Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-06-22

4 >NAA''AAs'
man sat in a rocking chair by
h window. He had just lighted
~ pipe and was putting blue
clouds with great satisfaction. He had
removed his shoes and donned n pair
of blue, faded carpet slippers. With
the morbid thirst of the confirmed
daily news drinker, he awkwardly
folded back the pages Of an evening
paper, eagerly gulping down the
strong, black headlines, to be followed
as a chaser by the milder details of
the smaller type
In an adjoining room woman was
cooking supper. Odors from strong
bacon and boiling coffee contended
against the cut plug fumes from the
vespertine pipe.
Outside was one Of those crowded
streets of the east side In which as
twilight falls Satan sets up his re-
cruiting Office. A mighty host of chill
dren danced and ran and played in the
street. Above the playground forever
lowered great bird. The bird was
known to humorists as the stork. But
the people of Chrystie street were bet.
ter ornithologists. They called it q
vulture.
A little girl Of twelve came up tim.
idly to the man reading and resting by
the window and said:
Papa, won't you play game OF
checkers with me If you aren't toe
tired?'
The red haired. unshaven. untidy
man sitting shoeless by the window
answered, with frown:
Checkers! No; l won't. Can't {
man who works hard all day have q
little rest when he comes home? Why
don't you go out and play with the
other kids on the sidewalk"
The woman who was cooking came
to the door.
"John," she said, 81 don't like fol
Lizzie to play In the street. The.
learn too much there that amt goo6
for 'em. She's been in the house al
day long. 1t seems that you nigh
give up little of your time to anus,
her when you come home"
'Let her go out and play like the res
of 'em If she wants to be amused,
said the red haired, unshaven, untid.
man. land don't bother me-"
you're on" said Kid Mullaly. eff
ty dollars to $25 take Annie to tn
dance. Put up"
The Kids black eyes were snappin,
with the fire of the baited and chal
lenged. He drew out his roll" ant
slapped five tens upon the bar. TIL
three or four young fellows who wer
thus taken" more slowly produces
their stake.
"And, oh, what'll be done to you'll
be a-plenty," said bettor, with antic
patory glee.
'That's my lookout" said the XII
sternly. Fill 'em up all around
Mike"
After the round Burke, the Kid
sponge. sponge holder. pal, mentor an
grand viZier, drew him out to the boo
black stand at the saloon corner, wher
all the official and important matter
of the Small Hours Social club wer
settled
"Cut that blond out, Kid" was hi
advice. ''or there'll be trouble. VIVA
do you want to throw down that gil
Of yours for? You'll never find on
that'll freeze to you like Liz has. She
worth hall full Of Armies"
Pm no Annie admirer!' said til
Kid. dropping a cigarette ash on hi
polished toe and wiping it off on Tony
shoulder. But want to teach Liz
lesson. She thinks belong to he
She's been Dragging that l daren
speak to another girl. Liz is all right
in some ways. She's drinking littl
too much lately. And she uses lar
guage that lady oughtn't."
You're engaged, amt your" aske
Burke
"Sure. Well get married next yea
maybe"
81 saw you make her drink her frs
glass Of beer" said Burke. THAT wa
two years ago. when she used to com
down to the corner of Chrystie bar
headed to meet you after supper. Sh
was quiet sort Of kid then an
couldn't speak without blushing."