The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03

his watch with noisy click. 1T wont
do" he said-"it won't do. We've got
to get this paper out earlier or get OUT
ourselves. Did any of you see Kerri-
ganY'
IT saw what was left of Beauty under
a blanket on the way to the ambulance,
The Cub volunteered. He was all covered
up Fielding was with him, though;
took him to the hospital, I guess, while
I was chasing the old woman that thought
her kids were in the building. That wide
eyed boy that reports fires and conven-
lions for the Tribune told me that was
what took Beauty into the house-to
tell the fremen where the kids We're
That's Just like Kerrigan," the Copy
Reader Interrupted with every respect
to man In the hospital Beauty GER
tainly had a high regard for the lime
light He ought to have been an actor"
The City Editor put his feet on the
desk and, clasping his hands behind his
head looked up at the cobwebbed ceiling.
st liked Kerrigan," he said. Il know
what you mean, but he'd been called
Greek god so long and so often that he
began to believe he was little different
ly made from the rest of u.s. Whatever
happens to him, 1t happened while he
was trying to save a couple of kids he
never saw You can't take that away
from him.
st tell you, boys interrupted the
Sporting Editor, you're all in wrong. He
wasn't stuck on himself, but he loved
health and condition just as any of you
love piece of mince pie. He'd played
for four years on that western college ball
team of his and the football team, too,
and he'd kept himself hard ever since.
He didn't smoke and he didn't drink.
but that didn't make him any less of a
man. He was no more stuck on his Greek
l.. IL. t..,4 I. 4
believe a mans body is a nice bit of
machinery to take care Of not a recep-
tacle for every violet-colored liquor that
comes from Paris, France / tell you
! know the boy
"All right" said the Copy Reader, "but
not for mine. His friend Fielding, that
thinks so much of him is worth two OF
Beauty and can write better stuff with
his left hand. I know, because l read
all they write"
The city editor continued to look up
at the ceiling. "Kerrigan was a little
up in the air sometimes" he said; she
was a bad reporter and Fielding is a
good man--that Is, to get facts. Ker-
rigan had too much imagination-he's
fiction writer I'll bet you now that
Bert Fielding will be a reporter when
Kerrigan Is among the best SIX SELL
ers-that is, if he lives"
Look outw said the cub; heres
Fielding now"
young man came into the office,
walked over to desk and picked up
some letters and then Joined the four
men.
"How's 'Beauty'?" asked the city ed
itor.
Fielding sat on a desk and shook his
head. "Oh, I don't know-nobody
knows anything-yet. They wouldn't
let me see him but l hear he's all
smashed up and burned, too, terribly.
We've got to wait-that's ALL" Field
ing clasped his hands together and
pressed them between his knees. Then
he looked slowly about him at each
of the four men in turn. Il tell you
it's hell to see these young doctors
at the hospital standing around there
smiling and so cool in their damned
white suits and not able to do any
thing. They're all right, | guess, but
the worst of it is l can't do any
thing"
Il suppose suppose they'll make
him comfortable" the cub suggested
Fielding nodded. That's all right
Kerry has a little money of his own
Isn't there some one We ought to
send for?" asked the city eduitor. y
Fielding brushed his sleeve sharply
across his eyes. mot that / know Of,
he said. I've lived with him for five
years and he never mentioned any rela-
tives to me- He's alone, just like l am
The City Editor got up and laid his hand
on Fielding's shoulder TRY to take it
easy, old man., he said. 1T may all
come out right Better go now and have
a little dinner with us"
Fielding put out his hand and turned
away his head. "rhank you, but not
now. ! said I'd call up the hospital lit
tie later They seemed to think they
might know something then"
The four men gathered about him and
each in his own way tried to show
his sympathy. Then they SAID good night
and left him sitting alone in the deserted
room.
It was late one evening the following
June when Fielding led a muffled figure
through the long corridors OF the nos
pital to the cab waiting on the hot, de-
serted street. Broken and twisted and
Scared Kerrigan, even with the help OF
u cane and his friends arm, shunled