Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-22

cause there was nOthin' dom for me
at home. For a long time Just sat on
dOorsteps and looked ut the lights and
the people goin' by. And then the Kid
came along one evenin' and sized me
up, and / was mashed on the spot for
fair. The first drink he made me take
/ cried all night at home and got a
lickin' for maxim a noise. And now
say, Tommy, you ever see this Annie
KarlsOn? II il wasn't for peroxide the
chloroform limit would have put her
out long ago. On. I'm lookin' for m.
You tell the Kid II he comes in. Me?
I'll cut his heart out. Another whisky,
Tommy"
A little unsteadily. but with watch
full and brilliant eyes. Liz walked up
the avenue toward the Small Hours
Social club.
At o'clock the president, Kid Null
laly, paced upon the floor with a lady
on his arm. AS the Lorelei's was her
hair golden. Her yes" was softened
to a yah" but it's quality OF assent
was patent TO the most Milesian ears.
She stepped upon her own train and
blushed. and-she smiled into the eyes
OF Kid Mullaly.
And then as the two stood in the
middle OF the waxed floor the thing
happened TO prevent which many
lamps are burning nightly in many
studies and Libraries.
Out from the circle OF spectators I'm
the hall leaped Fate In a green silk
skirt under the nom de guerre OF Liz.
Her eyes were hard and blacker than
jet. She did not scream or waver.
Most unwomanly she cried out one
oath. the Kids own favorite oath and
I'm his own deep voice. and then while
the Small Hours Social club went fran
tically 20 pieces she made good her
boast 10 Tommy. the waiter-made
good as far as the length OF her knife
blade and the strength Of her arm per
mitted
LIZ ran out and down the street
swift and true as woodcock flying
through a grove OF saplinCs at dusk.
And then followed the big city's big
gest shame, handed down from a long
ago century OF the basest barbarity-
the hue and cry. Nowhere but IN the
big cities does Il survive, and here
most OF all. where the ultimate perfec-
ton OF culture. citizenship and alleged
superiority Joins bawling IN the chase.
They pursued. a shrieking mob 81
fathers. mothers. lovers and maidens.
bowling. yelling, calling. whlstling.
crying for blood.
Knowing her way and hungry for
her surcease. she darted down the IA
miliar ways until at last her feet
struck the duh solidity OF the rotting
pier. And then II was but few more
painting steps. and good mother East
river took Liz 20 her bosom. soothed
her muddy. but quickly. and settled In
1--WE minutes the problem that keeps
lights burning O. nights in thousand OF
pastorates and colleges.
It's mighty funny what kind OF
dreams one has sometimes. Poets call
them visions. but q vision is only a
dream In blank verse. / dreamed the
rest OF this story.
thought / was IN the next world
and there was a great crowd OF us out
side the courtroom where the judg-
ments were going on. And every now
and then a very beautiful and impos-
lag court officer angel would come out
side the door and call another case In
a loud voice.
While was considering my own
worldly sins and wondering whether
there would be any use OF my trying
to prove an alibi by claiming that 1
lived IN New Jersey the bailiff angel
came to the door and sang out, case
No. 99, So. 743T
Up stepped a plain clothes man
there were lots OF 'em there, dressed
exactly like preachers and hustling us
spirits around just as cops do on earth
and by the arm he dragged-whom.
do you think2 Why. Liz!
The court officer took her inside and
closed the door. 1 went up to Mr.. Fly
Cop and inquired about the case
"a very sad one" says he, laying the
points OF his manicured fingers to-
gether-"an utterly incorrigible girl
am special terrestrial officer, the Rev
Jones. The case was assigned to me.
The girl murdered her hance and com
mitted suicide She had no defense.
My report TO the court relates the facts
In detail. all OF which are substanti-
ated by reliable witnesses. The wages
OF sin is death. Praise the Lordw
The court officer opened the door
and stepped out
Poor girlr' said Special Terrestrial
] Officer the Rev. Jones. with a tear in
his eye. cit was one OF the saddest
cases that l ever met with. OF course
she vas
Discharged" said the court officer.
"COme here, Jonesy. First thing you
know you'll be switched to the potpie
squad. How would you like to be on
the missionary force In the south sea
islands-hey7 Now. you quit making
these false arrests OF you'n be trans
ferred-seel The guilty party you've
got TO look for In this case is a red
haired. unshaven, untidy man. sitting
by the window reading I'm his stocking
feet while his children play in the
streets. Get a move on your
Now. wasn't that a silly dream7
-O