The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-03-11
DICKY O'REGA

trict- OF the West Side lives Dicky
O'Regan. Professionally Mr.. o. Regan ad-
mits that he is a retired hnk burglar.
The police admit that the tile is properly
descriptive, except, perhas, as TO the
qualifying adjective. The. are doubtful
whcther Dicky has reall! retired or is
only resting between Professional en-
gagements.
Dicky lives with his oil mother. With
that strange inconsistent which has so
often puzzled students of moral prob
lens. Dicky is one of ne hest of sons
Always, except when spnding year or
two at Joliet or some oner similar moral
sanitarium, ne has live with his mother
and has provided well for her support.
Mrs. O'Regan's sun riss and sets in the
freckled face of Dicks her son, and no
one could make her btieve that he is not
q splendid young MAJ prosecuted by the
police and other blodhounds.
Also. Dicky is immensely popular with
all the poor people Tho live in the same
block. Naturally, n is a kindly person,
and when flush Of money, as occasion
ally happens Immediately after a scare
head has appeared in the newspapers, he
often helps out antilles who have not
been so fortunate as himself. None of
Dicky's ncighborshas ever asked him for
help in vain, which is one reason why
Dicky never has any trouble in finding
alibi witnesses n case he is suspected
of a Job With the children of the
neighborhood h, is. sad to say. a good
deal of a hero They lyook up TO him as
49,
to make a living without working too
hard for it. aUl who is always ready to
lend them dine or come TO their assist
snce when things go wrong at home.
Dicky O'Reian was not especially sur
prised Therefore, when the other morning.
Just at o'dock. there sounded a loud
pounding on the door of the cottage occu-
pied by hinlelf and his doting mother.
Well sid Dicky, who is naturally
suspicious IS to the identity of early
morning cellers. who's there?"
It's Mag Sullivan" sounded a shrill
and frightened little voice in answer.
Come with mme. Dicky; mas croaking."
Dicky tIrew open the door and let in
the little ten-year-old girl, who stood
shivering outside, with the thermometer
at deg-ees below zero.
''She vas took bad yesterday wbined
the lite girl, ''and nows she rolling
around and hollering loud. | guess she's
a-croahng and I'm afraid"
Dickv put on his overcoat and went out
into tie street with the little girl. She
and her mother lived in a little two-room
shanty at the back of the lot next door.
and The bedroom in which the woman lay
was cold. She was apparently delrious
and was calling aloud for her man" who
had deserted the family year before.
Wait till l get you warm said Dicky
He ran back TO his own place and carried
a bucket Of coal over TO the Sullivan's
shanty. With that and the assistance of
B broken chair back he soon got the little
stove steaming and made the cottage fair
u comfortable
Who's the doctor?'' asked Dicky. who
saw that Mrs. Sullivan was an extremely
sick woman. Little Mag named a physi-
eian who lived more than mile away on
me Of the boulevards. Dick decided that
{ medical skill was to do any good it
must he done quickly. 1t would probably
ae fatal to wait until the family doctor
,oUld arrive. even if he started at once.
'TH go an get DOCTOR Mag" said
Dickv. Il won't be gone Ions"
Don't so. Dfcky," pleaded the little
girl. I'm afraid to stay here with her
alone She might croak on me-"
But Dicky insisted.
IN be back in a minute" he said.
~.
quick
A block away in a second-story fat.
,ver a drug store lived a young doctor
Dicky ran upstairs and rang the bell.
T'he doctor opened the door and seemed
rot at all pleased and a bit frightened
when he recognized his caller as the we'll
Known bank robber.
Mrs. Sullivan is dying" said Dic<y.
4 want you 10 come right away and do
cor her
who's the family doctor?" asked the
physician.
He lives a mile away" answered
Oiclly. naming him. The old woman
night be dead before we could get him
Wei. have they got any money! de-
handed the doctor.
Il don't know" said Dicky. 4 guess
hey've got a little"
We'll. III so over to the house and
ee." saaid the doctor finally. If they
haven't got any money l won't do any
hing
Now. before YOU blame the doctor too
trcngly you should consider that it was
o'clock in the morning and degrees
aught the doctor that collect o ndelivery
vas tho only safe policy for physician
Who had to depend on his practice in that
for living. And finally. he
Mr. O'Regan and he was not
aiken with the idea Of paying carly morn
ng calls in the company of a man Of his
eputation
However. Dickv and the doctor finally
tarted out together and walked around
he corner. and down the alley 10 the
sullivan shanty. As they opened the door
shes worser. Dicky." cried Mas.
She's lot worser."
The doctor. his little night case in his
and. hesitated in the open doorway.
May. have you got any money de- /
handed Dicky = negan, who realized that /
hat was the first question to be settled. +
Nav" said Mag. mot red"
Wen. then. / m not going TO waste any +
ime around here. began the doctor, but /
)icky interrupted him He thrust one F.
Iand into the pocket of his overcoat and .
ulled out large and brightly polished
eVolver.
Here. doctor he said. holding out the /
1ln in his right hand But the doctors
ace had gone white.
All right. Mr.. O'Regan.' he said All /
light. sir. I'll do the best I can for her"
The doctor threw of his overcoat and .