Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-05
The Argus Daily Short Story
Raising the Limit-By Jeanne Olive Loizeaux.
Copyrighted 1910. Associated Literary

The song finished. he caught words
Of the harangue begun by young
girl with clear voice.
Yes, come home! Come back to
your real selves! Quit your sin. your
drinkin' an gamblin' an be decent,
boys! 1t pays! 1t pays. girls! Go
home to your mothers! Sin amt pleas
ure an It costs dear in tears an hui
man misery! Come home" He skunk
away disgustedly. 1t seemed there was
no escape.
It was too early to play poker. Well,
ne could go TO the postoffice at least
for his mail. But here. too, was Christ
mas-hurrying crowds. laughter. And.
escaping n bevy Of young girls. he ran
into and nearly knocked over a shabby
old woman, sweet faced. wistful eyed,
with trembling mittened hands. He
put her on her feet again almost ten
derby. apologizing. but she peered up
into his face-a kind face with good
eyes in spite Of all.
"I was waitin' for my girl" she be-
gan with the volubility of lonely age.
II amt heard from her in a year, my
Molly. She would be sure to come for
letters Christmas time, wouldn't she,
think? P'raps you know her Mary
Shane?" she asked eagerly, not mind
ing his shake of the head. Shes pref
ty, is Molly, with big blue eyes an
curly yellow hair. an little, like a doll.
Do you s'pose sometimes happened
herr. She might-just forget to write
mightn't she? They said she hadn't
worked to the store for six months!
Do you s'pose - she's - dead:' The
cracked old voice was mere whisper
The young mans heart softened.
I'LL tell you" he answered, 81 expect
she's all right-maTried and safe. like
ly, being so pretty-and goOd!" The
mother snatched gratefully at the
words Married an safe, reckon"
she repeated. "An' so happy she's for
gettin' to write-married an safe! An
-goodr'
so you go home he advised. You
will hear from her all right if you
wait You'll get sick here" He left
her and at the door ran head-On into
Shorty He was glad to see even
Shorty, although that worthy had "a
crouch on" The two went down the
street together and paused at an alley.
the police, were shooting craps.
Their games more fun than ours
and quicker" growled Shorty. land
matching pennies is quicker yet and
even more intelligent. I'm tired Of be-
ing a fool. I've got $500 in the world
in this roll. I'll match pennies, two
out of three for it. Heads! What you
gotY'
Two hundred dollars. I'll go your
They stopped TO the pavement and
matched. Big Jim's luck held. Silent
~ the other handed over the roll. Jim
laughed shortly.
IN raise the limit in this gentle
mems game Two out of three the
winner-to quit this life and be de
cent?" Shorty nodded. Settle down
and earn a living an get married to-
night! An go home an behave."
Again Shorty nodded, but he amended:
THE loser to end it all. He jerked
his thumb in the direction OF the river.
Big jim reached his hand. and the men
shook hands. Just then q policeman
sauntered past, Importantly eying them.
The newsboys scattered. Then the two
stopped again in the electric light and
matched pennies on the pavement. 1t
was Jim's luck again. Shorty laugh
ed, little enviousIy.
You're a square sport, Jim. You'll
keep your word Then he turned on
his heel toward the river.
Jim stood thinking awhile till a po-
liceman passing babe him move on"
Then he passed slowly back toward the
main street. 1t had grown full evening.
and the crowd had thickened-the last
night before Christmas. He was push
ed to the edge of the walk. where peo-
pie had gathered thick as bees round
a fleeing queeA The drum was beat
ing-the Salvaas0 Army again! A few