The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-06-14
TIE
GllII
BY o. HENRY.

Lcopyrisht, l0a b 8 S. Mcclure Col
Il m RED haired. unshaven, untIdy
|lIN man sat In a rocking chair by
|IIN a window. He had just lighted
ID a pipe and was putting blue
clouds with great satisfaction. He had
removed his shoes and donned iair
Of blue. faded carpet slippers. With
the morbid thirst of the confirmed
daily news drlnker, he awkwardly
folded back the pages Of an evening
paper, eagerly gulplng down the
strong. black headlines. to be followed
as a chaser by the mIlder details of
the smaller type.
In an adJolnlng room woman was
cooking supper. odors from strong
bacon and boiling coffee commended
against the cut plug fumes from the
Tespertine pipe.
Outside was one Of those crowded
streets Of the east side IN which as
twilight falls Satan sets up his re-
crulting 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 humOrlsts as the stork. But
the people Of Chrystie street were bet.
ter ornithologIsts. They called 1t a
vuiture.
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 a 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: I won't Can't 8
man who works hard all day have a
little rest when he comes home? Why
don't you 90 out and play with the
other kids on the sidewalks"
The woman who was cooking came
to the door.
"John." she said, 81 don't like for
Lizzie to play in the street They
learn too much there that amt good
for EN-. She's been in the house all
day long. Ii seems that you might
give up little Of your time to amuse
her when you come home"
LET her 60 out and play like the rest
Of 'em If she wants to be amused"
said the red haired, unshuven, untidy
man, land don't bother me-"
you're on" said Kid Mullaly. eff,
ty dollars to s25 l take Annie to the
dance. Put up"
The Kids black eyes were swapping
with the fire of the baited and chal.
lenged. He drew out his roll and
slapped five tens upon the bar. The
three or -four young fellows who were
thus taken" more slowly produced
their stake.
Sand. oh, what'n be done to you'll
be a-plenty," said bettor, with antici
patory gee.
That's my lookout" said the Kid
sternly. Fiji 'em up all around
Mike"
After the round Burke, the Kids
sponge, sponge holder. pal. mentor and
grand rizler, drew him out to the boot
black. stand at the saloon corner, where
all the official and important matters
Of the Small Hours Social club were
settled.
"Cut that blond out. Kid" was his
advice. @or there'u be trouble. What
do you want to throw down that Cir
of yours for? You'll never find one
that'll freeze to you like Liz has. She's
worth hall full Of Armies"
I'm no Annie admlrerr sold the
Kid. dropping cigarette ash on his
polished toe and wIping it on on Tony's
shoulder. But want to teach Liz q
lesson. She thinks belong to her
She's been Dragging that l dnrcn'
speak to another girl LIZ Is all right
III some ways. She's drinking a little
too much lately. And she uses Ian
guage that lady oughtn't."
You're engaged. amt you?" asked
Burke.
"Sure. Well get married next year
maybe"
al saw you make her drink her first
glass Of beer" said Burke. THAT was
two years ago. when she used to cont
down to the corner of Chrystie bare
headed to meet you after supper. She
was a quiet sort Of kid then and
couldn't spsOk without blushIng."
"She's a little spIthre sometime.
now Soh the Kh. 81 hate Jealousy
That's why I'm going to the dance
with Anr!e I'll teach her some sense.
swell. you better look little out.
were B0rke's last words. If Liz VA.
my girl and was to sneak out to s
dance coupled 40 with an Annie II
want Elht Of chain armor on undel
my gINtkone paSs, all right"
Through the land of the stock.vui
turc wandered Liz. Her black eSe!
searched. the passing crowds 6erily. bp
vaguely. Now and then she hummet
bars Of foolish little songs.
LIS skirt was green silk. Hel
waist was a large brown and pint
plaid, well fitting aDd not wlthou
style. She wore cluster Of rings o.
huge imitation rubies and locIlet tina
banged her knees at the bottom OF {
silver chain. Her shoes were run dow
over twisted high heels and weru