Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-09

1t was said of him along the street OF.
which he lived that Desmond FitZger-
aid was as lazy as he was handsome.
While his neiglbors rose early and
went to work Desmond idled about i'm
the city parks. sitting on the benches
and reading papers that briSker occu-
pants had discarded. If this diversion
failed lie would stroll down Broadway.
watching. with an eye keen for every
detail of humor. the life that went on
around him. Occasionally he procured
job and then gave it up as soop rs
he had acquired money enough to carry
him through the next three weeks.
And as his wants were small Il few dol
lars lasted Il long time. There was 10
one dependent on him. and that was
the excuse lie made To himself for be
ing as shiftiesS young fellow as could
be found in / summers day.
When the weather was warm lie
would loiter along the streets that hor-
dered the wafer front. where the wind
swept in fresh and cool and full of q
tang of the sea. Here and there he
met acquaintances loading drayS ana
hauling crates. perchinG IN some con-
venicht nook. Desmond would amuse
himself for hours with comments on
| the season and the ACCESSIBILITY OF
| Sinking labor whenever it was posi-
| bile. IT was on one OF these occasions
| that he nearcd Il dump where men Oh
wagons and scoTS were actively dis
posing of the city's rubbish There he,
| espied Thomas Mact.enough shovelin:
away for dear life and the lives of 9th
| crs. for Thomas had wife and six
children.
AS Thomas paused TO wipe the sweat
rom his brow Desmond stroiled up.
| "IIow are you. Thomas. this fine
lay" he asked socially. That must
he hot work you're doing. Who'd
think there was that much ashes and
| old tin cans in New York.
] Thomas only answer was Il grunt.
He had no time for such aimless con
| versation as Desmond's But the lat
ter. Tot whit discohcerted. sat on u
barrel near by and watched the work
ers and beyond them the warehouses
and wharfs and the forest OF masts
and sniokcstacks outlined against the
radiant blue of the sky. Ferryboats
passed in the distance. Tugs went
busily TO and fro and rocked the Sriny
coal barges with their swell. Present
ly hundred bells and whistles pro
claimed that it was noon. ana Thomas
dropped his shovel with q great breath
and stretched himself.
why do you stop for such an in
significant thing as a midday meal:'
queried Desmond aniusedly. and then
! the words died on his lips at the sigh
of the girl who was bringing Thomas
dinner pail. She wore Il pretty blue
calico gown which gave Il glimpse OF
her white throat Her eyes We're gray
| and frank as u childs. Brown hail
curled softly around her forehead
Here's your dinner. uncle she said
II brought you some sandwiches thai
, made myself ana Il bottle Of icet
tea that will do Your heart good
You're a.iewel. Kitty" said Thomas
a jewel worth having"
So Desmond thought as he regarded
her.
"Will you not introduce me:' Ii,
irged, pluc,iing at Thomas sleeve.
Kitty. my dear" said Thomas. 'Ie
ne make you acquainted with Nh
Desmond Fitzgerald. gentleman o
eisure'
An adorable dimplc showed in Kit
| Tvs check
Uncle Thomas must always hay
: mis- fun" she smiled. ..Have you bee
working. here long?" nodding towar
sue aumD.