Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-26


peal to her? Wouldn't a red dress
with black spots be the most suitable
thing to wear when they should go to
see that classic drama. "The Withered
Wedding Wreath?
He even condescended to discuss
heavenly visitants with Patrick Bren-
nan, and to hint at the nature of his
demands. The idea of vicarious gen.
erosity was new to Patrick, but he
adopted 1t with energy and pinned
new list to the mantelpiece. 1t puzzled
his always puzzled parents. for 1t COM
manded a set of dolls dishes and a
silver thimble. extra small size.
Tn the gray dawn of Christmas morn
ing Mike was astir. and there upon the
mantelpece he found. not the red and
black-spotted gown, not the shawl, not
the hat. but a very shield and buckler
of an Ascot tie. impervious to pin or
tenpennv nail. and of a most becom-
ing yellow. For some space he was
dumfounded. absolutely speechless with
sucker and won out" was his vengeful
thought Hes got me good money.
an I've got his dirty truck l amt
goin' to stand for no such deal" His
adherence of the yellow Ascot dis
tressed his gentle mother. for the satin
atrocity represented to her many an
act of self-denial, many an hour OF
work or even of hunger. He refused to
touch it; to allow II to touch him; to
see any beauty In its shiny impassiVe-
ness or to agree that IT was. after all.
a satisfactory proof of the existence of
the old gentleman. Upon the whole
that Christmas morning could not be
said to have brought peace and good
will to the modest home of the Dwyers.
Late In the afternoon Michael came
upon Patrick Brennan seated In his ex-
press wagon, fiourishing his cap pistol
and being drawn through the crowds OF
Henry street by young lady who wore
on the thumb of her uncovered right
hand a silver thlmble-extra small size.
Almost instantly the two Hibernian
gentlemen appeared to be at swords
points. And Miss Gonorowsky, waving
the ceremony of formal introduction
was all voluble concern.
TITS something fierce" Eva sympaC
thIzed. 'In all my world ! amt heard
how 1t is fierce. He takes bunches OF
money from off you and don't gives
you nothings only neckties that you
don't needs"
"That's what Re done" said Mike
grimly "He played me for sucker
"IInd NIT Patrick" Eva continued,
"he makes all things what is polite. He
gives him cap pistols, und wagons, und
doIl's dishes und Misunderstanding
gives me the dishes Und thimbles.
From long, man makes like that
with my papa. He takes money una
he don't send goods. and my papa he
goes where judges and lawyers sets
and they arrests the man, and they
makes him he shall give back the
money on my papa. Do you know
where them judges und lawyers sits?"
Michael pondered on the suggestion.
He was familiar with the workings or
the law, and had assisted at evictions,
man hunts raids and riots, and had
often been present at the Essex Mar
ket police court when his own dis" "ep-
utable father stood before TIE magfs-
trate. On the following morning, there
fore, he approached the courthouse
and demanded audience with the judge,
who had always taken a kindly inter-
est In his small fortunes. And Mr..
Dwyer. senior, never knew that his
commitments were somewhat longer
than his offenses demanded, simply be-
cause the Judge was interested in the
struggle which a small, honest-eyed
boy was making. and had endeavored
to remove-as effectually as might be
the stumbling blocks or the stum-
bling parent which stood in his way.
MichaeIs charge was explicit:
"A swell guy wild white whiskers
done me dirt" he announced.
go on" said the judge. as the cle~k
of the court prepared to record the
testimony. and some ladies in search of
local color got out their note books
go on. what did he do to your"
HE took an order for goods, he took
me coin, and he delivered this here
necktie."