The Lambertville record., 1903-04-22
. y y y y . y -
FOR LOVE
OF SHORTY
BY FREDERICK WHITE
Copyright, 1909, bu McCimes
Newspaper Syndicate
4 n. a q a a a a n a 4 a

afterward Unfortunately for her
peace of mind, Maggie had not In
spired Shorty with anything in partlc-
ular.
He was good natured. and had
danced with her because she did not
seem TO have many partners.
lie 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 burglar she would have
had nothing TO do with him. But she
only knew that he was what she con-
sldercd 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 rcmunerative, so Maggie looked
and waited in vain.
Shorty had just pulled off 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 II interfered with his reading.
He always read oraciously--betwee
times-and, with the wherewithal for
six months comfort on hand, he hated
to be disturbed. lie knew, III that
mysterious way by which police news
travels TO those most interested, that
lie 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-
tive way she was very much In love,
and to see Shorty again WIS her one
thought, day and night. Her fancy
wovc glamour about him that even
Shorty himself would have repudiated
with scorn had he known.
Then came the arrest, for the powers
had been too much FOR him at last
La,
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 impulslvely 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 have welcomed respecta-
blllty If he could have afforded ii, but
now II was too late, and In his heart
he resented this too. The first visit
led TO others, and In the devotion of
the girl Shorty saw CLEAN Of hope.
He was not entirely selfish In this
matter. If he escaped his term In
prison, he would do the right thing by
her.
lie would take her away with him
aud marry her, but for some reason or
other he never told the girl this.
So 1t was that for pure love of him
Maggie agreed 10 help him establish
an alibi, although she knew from his
own lips that he was guilty.
With the aid Of a lawyer, who asked
10 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-
wltched 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 allhi mate-
rally, ana 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 Il park
bench. 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
the city's breathing spaces.
Shorty, pale and worn and somewha
chastened IN spirit by his enforced Sc
clusion, breathed 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 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 aud 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 sup
plant at her feet.
But now, n few hours later, this was
forgotten. Something In his lawless
nature crowded out all sense OF graft
tude and left only the selfish pride Of
man In his conquest
They entered the park and sat down
upon bench partly sheltered from
passing eyes hy q bush.
Maggie's face looked very white In
the growing dusk, and her eyes were
fixed Oh the ground.
Shorty shifted about uneaslly, and
then, In lieu Of anything better, he
put his arm about her shoulders.