The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-26
THE ADVERTISERS
DAILY SHORT STORY

the congratulations were done all owe
again. Giacomo was a strappang, low
proved man: with q rather .h ..sp.,S
well. having been born in America. and
the son Of affiuent rag pickers. who had
allowed him to 60 to school as OFTEN az
he wished for nearly two years: Angel
and looked almost pretty. Pietro hat
left his hurdy-gurdy at home and wore
new gold rings in his ears. They were
making gala day Of IT.
| Hill felt himself called upon to do the
honors Of the once, and a. he was only
| cub the fellows let him alone. He
| talked to Angelica in the language ne
| thought to be italian, and she must nave
understood part Of what ne SAID aOr
derstood, too. for he scowled once OF
Hiirs. ~
The trio made the visit short that day,
now TO report the progress Of the court
ing. The marriage was not TO take
until the music season was over, and
naturally. the bans would not be pup,
just before the wedding day.. At each
of the visits Hill, who never had much
of Importance to do. made himself agree
able to the girl. who smiled sweetIy up.
on him. Giacomo sometimes accompanied
the party. and usually he had nothing to
say except to answer questions. He
seemed to dislike Hill. hut vas always
courteous. as is every italian who. II
he cuts your throat. will do 1t politely.
We chaffed Hill occasionally about the
girl, and told him to watch out that the
lover didn't sink a stiIetto into him some
day.
he would say. "and as for Giacomo. a
cigar will make him all right. ! know
the class
Summer finally passed into autumn and
the day came for the bans to be pub
class" had spent 50 cents on a gaud,
orns ment for the girl and had also sup
piled himself with some big cigars tol
Giacomo. and when they came in for
| with a speech in his villainous Italian.
Angelica received hers with a pleasant
smile and a Grazia. signor." and Ola.
como took his cigars in silence. Hi!
srnil I'd and said afterwards he'd bet he'd
ening In the new family. =:
On toward II o'clock that night. when
half the force was at work on evening
copy. and the copy, readers were swear,
up the stairs and into the room. His
familiar. rather quick step had given
place 70 tired sort of tramp, and he
o,ked ally old when he came into
straight over to the desk of the city ed
itor and stood with his hat in his hands.
The city editor looked up.
well, what is it?" he asked.
Man killa de GIRL" said the Italian
Don on Rob Street Sticka de knife in
her"
All right" said the city editor. "I'll
send johnson down when he comes in"
and adding a perfunctory thank you,"
he turned to his work again.
DE man dead. too" said Pietro after
a moments silence.
That's all right. Run along now. I'm
busy" The city editor began to frown.
and Pietro turned away. AS he passed
Hills desk he laid a little package on it."
angelica sent 1t back" he said, simp-
~. and then went slowly down the stairs.
Hill opened the package and found in 1t
the little ornament he had given the
girl that afternoon. There was a tiny
red stain on 1t, but Hill was too busy
then to do more than wonder.
The next morning The Planet had on
its front page big scare head like this:
DOUBLE MURDER.
Jealous Italian Knifes His Sweetheart.
Father of the Victim Stays the AS
sassin and Gives Himself Up.
All on Account of a Present
Two days later Hill borrowed S.. and
the man who went to write up the flu
neral noticed a great. bunch OF white
roses on the coffin,
DIRTY FERGUSON" by Henry L. Mencken