Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-02
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nice way he had, and it seemed to her
he was a little bit like Mag--the kind
as kept the safety valve jammed un-
til he went Off with screech.
Check, Maggie" he said when he
had finished.
There's none" she answered. He
started to speak and at that mo-
ment Number Ten looked at him. lie
hesitated, leaned little forward and
half closed his eyes and. looking at
Maggie, said:
Come, my girl, give me the check"
His tone was low and concentrated,
but not more concentrated than Mag
gie's glance.
"The lunch was excellent, Maggie
he said, after a moments pause. You
must take tip" seeming to abandon
his purpose of getting a check from
her, and then he unostentatiously
pushed toward her a five case note.
II didn't know s Mag could be
whittier, but 1 grabbed the water
sprinkler wit'out sensin' ut; Mag was
dead" Murphy said in telling Of Il.
You can pay me-" she said as he
was trying to meet the situation grace
fully.
THAT is BETTER" he said, smiling.
me sisters sick-not me real sis t
ter. but uts just the same. She's all
alone from day to day" The Swell
was listening sympathetically. or may
be only politely. There's nut'n to
take her mind frum herself. If you'll
come N see her"-she paused and
looked him in the face.
'T will go-with pleasure" he said,
after moment. Tonight at eight"
and Ten gave him the number.
| During the remainder of the day
Murphy and she had little or nothing
to say to each other, but when they
had got the hen feather boas from
their lockers and had turned home
ward, Number Ten said:-
Hes comin.''
yer a fool" answered Murphy, with
poignant hurt in her heart for Num-
ber Ten.
An hour later Mag brushed out the
and fluttering upon the pillow with
which she was propped.
"The way you're putin togs on tn
kid. seems as If you were putin greens
around motto, Mag Murphy mur-
INJURED.
IT am," the woman answered. "A
motto as tells I'm respectable
AS Mag moved about the place her
eyes grew darker as her pallor became
more and more accentuated. Murphy
was in distress.
''Ut's eight o'clock, Mag, m I'm
goin' out"
"Mebbe not" Number Ten returned,
| in a tone which admitted of no argu-
ment. I'm not ashamed of me friends
and I need 'em all,'' and at that mo-
ment some one came to the door. It
was Murphy, who nearly died upon the
spot. Mag was as steady as she was
white. She opened the door, and the
swell stood there smiling m lookin'
rich m good natured all over"
Good evening"" he said, and at that
moment Number Ten stepped aside
ever so little, and the sick girl was i'll
the direct line of his vision. Murphy
alone saw all. First the Indifferent
glance of the sick girl. then the strange
somnambulistic movement of the man.
while Mag stood near the open door
looking only at him.
"Helenv he called. and the young
girl stood UP with a spasmodic effort,
en- then-then clinched." said MUIR
ply.
MY Gawd! my girl. ye don't know
what ye've done fur me-" tn swell says,
flpldin' on to tn kid, who'd gone off:
m he lays tn kid down m grabbed
Mag's hands; m then he gets busy wit
tn kid again, bringing her to n
talking 'lammie' to her all tn while.
about how as their anguish was over,
| m ALL m when tn kid opens her eyes
she holds out her arms to Mag m
says: oh. Maggie! 'Ow did ye know
m at that 1 giggled to suppress me
awful feelin's. But Maggie-she never
stirred.
Take her away" she said, down in
her throat again. but they was too ex-
cited to know she was on tn queer
m then he runs out m got cab m
Mag began to put tn kids things onto
her-th' kid revivin' wonderful fast.
Mag's hand was as steady as sin. only
she wasn't speakin'. But every minute
tn kid would reach up m pat Mag's
hand; N she says. lovin' like: 'Yell
come live wit me, Maggie?-Always-
Ut's goin' to be all right now-always,'
whatever she meant. NJ then Mag
laughed, m her laugh had me worried.
but tn girl didn't notice. m then the
cab came
"'You'll hear frum me soon. Maggie
said the Swell. with the ring Of hun
dred dollar bill in his tones.-'n Mag
didn't speak. but held the door open. m
then they went.
when they'd gone we stood loolin'.
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