Morris tribune., 1909-11-26


guilty, feeling the desire to blow the
foam off a crock of suds, but when he
felt in his pocket he found himself
discharged for lack Of evidence. Some
body had disturbed his change during
the commotion. So we sat, dry, upon
the stools, listening to the dagoes id-
ding on deck. If anything, Tobin was
lower in spirits and less congenial
with his misfortunes than when we
started.
On seat against the railing was a
young woman dressed suitable for red
unsmoked meerschaum. In passing
by Tobin kicks her foot without in
tentions, and, being polite to ladies'
when in drink, he tries to give his hat
a twist while apologizing. But he
knocks it off, and the wind carries it
overheard.
Tobin came back and sat down, and
l began to look out for him, for the
mans adversities were becoming fire.
quent. He was apt, when pushed SO
close by hard luck, to kick the best
dressed man he could see and try to
take command Of the boat.
Presently Tobin grabs my arm and
says, excited:
"Jawn," says he, "do ye know what
we're doing? We're taking a voyage
upon the water"
There, now," says I; "subdue yer
self The boat II land in ten minutes
more
"Look," says he, "at the light lady
upon the bench. And have ye forgot
ten the niger man that burned me
ear? And isn't the money l had gone
"a dollar sixty-five it was?"
I thought he was no more than sum-
ming up his catastrophes so as to get
violent with good excuse. as men will
do. and I tried to make him under
stand such things are trifes.
Listen" says Tobin. 'sYe've no ear
for the gift of prophecy or the mira
cles of the inspired. What did the
palmist lady tell ye out of me hand?
'Tis coming true before your eyes.
Look OUT says she, for a dark man
and a light woman; they'll bring ye
trouble Have ye forgot the niger
man, though he got some of it back
from me fist? Can ye show me a
lighter woman than the blond lady
that was the cause Of me hat falling
in the water? And where's the dollar
sixty-five I had in me vest when we
left the shooting gallery?"
The way Tobin put it it did seem to
corroborate the art of prediction,
though it looked to me that these acci-
dents could happen to any one at Co.
ney without the implication Of palm
istry.
Tobin got up and walked around on
deck, looking close at the passengers
out Of his little red eyes. I asked him
the Interpretation Of his movements.
Ye never know what Tobin has in his
mind until he begins to carry it out.
"Ye should know" says he, 'T'm
working out the salvation promised by
the lines in me palm. I'm looking for
the crooked nose man that's to bring
the good luck. 'Tis all that will save
us. Jawn, Gid ye ever see straighter
nosed gang of hellions in the days of
your life?''
twas the $50 boat, and we landed
and walked uptown through Twenty
second street, Tobin being without his
hat.
On a street corner, standing under
gaslight and looking over the elevated
road at the moon, was a man. A long
man he was, dressed decent, with a
cigar between his teeth, and saw that
bis nose made two twists from bridge
to end, like the wriggle Of snake.
Tobin saw it at the same time, and /
heard him breathe hard like a horse
when you take the saddle off, He
went straight up to the man, and l
went with him.
"Good night to ye," Tobin says to the
man. The man takes out his cigar
md passes the compliments sociable.
''Would ye hand us your name," asks
robin, ''and let us look at the size Of |
t? It may be our duty to become ac-
Iuainted with ye."
"My name,'s says the man, polite, sis /
Recommendations G. Fried
"'Tis the right length" says Tobin. |
DO you spell it with an 90 anywhere |
sown the stretch Of it?'
81 do not.' says the man.
"Can ye spell it with an 'o'?" in
luires Tobin. turning anxious.
s'If your conscience says the man
with the nose, 'is indisposed toward
oreign idioms ye might. to please your
self, smuggle the letter into the penul- !
innate syllable"
"'Tis WELL" says Tobin. "Ye're in |
he nreSence of IaWn Malone and Dam