Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-08-06
N\THE
GOTHfPARFy
By Q. HENRY.

a Wli0OWs a a Juot LIZ tCo
9 a pipe and was putting blue
clouds with great satisfaction. he had
removed his shoes and donned a pair
of blue, faded carpet slippers. With
the morbid thirst of the confirmed
daily news drinker, he awkwardly
folded back the pages Of an evening
paper, eagerly gulping down the
strong, black headlines. to be followed
as a chaser by the milder details of
the smaller type.
In an adjoining DON a woman was
cooking supper. Odors from strong
bacon and boiling coffee contended
against the cut plug fumes from the
vespertine pipe
Outside was one Of those crowded
streets of the east side In which as
twilight falls Satan sets up his re-
cruiting office. A mighty host Of chill
dren danced and ran and played In the
street. Above the playground forever
lowered a great bird. The bird was
known to humorists as the stork. But
the people Of Chrystie street were bet
ter ~ornithologists. They called 1t a
vulture.
A little girl of twelve came up TIM
idly to the man reading and resting by
the window end said:
Papa, won't you play a game Of
checkers with me If you aren't too
tiredT'
The red haired, unshaven, untidy
man sitting shoeless by the window
answered, with a frown:
"Checkersl No; I won't. Can't a
man who works hard all day have a
little rest when he comes home? Why
don't you go out and play with the
other kids on the sidewalk
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 a little of your time to amuse
her when you come home"
"Let her go out and play like the rest
Of 'em If she wants to be amused"
said the red haired, unshaven, untidy
man, ''and don't bother me-"
you're on" said Kid Mullaly. Eff
ty dollars to $25 I take Annie to the
dance. Put up"
The Kids black eyes were swapping
with the fire of the baited 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" pre- slowly produced
their stak
III be -dona-tn-youu
be a-plenty." said a bettor, with antici-
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 vizier, 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 for? You'll neve find one
thatll freeze to you like Liz has. She's
worth a hall full of Annies."
I'm no Annie admirerF' said the
Kid. dropping a cigarette ash on his
polished toe and wiping 1t off on Tony's
shoulder. But l want to teach Liz a
locCOn Ghn fhfnEo I hnInnn fn hnr
She's been Dragging that l daren't
speak to another girl. Liz is all right
In some ways. She's drinking a little
too much lately. And she uses Ian
guage that a lady oughtn't."
you're engaged, amt you?" asked
Burke.
"Sure. Well 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 Chrystie bare
headed to meet you after supper. She
was a quiet sort of a kid then and
couldn't speak without blushing."
"She's a little spitfre sometimes
HOW, Sdlu Lie hIQs 4 Adlc JCuAVuSJ'
That's why I'm going to the dane
with Annie. I'll teach her some sense"
"Well, you better look a little out"
were Burke's last words. eff Liz was
my girl and I was to sneak out to a
dance coupled up with an Annie I'd
want a suit Of chain armor on under
my gladstone rags, all right"
Through the land Of the stork-vul-
ture wandered Liz Her black eyes
searched the passing crowds ferily. but
vaguely. Now and then she hummed
bars Of foolish little songs.
LIS skirt was green silk. Her
waist was a large brown and pink
plaid. well fitting and not without
style. She wore a cluster of rings Of
huge imitation rubies and a locket that
banged her knees at the bottom of q
silver chain. Her shoes were run down
owe twisted high heels and were