The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-05-01
reating
The
Boys

"Sunrisers," as the title for CLUB
was somewhat misleading, for the
members were not. enthusiasts who rose
with the sun, but men who sought their
homes and bed about the same time
dawn was tinged with red. The mees
ing room was the ''neyer-closed res
taurant where they sat over an lnde-
terminate meal that might have been
a dinner had it not ccme so late, or
a breakfast had it not come just be-
fore bed time.
Good fellows all, they were, and Roy
Cammack, who founded the club, was
proud of the little group. Some OF
them were men from the telegraph Of
fee across the square, two Of them
were from the all night cigar store on
the corner, and each man had legiti-
mate excuse for not going home until
morning.
Roy himself had charge Of the mail
fng-room of one of the big newspaper
up the street, and he was glad enough,
after the hustle of the night, to drop
in at Meeghan's for hot coffee and
cakes. Meeghan, burly, good-natured
Irishman, was quick to perceive the
value of the trade. and he reserved a
table for the Sunrisers in the rear OF
the room, where they could linger over
the coffee cups and exchange the gos-
sip of their little world. Often he
would stop at the table and chat with
the boys, and they noted with concern
that the work seemed to be telling
upon him. II Meeghan should be TAX
en- Ill there was no telling what might
happen to the restaurant, and the Sun
risers united in urging him to take
rest.
y you work night and day." reminded
Cammack. by your own admission,
You lake the night trick, and then you
come back for the noon rush. You don't
get enough sleep. man."
r Il never did need much Sleep" was
the confident reply, but there came the
day when Meeghan's red face was not
wreathed in smiles Of greeting, and the
Sunrisers exchanged ominous glances.
The next night Meeghan was not there
and Tim Doyle, the night cashier, de-
.clared that Meeghan was fat upon his
back
Cammack obtained Meeghan's adj
dress, and as president of the Sunrisers
made an official call; then in an unof-
fetal capacity he repeated the visit and
there came a nightly report as to the
condition of Meeghan.
Hell neevr be able to take the night
trick again." declared Roy. land of all
things his daughter insists that she
will take his place. OF course Nee
CHAN objects, but | can see that in
his heart he is glad. He has trained
her to his ways, and he knows that he
can't trust Tim to run things right. 1t
is a bit hard on the girl, but she's a
plucky little thing, and she's bound to
win out"
The next night Norah Meeghan was
on hand to welcome them, and the Sun.
risers noted with relief that details
were better looked after than even
Meeghan looked after them. The
glasses were cleanly polished. and the
tableware fairly glIstened from whiting
or brickdust. Better still, Norah's
smile-was even more winning than her
fathers, and though she clearly show
ed that she felt the strain of the long
night, there was not an unmarried Sun
riser who did not mentally VOW that
he would win her If he could.
But the days passed, and Norah was
as far from winning as ever. She was
as nimble of tongue as though she had
kissed the Blarney Stone. and she slip.
ped through the conversational snares
with an ease that left the enamored
men gasping with astonishment~ Nee
ghan's first warning to his successor
had been. Treat all the byes alike.
N0rah darlin', thin there can't b. thin
as kicks; for the kicks that don't come
back to the place but they'll eat at the