The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-10
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What girls, art student girls. would
feed to their pigecns-so that ne
might initiate and thus win the good
will of the flock-had become sudden
ly a tantalizing mystery to Burrlck.
He stopped his sketching and meditat-
ing, gazed out OF the window, over the
four tin roofs, with their square Or
chard of chimney pots, to the opposite
window, in which sat the several girls
his ladies of the pigeons. A fortul-
tous architectural blessing had pro-
vided that the buildings in which
Burrick and the girls had their sepa-
rate studios were four stories high,
while the intervening structures had
ignobly and fortunately but three
floors to their credit.
Mamie untwisted herself from the
models chair when Burrick's crayon
paused. Mamie did not merit
models throne-her nose was out OF
kilter, her hair was stringy, she had
small eyes and large freckles. Bur
rick's experience with her had proved
that her disposition was fairly good,
however, and he could not understand
how she had ever come to assault the
policeman on her beat with a heavy
skillet.
The assault on the officer had merit
ed for Mamie newspaper notoriety.
Her picture had to be published and
Burrick was detailed to make the
sketch. Mamie had found posing for
him such a pleasure during the five
minutes of his stay in the kitchen that
she had volunteered to appear at his
studio every day, if he wished. She
made a convenient model, and did not
insist on the regular rates. She would,
too, wash Burrick's stems On the
morning after his chums visited him.
She had deal of information, and
had always been eager to answer
questions put by the youth. She
might know the diet of pigeons.
He put the mystery to her.
Mamie, what do you think those
girls feed their pigeons?" He waved
his crayon toward the open windows.
"Cake and stuff" answered the
girl, in her succinct fashion. Then,
with raucous note in her voice, she
commented on the art girls. They
look like dead ones to me, sure. Do
youse know them?"
mo such luck"
"Youse couldn't get acquainted wild
them as easy as wild nae, eh, Kid?'
the girl asked quantity.
Every one'isn't as sociable as you,
Mamie" Burrick put in discreetly.
1t wouldn't do for her to develop
contrary strain which might lead to
expensive mutiny. Lets get back to
our picture"
He sketched intently and in silence
for some minutes. White pigeons
flirting by the window aroused him
again to the interests over the roofs.
Say, Mamie, do you think we could
grab one or those DlrQS!
"Oh, gee, and kill 'em; that would
be great! Wouldn't them girls be
fierce, thought" Mamie was enthused
with joy that was irexplicable to in
necent Burrick.
In an instant she was off the models
chair, had gone to the cupboard and
gathered a handful Of doughnut
crumbs. She scampered out Of the
window suddenly, and when Burrick
looked she was crouching behind
brick chimney. A snare of doughnut
remnants was alluring a rash pigeon
beneath the girls hand. There was a
furry of wings, desperate tanning OF
the air and Mamie scrambled into
the room again, holding beautiful
pigeon in her hard little hands. She
swung the bird by one leg. Shall |
wiring it's neck?" she asked calmly.
Lord! Stop-don't-you're hurt
ing it."
"Why not? 1t belongs to them girls
there" replied Mamie, superiority,
making face across the canyon which
intervened. She had that infallible
logic which only comes to savage little
girls.
Let me have it," cried Burrick.
making a sudden grab. He held the
trembling thing so tenderly that its
f1uttering ceased He caressed the
bird, and then slipped it into the huge
pocket of his jacket, while he fumbled
among his papers and uncovered
calling card rather. fresh. On it ne
scrawled, How dye do!"
"Give me a piece of your hair rib
bon, Mamie" he pleaded. The girl
obeyed automatically.
Having acquired the ribbon, Bur-
rick mercilessly slashed off its clean
est edge, and by that thread attached
tho card to the birds pink leg. Nan
ME, in rage, nearly fell out of the
window as she made dash for the
escaping homer. She stamped her
foot and said a naughty word, very
naughty word for seventeen-year-
old little girl to say in the presence Of