Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-07-13
Treating The
Boys Alike:


their homes and bed ABOUT the time
the dawn was tinged with red. The
meeting room was the "never-closed
restaurant where they sat over an in
determinate meal that might have
been dinner had it not come so late,
or breakfast had it not come just be-
fore bed time.
Good fellows all, they We're, and Roy
Cammack, who founded the club, was
proud of the little group. Some of
them We're men from the telegraph
office across the square, two of them
were from the all night cigar store on
the corner, and each man had legiti-
mate excuse for not going home until
morning.
Roy himself had charge of the mail
ing room of one of the big newspapers
up the street, and he was glad enough,
after the hustle OF the night, to drop in
at Meeghan's for hot coffee and cakes.
Meeghan, burly, good natured Irish
man, was quick to perceive the value
of the trade, and he reserved table
for the Sunrisers in the rear of the
room where they could linger over the
coffee cup and exchange the gossip of
their little world. Often he would stop
at the table and chat with the boys,
and they noted with concern that the
work seemed to be telling upon him.
If Meeghan should be taken ill there
was no telling what might happen to
the restaurant and the Sunrisers
united in urging him to take rest.
"You work night and day" reminded
Cammack by your own admission,
you take the night trick. and then you
come back for the noon rush. You
don't get enough sleep. man."
II never did need much Sleep" was
the confident reply, but there came the
day when Meeghan's red face was not
wreathed in smiles of greeting. and
the Sunrisers exchanged ominous
glances. The next night Meeghan was
not there and Tim Doyle, the night
cashier. declared that Meeghan was
fiat upon his back.
Cammack obtained Meeghan's adj
dress, and, as president of the Sunris-
ers, made an official call; then in an
unofficial capacity he repeated the
visit and there was nightly report as
to the condition of Meeghan.
He'll never be able to take the
night trick again." declared Roy, "and
of all things his daughter insists that
she will take his place"
The next night Norah Meeghan was
on hand to welcome them. and the
Sunrisers noted with relief that details
were better looked after than even
Meeghan looked after them. The
glasses were clearly polished. and the
table ware fairly glistened from whit
| ing or brickdust Better still, Norah's
| smile was even more winning than her
fathers, and though she clearly show
ed that she felt the strain Of the long
night, there was not an unmarried
Sunriser who did not mentally vow
that he would win her If he could. But
the days passed, and Norah was as far
from being won as ever. Meeghan's
first warning to his successor had
been Treat all the byes alike, Norah
darlin'. thin there can't be thin as
Il
back to the place
So 1t might have gone to the end OF
the chapter had it not moved some OF
the young men from college town to
run over to the city With the exuber
ance of youth, they regarded the city
that night as their own, and the col
lege yell as palliation of all offenses
They wandered through the slums
voicing their unwillingness to go home
before morning, and at last they en-
tered the business district and de
scended upon Meeghan's.
Norah took to the kitchen for refuge
after the first onslaught, but the boys
would not have it So They sat, pound
ing on the tables as they demanded
that their fair hostess receive them
with proper courtesy. Tim had just
signaled one Of the walters to slip out
for policeman and send for the re
serves, when Norah timidly entered
the dining room from the kitchen, il
the hope that, having brought hel
forth from her retreat, they might be
induced to leave the place.
Instead they made a rush for the
frightened girl, loudly demanding {
kiss for each and though the walters
sought to interfere-and the night
walters at Meeghan's were not select
ed without an eye to their pugilistit
possibilities-there was no organiza
ton. The half dozen men grapplet
with as many students, but there was
still clamorlng throng about tht
girl.
Then suddenly something happened
Back in the college few days latel
there was diversity Of opinion as t.
the order of business, but 1T was the
unanimous opinion that somewher.
about the premises of Meeghan's ,
heavyweight champion had been con
cealed, for he descended upon tn,
crowd and pushed them about as |
they were so many of the heavy pack
ages Of papers that he had been han
ding all night. Half dozen of tn,
Sunrisers were on the sidewalk as (
reception committee to speed the er
ring students on their way. Present.,
quiet reigned in Meeghan's, and Moral