The Republican journal., 1903-04-30
FOR LOVE Of SHORTY.
BY FREDERICK WHITE.

Copyright, 1907, by McClure's Newspaper
Syndicate.
Maggie Dolan's first dream Of love
was inspired by Shorty McGovern.
He had danced with her three times
at the ball of the Happy Friends as
sociation and had escorted her home
afterward. Unfortunately for her
peace of mind, Maggie had not in
spired Shorty with anything in partic-
ular.
He was good natured, and had
danced with her because she did not
seem to have many partners.
He walked home with her because
they happened to dance the last waltz
together. Then he forgot all about 1t,
but Maggie did not.
Had she known Shorty's profession
he was a burglar-she would have
had nothing to do with him. But she
only knew that he was what she con-
sidered handsome and that he talked
most attractively about books.
She was young, very young, and no
man or boy had ever paid her so much
attention before.
Being afflicted with an Imagination,
she gave herself up to dreams in which
Shorty was always the predominant
figure. On her way to and from the
factory she was continually on the
lookout for him. and every evening she
surprised her mother by putting on
her best dress in the hope that he
might come to see her. But Shorty
never came. He had other business
on hand, if not more attractive at least
more remunerative, SO Maggie looked
and waited in vain.
Shorty had just pulled off a good
thing, so good that the police were
almost as much interested as the vic
tins of the robbery, and that meant
trouble.
Shorty realized this and resented 1t
because it interfered with his reading.
He always read oraciously-between
times-and. with the wherewithal for
six months comfort on hand he hated
to be disturbed He knew in that
mysterious way by which police news
travels to those most Interested, that
he was under suspicion and. much
against his inclinationS. he was pre-
pairing to leave town until the atmos-
phere should clear.
In the meanwhile Maggie had be-
come almost desperate. In her primi-
tive way she was very much in love,
and to see Shorty again was her one
thought, day and night. Her fancy
wove a glamour about him that even
Shorty himself would have repudiated
with scorn had hes known.
Then came the arrest, for the powers
had been too much for him at last.
Maggie saw it in the papers, and
picture of her hero brought the shock
home to her with sickening directness.
She was dazed. stunned. hopeless. but
still in love- Without saying anything
to her mother she visited Shorty in
the city prison.
Shorty was very much surprised but
appreciated the attention. although the
girls grief and disappointment in him
(she had impulsively told more than
she should) annoyed him.
Though more or less callous in re-
gard to the right or wrong of his call
ing. he would lave welcomed respecta-
bility if he could have afforded it, but
now it was too late, and in his heart
he resented this too. The first visit
led to others. and i'll the devotion of
the girl Shorty saw a CLEAN of hope.
He was hot entirely selfish in this
matter If he escaped his term i'll
prison, he would do the right thing by
her.
He would take her away with him
and marry her but for some reason or
other he never told the girl this.
So it was that for pure love of him
Maggie agreed to help him establish
an alibi. although she knew from his
own lips that he was guilty.
With the aid of lawyer, who asked
no embarrassing questions. they con-
cocted the defense. On the day of the
trial Maggie went on the stand. Pale
of face, but 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 sick friend.
Broken hearted at the smirching of
the good name of Dolan, she asserted
her belief that her daughter was be-
witched and, shaking her fist at Shorty.
threatened vengeance until suppressed
by the court.
Her evident animus against the pris-
oner had an effect directly opposite
from that which she had hoped to pro-
duce. 1t strengthened his alibi mate
rally, and much to the disgust Of the
police Shorty was acquitted.
When the dwellers of the tenements
wish to be alone and undisturbed. they
seek the comparative privacy of park
5ench. On the evening of his release
shorty met the girl by appointment,
and together they threaded their way
through the crowded streets to one Of
;le city's breathing spaces.
Shorty, pale and worn and somewhat
clastened iii spirit by his enforced Sc
clusion, bre;thed the air Of liberty
with ever growing delight.
1t 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 gisl at his side. and thrill