The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-05
FOR LOVE OF SHORTY
By FREDERICK WHITE

exalted in spirit she swore that on the
night of the robbery Shorty had been
with her, in her home, until o'clock.
Fortunately for the success of this
story, Maggie's mother could not deny it,
for she had spent that night away from
home nursing a sick friend.
Broken hearted at the smirching of the
good name Of Dolan, she asserted her be-
lief that her daughter was bewitched and,
shaking her fist at Shorty, threatened
vengeance until suppressed by the court
| Her evident anfmus against the prisoner
had an effect directly opposite from that
which she had hoped to produce. It
strengthened his alibi materially. and
much to the disgust of the police Shorty
was acquitted.
When the jewellers of the tenements
wish to be alone and undisturbed, they
seek the comparative privacy of a park
bench. On the evening Of his release
Shorty met the girl by appointment and
together they threaded their way through
the crowded streets on one Of the city 8
brea thing spaces. r.
Shortly. pale and worn and somewhat
chastened in spirit by his enforced Sc
clusion, breathed the air Of liberty with
ever growing delight ~
It was good to be his own boss again,
and with the realization came another
| thought-he was some one else's boss too.
His hand touched the arm of the girl at
his side, and a thrill Of conscious power
| ran through him.
She belonged to him She had done too
much and gone too far to quit now. She
must look to him and to no one else in
| the future.
When he first understood that he was
free, his heart had gone out to the girl
in a tender pity that left him suppliant
at her feet. ~ III.
But now, few hours later, this was
| forgotten. Something III his 1aWless
5>I @-ofr f$,HI4
and left only the selfish pride Of man in
| his conquest.
They entered the park and sat down
upon a bench partly sheltered from pass
| ing eyes by a bush.
Maggies face looked very white in the
growing dusk, and her eyes were fixed
! on the ground.
Shorty shifted about uneasily and then,
in lieu of anything better, he put his arm
about her shoulders
The girl shivered and drew away.
whats the natter" said Shorty.
you're not afraid of me. are you?'
No" said the girl; I'm more afraid OF
myself
This was beyond shortys comprehen-
sion. you're what?' he asked roughly.
"Oh, Shorty cried the girl earnestly,
"can't you understand that it's all over
now and we must not see each other any
more?"
What dye mean?" he demanded.
Don't you know I'm going to take you
away tomorrow. I got some money left,
p. and" he added magnanimously, I'VE can
o get married before we go If you want to. -
Maggie laid her head upon the top rail
Of the bench and began to cry.
Il Il can't do 1t. / won't do it. she
e sobbed. You must go away-alone."
I Shorty did not know what to make of
= this. What did the girl want if she did
= not want him? Why had she visited him
in the prison, worked for him, lied for
him, if she did not want him?
$ Jaw, come off, he said gently. What
S do you want, anyhow"
= "This,' said the girl, springing to her
feet and dashing the tears from her eyes.
: L want you to go away where I will
e never see you again. What did did be-
!. cause loved you, and 1 am glad Of it
; glad that I lied for you and got you off. "
l. Shorty looked at her in wonder. He
n could not understand this girl. There was
n sion. - ~e..: o.. :
g His confidence in himself was weaken
u ing.
You better come with me- Maggie" he
10 said. Til promise to be good to you.
y 1T isn't that went on the girl. 81
'e told you was not afraid of anything but
y myself. I know what you area thief
'r and know what am, liar, and know
10 what we both ought to be, and I can't
n. do it. We could never be happy or good
rs and-oh, Shorty! I'll always think of you
as you were that night at the dance, be-
: fore knew, and-go-go away now or
lie can't stand it,
Is Shorty began to realize something of the
e. tumult in the girls heart
er He felt rather than understood her
struggle for her ideal.
1t He knew that should he take her In
lie his arms even now she would not be able
m to resist him.
lie Something Of her innate desire for what
was good and true stole over him, and
d to his everlasting credit he did not resist
le 1t.
lie Il guess you're right, Maggie" he sale
20 brokenly. II thought we could have gone
Is away and been happy together, but
in guess your right
a There was a world Of gratitude in hel
eyes as she raised them to him, and his
t. own eyes grew misty.
le "Goodby,' he said.
She placed her hand In his, and they
I'd stood there for moment, neither darins
er to say a word. Then he turned anc
walked swiftly away.
g She saw him for moment in the glare
II, of the electric light, and then he disap
at peared in the shadows beyond.
Half an hour later there was a knocl
40 at Mrs. Dolan's door. She wiped her eye
ed and opened it eagerly. - *
g Mother" said Maggie, "can COM
ut homer