Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-05-28
BY o. HENRY.


withdrew from the Stove.
pipe gang SO much FOR the power OF
1 collecn's biauderin' tongue and stub.
born true heartedness. II you are a
nan who read this, may such an In
fuence be sent you before ? o'clock
tomorrow, IL you are a woman, may
-FOUR Pomeranlan greet you this morn
ng with cold hosea sign OF dog
,eaIth and your happiness,
The stovcpipe gang borrowed its
name from subdlstrict OF the city
called the Stovcplpe, which Is mar
row and natural extension of the famil-
mr district known AZ iieli's Kitchen.
fhe Stoveplpe strip OF town runs along
Eleventh and Twelfth avenues on the
river and bends hard and sooty ell
bow around ll.tle, lost. homeless De
Wit Clinton park. Consider that a
stoveplps Is an important factor In
any kitchen and the situation Is an
alyzed. TIE chefs In fiell's Kitchen
are many. and tho StoyepIpe gang
wears the Gordon bieu.
The members OF this unchartcred but
widely known brotherhood appeared TO
pass their time on street corners ar
rayed like the lilies Of the conscrva-
tory and busy with nail files and pen
knives. Thus displayed IS gIaran-
tee OF good faith, they carried on an
lnnocu0us conversation In 200 word
vocabulary. 90 the casual observer as
innocent and immateria! as that heard
Ia the clubs seven blocks TO the east.
But on exhibition the Stovep!pes
were not mere street corner ornaments
addicted TO posing and manlcurlng.
Their serious occupation was the sep
arating OF citizens from their coin and
vainablcs Preferably this was done
by weird and singular tricks without
nolse or bioodshed. but whenever the
citizen honored by their attentions re
fused 10 lmpoycrIsh himself gracefully
his objections came to be spread finally
upon some police station blotter or hos
plial register.
The police held the Stoveplpe gang
IN perpetual suspicion and respect As
tho nlshtngale's liquid note Is heard
% the deepest shadows. 80 along the
Stoseplpe's dark and narrow confines
The whistle for reserves punctures the
hull ear OF night Whenever there was
smoke In the Stoveppe the tasseled
men ID blue knew there WAS fire in
Hell's Kitchen.
Kid Brady promised Molly to be
good kid was the yalnest. the strong
est toe warlest and the most sue
,essful pIolter In the gang Therefore
The boys were sorry 60 give him up.
Hut they witnessed his fall to a yir-
,ucus life without protest. for IN the
Kitchen Il Is considered neither uu-
maniy nor Improper for guy to do
as his girl advises
Hack her eye for loves sake. II you
viii, but II Is ali.to-thc good business
10 do thing when she wants you to
10 IT,
Turn on the hydrant." said the
Kid one night when Molly. fearful.
oesought him 10 amend his ways.
'lm golug TO cut out the gang. You
For mine. and the simple life on the
side III tell you. Moll-i'll get work.
md IN year wen get married. I'll
10 Il Tor you Wen get dat and
lutte and sewing machine and . rub
her plant and live as honest as we
IAN"
"oh. Kid" sighed Molly. wiping the
powder 90 his shoulder with her hand.
<erchlef. ~f'd rather hear you say that
han 10 own an Of New York. Aud
sc can be happy ON 80 hitler
The Kid looked down vt his speek
less cuffs and shining patent feathers
with suspicion OF melancholy.
"itil hurt hardest In the rags depart
nent. said he i've kind OF always
liked 10 rig out swell when could
You knew how hate cheap things
uof This suit set fne back sixty-ive