The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-07

an electric uSnC SH0u q JILL, UluTTSu
radiance on the scene; and the bread
liners, snatching their allotted loaves
with wolfish eagerness and then van
ishing in the darkness, seemed, with
their torn, weather-wOrn clothes, their
sunken eyes and hollow cheeks, like
the lost spirits of some unsung in
ferno.
The whole affair struck Carter, on
near approach, as decidedly unplea-
SAINT. Like most of the world, he had
kindled at the story of the charity
the story of the kindly old German
baker who, at twelve each night, had
been used to feed the hungry with
his unused stores, and who, in his will
had provided that the distribution
should go on. But to see and feel the
famished eagerness of the bread
| liners was quite another matter.
Carter came to himself with a
shock His acquaintance had receiv-
ed his loaf, and was crossing the
street, while before Carter himself
stood one of the genii of the basket
holding out another loaf He had
barely presence of mind enough to
stammer a refusal and cross the street
in the wake of his companion
That individual, who was hiding
his share of the spoils beneath a
shabby coat, looked around with a
start
Say, didn't you get one?" There
was an unexpected touch of disap-
pointment in his voice. "Ain't they
got any more?"
Carters reply was non-committal
Il didn't get one"
The other finished buttoning his
coat over the precious loaf, and swore
softly into the night. Next he jerked
his head toward the side street.
Cali right; come along"
Carter stood looking after him.
what do you want?"
"Ah, get move on! Don't be
starin' like monkey" was the sharp
reply. I'm hungry
I'm not Carriers tone was i'm.
patient.
ooh, you amt, amt your" was the
sarcastic rejoinder. "Then what was
you dom in tn bread-line?"
ooh, IL" stammered Carter
Jaw, cut it out, bot" advised the
other, kindly. "Me names Carney
and | amt down on a man because
he's playin' in hard luck. Let's gel
on one of them park benches anG
have bite to eat"
Carter started in surprise. "Goins
to give me some?"
Jaw, cut out that funny talk, DO,
advised his companion, 'Ain't | goin
ter give you half?"
Carter whistled; then he whistlet
again; after which, temporarily de
void of speech he trudged silently be
side his companion, until they came
abreast of a f1aring restaurant where
, veal pies cost nickel each and ONT
could revel in the real chicory a
; two cents cup.
, Carter recovered his selfsposses
, sion as he gazed into the interior
where coffee cups that looked lik
relics of the Stone Age stood upol
! sloppy wooden tables that ha'
!, strange secrets to tell. 1t was tn
four hundredeleventh Original Beef
steak Johns" Words can say n
more.
, Suppose we go in suggested Cal
;. ter.
: The other swept him with doubt
! ing eye. "Delmonico fer mine,' wa
his sarcastic comment.
! Carter jingled some loose chang
q in his pocket. Suppose we go in,
. he repeated,
\ "All right, bo," was the easy ans
+ wer. But Carter, watching closely
: saw that the effort to appear unco1
= cerned was shaking him like a lea
o and that his weather-beaten face ha
h grown pale. Then the door opene
o and Beefsteak John drew the incon
gruous pair into his capacious bosom
9 When the loaf had been properl
+ wrapped in stray newspaper, tn
q Original Beef-etc., did his dut!
d while Carter looked on and the waite
v grinned in sympathy. And in the il
! tervals between beefsteak pie an
an Irish stew Carney told his stor.
What the story was Carter neve
: was able to recall. He was too o.
cupied in wondering at the fearfl
d gastronomic feats being performed o
all sides of him to do more than no
/ at the proper times. Besides, hare
g luck stories have curious samenes
< about them; they all boil down t
Carney's last sentence-which was tn
9 first which caught Carter's attention
can SO / lost me job"
Carter had already risen to pay tn
: bill when Carney proudly threw
tintype on the table. That's tn
missus," he said, his weather-wor
: face softening. II bet she felt goo
: when she found that two dollars i
: the letter to-day"
;. 1.-TWO dollars?"
Sure, I told We that" Carney
tone was reproachful Didn't I ear
g it down in West street?"