The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19

had grown considerably during the year
and from a rather delicate, innocent
looking boy had developed into stout.
bold lad, who listened with evident relish
to some obscene stories Harvey Green
was telling him over the bar. AS they
talked Flora, now a really beautiful girl,
went through the room, and Green adj
dressed her in a familiar manner, which
brought blush to her cheek; but Frank,
instead of being indignant, only laughed.
In the evening the barroom was filed
and among the loungers was a large
number of young men, some of them
mere boys. They all drank and there
was scarcely one of them whose face
did not show the marks of sensuality
or whose language was not interspersed
with profanity or ,obscenity. An elderly
man came in whose face wore look
of deep concern. Edward he said as
/ he laid his hand upon a young mans
shoulder. Edward, my son." Edward
arose and somewhat sheepishly followed
bis father out of the tavern. Joe Nor
gan was there as usual spending his
last penny and making sarcastic remarks
until Simon, at last stung to the quick
by Joes taunts, cried out See here.
Take yourself off home and never show
your face here again. I won't have
such a vagabond as you hanging about.
II you can't be decent keep away from
here" "a rumseller talks of decency,"
sneered Joe and proceeded to infiict more
of his sarcasm upon Slade, until the
landlord, aroused to fury, seized a heavy
glass from the bar and flung it with
full force at the head of his tormentof.
The missile just grazed Joes temple
and few on it's dangerous course. The
quick, sharp cry of a child startled the
air. Its Joe Morgans child'' Hes
killed her.' were some of the exclama-
tons which filled the room. The little
girl, coming as was her nightly custom
to lead her inebrlate father home, had
entered the door just in time to receive
the flying glass upon the forehead. It
cut deep cash and stunned her into
iusensibility. Morgan, sobered by the
catastrophe, knelt beside her and took
her in his arms, uttering heart-rending
means and lamentations.
What is the matter?" It was wom-
ans voice and Mrs. Slade came into
the barroom and took the child In her
arms who struck herr" she asked.
"Whow answered Joe through clenched
teeth, who but Simon Slade?" "Oh.
Simon, has 1t come to this already"
Her voice was full of pathos and de-
daotor e,vprnoped and %
child was taken home, but not before
the sorrowful scene in the barron had
been added to by the presence Of the
agonized mother of the injured girl.
Rather an unfortunate affair."" said
the landlord after the people had left
the barron. II am angry with myself
and sorry for the child. But she'd no
business here. AS for Joe, it would take
saint to stand his tongue" The next
night as Harvey Green leaned over
the bar he remarked to Simon: Il don't
see anything of your particular friend
Joe Morgan here tonight" To this
Simon answered that he never wanted
to see him again and that IL he fell
down and broke his drunken neck some
night 1t would be a blessing to every
body. 1t soon became known that lit
tie Mary Morgan was lying desperate
| ly Ill in her miserable h ONE and that
1t was in response to the pleadings Of
his daughter that Joe had RETAINED
from making his usual visit to the
tavern. The company assembled at the
bar made many unfeeling remarks
about the matter and tried to be as
Jolly as usual But there was an I'M
dercurrent Of irritation-they felt as If
cir amusements had somehow been
interfered with by old Joe Morgan and
his child. Mrs. Slade had gone over to
the Morgan cottage. where she had
condoled with and cemforted Mrs. Nor
gan, and upon her departure had
pressed into her hands $40 BILL
When next night 1t became known
tn at little Mary was probably dying.
the company was not SO large at the
bar as usual. nor In very good spirits
'They say old Joe has got the man with
the poker after him." remarked one
Iounger. It's his second or third At
tack, and he's liable to catch him this
time" Miserable wretch" replied HAr-
vey Green. the sooner he's off the