The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-09-07

lemmc know, and Herewith he stepped out
10 passing car swung aboard and was gone
"Well-wha' d'yuh know about that ~
Martin asked himself, bewildered; and pres
emily grew aggrieved Eddie had failed him
friendship had failed him. twas despera-
ton, sheer, that drove him to the next step;
he went to the Real Estate parsonage whose
name bad worked such magic-applied for
the coveted position and WAS made wiser by
full knowledge Of the difference between that
successful gentleman drunk, and ditto, sober.
Daily that week moreover, he suffered the
humiliation Of the incompetent job-hunter;
but there was nothing for il but TO try Eddie
Nelligan again
He chose a Sunday. Eddie had more
orer the boy would be well past Moreover,
the year was ending-this was its last Sun
day; ard Ellen was beginning to wonder that
no day had been set The prospect was
showing nearer and uglier that he would have
10 tell her tell Ellen--the truth. He
needed Eddie desperately; and il was the last
straw that Eddie shouldn't be at home. No
body was at home.
In gust OF temper he gave the door
mighty kick and rattle and had turned TO the
stairs, when someone scuffed heavily across
the floor of the Gutmann kitchen and opened
the door. 1t was Minna, Otto's wife, and his
double
Coon herein" she called :" haf some
very goot coffee then stopped. Martin
twitched his hat off and on, briefly.
How DIDO, Mis- Gutmann2 'Tis Breen.
Dyuh know where Eddie isl" Minna Gut
mann did not answer at once; but then she
and hurry were ever hostile.
Ettie Nelliga'," she repeated finally, " he
II fought you vass Rosie COON back. She
hasS been longer time gone. She
hass been to Elite. He ss py der hospidle
gone"
"Whdt2"
Yah-dis morning only. Id iss dos pneu-
monyah he catches"
Martin fell back 10 the Nelligan door and
leaned against il, his hand dropping 10 the
knob where Eddie's hand had held that Sun
day OF the boys taking.
"Which--hospit'l2" he asked. Minna
shook her head.
II don'd know Rosie coot tell--she ss
gone dere. Mebbe you viii COON see her
soon?" 1t was tentative. Martin nodded.
"Ayuh-you tell her so I'll go try look
him up. Much oblige, Mis-" AS he
pushed himself away from the door, the final
movement Jared something loose within
something that fell to the wooden floor with
an unmistakabe click 1t was the key--in-
side. For an instant they stared;
then Martin whipped about, ratified the knob,
beat on the panels and called, Rose-Rosie!
Rose-Nelligan, There was no answer.
He looked back, uncertainty, at Minna Gut
mann. She had covered her mouth with her
apron and her eyes were frightened He
bent to the keyhoc and snffed-in the next
movement was up, hat and coat off, and she
had caught them from him; and he thudded,
shoulder first, against the panels Once,
twice-flung himself furiously the third time,
and smashed in. The taint Of gas was
stronger.
First from that closed inner room, he
brought Eddies babies 10 Minna; then, after
gulp OF air, was in again ard out, dragging
Rose, aho strove against him with what con-
sciousness was left her. There was another
run in 10 turn of the gas-open windows; and
then work
Little Eddie Nelligan came alive first
deathly sick; but ii took fearful while to
make sure Of the flicker OF breath in the girl
baby's body Ii was done at last, though
the need OF doctor and dread Of arrest past;
and then, zeal of saving life over, the meaning
of it--what il must mean-came to Martin
Breen Rosie lay on the lounge where he had
put her, an arm over her eyes, her lips blue,
and such Of her pale little face as he could see
drawn with nausea. He went out, abruptly,
muttering that he must fix the broken door.
What he wanted was TO be by himself .
He shut the windows, through which the
snow was driving lighted the gas in the Mel
ligan kitchen, and sat down by the table to
think. So thai had been the matter
with Eddie with lbs pal, Eddie
He .-ck his tongue between his teeth and bit
ill the hurt Of it angered him. Think he
must-but for the living Himself had
brought Eddes wife and babies back to what
life would be for them; and, in all the world,
he knew there was none save himself to help
them face it. II was there that he broke out
and cursed, a'one as he was-cursed blackly
and briefly, the craven within him that asked
why hssboHld take the burdsn Of it sneering
that only a FOOL would saddle himself with an
other mans dropped cares when his own
were so pressing and so dear. And but for
that once, the craven was not heard even to
whisper, What he conceived to be
duty Martin Breen faced to the fun. and ac-
cepted. in lbe nail hour he took Tor his oSn
r'hen he shook himself to action.