Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-07-24
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By o. HENRY.

RED haired, unshaveu, untdy
n man sat In rocking chair by
IN II window. lie had just lighted
II pipe aud was putting blue
clouds with great satisfaction lie had
removed his shoes and donued Il pair
OF blue. faded carpet slippers. With
the morbid thirst of the confirmed
daily news drinker he awkwnrdly
folded back the pages OF an evening
paper, eagerly gulpng down the
strong. black headlines. to he followed
as chaser by the milder details of
the smaller type.
In an adjoining room woman was
cooking supper, Odcrs from strong
bacon and boiling coffee cCulended
against the cut plug fumes from the
vespertine pipe.
Outside was one of those crowded
streets of the east side In which MS
twilight falls Satan sets up his re.
cruiting office, A mighty host OF chill.
dren danced and ran aud played In the
street. Above the playground forever
lowered Il great bird The bird was
known TO humorlsts as the stork But
the people Of Chrystie street were bet
ter ornithologsts, They called 1t Il
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 II game of
checkers with me If you aren't too
tired?"
The red haired. unshaven. untidy
man sitting shoeess by the window
answered. with frown:
Checkers! No; | won't. Can't n
man who works hard all day hive a
little rest when he comes homer Why
don't you go out and play with the
other kids on the sidewalkT'
The woman who was cooking came
to the door.
"John." she said. II don't like for
Lizzie to play In the street. They
learn too much there that amt good
for 'em. She's been In the house all
day long 1t seems that you might
give up II little of your time to nmuse
her when you come home"
LET her go out and play like the rest
Of 'em II she wants to be amused"
said the red haired, unshaven untidy
man. land don't bother me-"
you're on" said Kid Mullaly. Eff
ty dollars to 500 take Annie to the
dance. Put up"
The Kids black eyes were Swapping
with the fire of the bnlted 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. +..
"And. oh. whatll be done to you'll
be a-plenty." said a bettor. with nnticl.
patory glee.
"That's my lookout" said the Kid
sternly. Fill 'em up all around,
Mike"
After the round Burke, the Kids
sponge. sponge holder, pal, mentor and
grand vlzier. 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'll be trouble. What
do you want to throw down that girl
! of yours forl You'll never find one
that'll freeze TO you like Liz has. She's
worth hall full of Annies."
"I'm no Annie admirerr' said the
Kid. dropping cigarette ash on his
polished toe and wiping It off on Tony's
shoulder. But ! want to teach Liz a
lesson. She thinks | belong to her.
She's been Dragging that darent
speak to another girl Liz Is all right
In some ways. She's drinking little
too much lately And she uses Ian
guage that n lady oughtnt."
you're engaged, amt your" asked
Burke.
"Sure Wen get married next year,
maybe ...
81 saw you make her drink her first
glass Of beer" said Burke. That was
two years ago. when she used to come
down to the corner of Chrystle bare
headed to meet you after supper She
was n quiet sort of kid then and
couldn't speak without blushing"
"She's little spitfire sometimes
now" said the, Kid Il hate Jealousy
That's why I'm going to the dance
with Annie III teach her some sense"
"Well. you better look Il little out"
were Burke's last words IF Liz was
my girl and was to sneak out to n
dance coupled up with an Annie Ia
want q suit Of chain armor Oh under
my gladstone rags, all right"
Through the land Of the stork-vul
ture wandered Liz. Her black eyes
searched the passing crowds ferily. bul
vaguely Now.,and then she hummed
bars Of foolish little songs y
LIS skirt was green silk HeI
waist was large brown and pink
plaid. well fitting and not without
style She wore n cluster Of rings of
huge imitation rubes and locket that
banged her knees at the bottom of II
silver chain. FIer shoes were run down
over twisted high heels and were
strangers to polish Her hat would
scarcely have passed into a -four bar
rel
The family entrance Of the Blue
Jay cafe received her.
whisky. Tommy" she said as her
sisters farther uptown murmur
champagne, James"
"Sure, Miss Lizzie! What'll the
chaser be?"
'SeltZer And, say, Tommy has the
II