The Washington times., 1911-01-25

TT HEN David got back to his
Nn/ room he sent Tom to the
v mayor, and walked over to a
hardware store on the Bow
cry to order some new ash cans. AS he
was returning through the Bowery he
met a man he had known in prison-Biu
Halpin, a cynical, hardened gentleman,
who had been running counter to the
law for thirty years, during which time
he had participated in scores of daring
robberies and had known most of the
cleverest criminals in the country.
David was not surprised at meeting
him, for during the last four months he
had CHANGED across many of his prison
acquaintance, and he was not sur
prised at the warmth with which Hal
pin greeted him, for Halpin had-why
David could not uuderstand-taken a
fancy to him while they were prison.
mates. They Eow walked on together,
and David, in response to HaIpins
queries, told him that he had gone to
work with the determination to live
honestly. Halpin gave a sneer of un-
the frankly evil-but said nothing
When they reached David's tenement
David asked him in, but he said he
had an engagement with a pal, and
went away after promising to come
around some other time.
David lighted his little gas stove and
was beginning his preparations for din
ner, aEIoW with his new hopes and with
the thought that he had regained Miss
Chambers for his friend, when there
was knock at his dOJr. He expected
to see tenant with a grievance but
Kate Morgan stepped into the room
David had seen her in finery before,
but never in such finery as now. There
was white velvet hat with two great
black plumeS that curled down upon
her back hair; long black fur-lined
Oh yHvhn
the warm red of a gown; a black fur
scarf round her neck, and a black muff
lnclosing her white-gloved hands.
She stepped into the room, and her
OF the furs' original Owners-glealned
over the scarf at David with hard def
ance
Good evening. Mr. Aldrich."
drew his one rocking chair toward her.
Wont you sit down."
She sank into the chair, threw open
the coat so that the full glory of its
lining and of the red dress was dis
played, and thrust out a little patent
leathered foot.
Il saw you with Miss Chambers last
night" she said, her brilliant eyes dart
ing contempt at him. ''Of course, you
told her all about that Allen affair.
You're not only a coward. you're q
squealer."
David was standing with his back to
the mantel, and Kate had to see the
erectness, the confidence, the decision
of their adventure.
Il do not know why you're saying
these things, Miss Morgan" he re-
turned quietly, but if saying them
"Wen. ain't we got high and digni-
fed since we became a janitor!" she
sneered. "A janitor! Sweeping-scrub-
bing-listening to the kicks of dirty
ay,fe 1s ~1rif1 n
garbage to separate the ashes, paper,
lin cans. old food. Lord. but amt you
high up in life"
go on" David said.
She drew out her cigarette box and
lighted a cigarette-she knew he dis
liked to see her smoke-and blew a
little cloud toward him.
"a janitor! What a poor. weak, mis-
man turning from excitement, an
easy life, good things, and taking up
this! But you're not real man.
You'd rather do dirty work for a year
nights work. Wouldn't you like to
know what 1 cleaned up the other
night after you sneaked out?"
what you wanted. l suppose"
That's it-I got all 1 went after.
I'm on easy street for at least year.
And I'm enjoying life, too. You set
that down. While you clean up other
peoples dirt, and live in a basement,
X
stove, While you're a-oh! look at
yourself!-a janitor!"
Her fierceness. her scorn, gave her |
words a jagged edge; and she thrust |
them in deep and twisted them vindic- |
lively. David, very white, looked |
steadily down at her. but made no re- |
"And a squealer."
He continued silent.
She blew out cloud of smoke, her |
eyes blazing at him, and thrust again: |
"And a coward!'
David grew yet paler, but he contin-
ued his steady. silent gaze She sat |
looking up at him for several mo- |
rnents without speaking again; then |
slowly something of the fierce scorn |
the wild desire to pain him. went out |
of her face. |
"And so you are going to stick to |
honesty?" she presently asked alb |
ruptly. her voice still hard. "As tough |
rs 1t is2' l-----4--l-4------ .