Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-26

| to himself which indicated that he was
| hard pressed. He dashed precipitately down
| Helmstaedter's steps. He saw instantly
| that he had made mistake. There was no
| way out apparently.
| He heard the sound of footsteps descend
ing to the rooms in which he stood. He
| He was surrounded on all sides by huge
| pans of bread. He thrust his hand into his
pocket and pulled it out.
He dashed the contents of his hand across
| the room. and dived for another handful.
| Then he paused. for the man upon the steps
I was not policeman. He was Helmstaed-
| ter, the baker man.
| What are you doing here?" exclaimed
| HelDstaedter. Suspiciously.
| Shifty Shift for 1t was he. was relieved.
Il was lookin,'' he explained confidently to
| the baker. ''for a man Of the name of
| Mickey Sullivan-blind in one eye. He used
| to work down this cellar
You got in the wrong place" said Helm
! staedter. there amt no Mickey Sullivan
not here-never was"
Gee" said Shifty, II got on the wrong
I'm guy FIR fair
| Casting a remorseful glance over to one
| side, he slowly and with becoming humility
assembled the stone steps to the street.
| He looked up and down for policeman.
He saw none.
Much obliged to you" he said to the
baker man, as he trotted around the cor
| ner to find the imaginary Mickey Sullivan.
| making over for the fifth time a dress
| which had worn out months ago, when she
| heard knock on the door. She leaped 10
her feet. ran and opened 1t.
jimmy she exclaimed, Jimmy Burke"
| Then she stepped back a foot two.
| Jimmy" she exclaimed. How tired you
| look. And how cold Jimmy slid over 10
| the sofa and half reclined upon it.
Tired" he answered. cold Well, I
| guess yes. What do you tink? I walked
| fourteen miles this day if / walked step,
and not job; not a job anywheres There
amt no more jobs; that's what. And, by
George, Molly, I'm up against it and no
mistake. Any news?'
Molly Middleditch nodded her pretty
head. What do you think, Jimmy" she
said, "Tortoni wants his 1896, and says
he ii take every stick I've got tomorrow"
Jimmy Burke gave vent to long, low,
discouraged whistle. Gee" he exclaimed.
here is you and me, encatiched now, goin'
on four year, and you with your old father
knocked clean off his pins, and me without
a cent and without job, and no chance to
get one. Well, what dye think of it, Molly
grip"
Molly smiled 1T might be worse, Jim
my" She said; What If you didn't have
me and didn't have your
Jimmy Burke frightened up. II 'spose
It'll all come right some day. I wonder
now If it'll ever be that you and me can
get together enough of the stuff so that
we can walk down to tn aldermans and
housekeepin and have enough to eat
Gee, said Jimmy Burke, but that re-
minds me- If l amt hungry! Fourteen
mile on an empty stumnick amt much in
my line
oh, Jimmy. Jimmy" walled the girl,
didn't you get nothin' to eat?' She fun
bled about in small purse.
Come on out, Jimmy" she said, land
I'll blow you" Jimmy. when he was suff1-
clently warm and sufficiently rested, ac-
companied her. She led him to the estab-
lishment of Helmstaedter the baker man.
Gould you eat a loaf of bread, Jimmy"
asked the girl
Il could eat two of EN- said Jimmy, vo-
raciously. The girl smiled.
IN lend you a Nickel" she said, "and
I'll buy loaf and you buy a loaf, and
we'll see who gets the dollar; and you can
eat the bread"
Jimmy. felt better. He took the proffered
nickel. Now, no humbug Helmstaedter,"
he remarked. Here's Miss Middleditch
my lady friend, and me, and we're after
that dollar loaf. We're goin' to buy two
loaves, and you'd better give me the dollar