The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28

head OF the procession-which had gone up
Broadway to Fourteenth street, across ia
the Bowery, and down between the Bowery
trees to Chambers street again-began "a
run into its own tail.
There were brave speeches after that
from the City Hall sters. When the ceIe-
bration had reached this slow part. with
nothing to liven IL that was worth while
except the singing of the Croton ode by a
great chorus In tho park, Tommie Curry
took Martyrs hand and they worked their
way between the legs Of the crowd around
TO a stand that stood that day where the
baseball crowde gather now TO watch the
newspaper bullstin boards.
At his point. or opposite the present
Brooklyn Bridge entrance. the stone cop
ing topped by a high iron fence which
trimmed City Hall Park had a small indent
or gore that interrupted its otherwise perfect
regularity OF line. Perhaps a great tree
stood there once. n the fence gracefully
had given way to the tree and had beer
built around il. At any rate here was the
secluded gore where small boys bid and
smoked Half Spanishes."
Half Spanishes cost one cent apiece. and
Tommie Curry's cent bought ON from the
man who kept the stand. The boys Of that
time would accept no Half Spanish unless il
was covered with grayish spots, which
we're the earmark OF purity. Into the
gore crept Marty and Tommie and lit up.
Marty was a very little boy then. il must
be remembered. and he has only a hazy
notion Of what happened Immediately after
the first few whifs.
But suddenly life grew gray to little
Marty Reese. He was resting his head on
Tommie and Tommie was resting against
Marty. The half smoked Half Spanishes
had been thrown away in disgust. Mart
was in no mood now to receive good advice.
and neither was Tommie Curry.
But there In front Of them was a beautiful
lady wearing soft wide skirts and a funny
little bonnet and she held the hand Of a
pretty little girl. The woman's severe
lecture on the evils Of tobacco was hard
enough to bear. but the steady gaze OF
disapprovel in the calm eyes Of the pretty
little girl was even more trying.
And il you smoke that way. little boys"
the oman's lecture was concluding. you'll
never grow to be big, strong -
Tommie Curry stood up u~nsteadily and
walked toward these hateful disturbers
who nagged and ragged just when a Teller
felt terrible sick to his stummick. Tommie
gathered himself together for n grand
singing rebuse.
-Oh. go to hell" lisped Tommie Curry.
just to get ever with somebody for all
his misery OF mind and body Marty Reese
punched Tommis Curry then. There was a
fight that was worthy Of 80 great a day
and each felt tho better for it when it was
over. But when they started back home
they took separate routes, Marty up Laurens
street and Tommie some other way. Never
would Marty speak 10 Tommie again. he
told Dad Rice and the other boys Of the
% Engine gang. But the threat evidently
was not followed out to the bitter end. be-
cause it was Marty Reese. one black night
years after. who carried Tommie Curry
across a Virginia cornfield. Tommie in a
Uniform that was orumpled and muddy,
his heaa and arms dangling limp over
Martyrs shoulders and a bullet through
his heart.