taa child" said the college lad
t6atyrght. 1860. Daily Story Publishing CompsnyD