The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-03
THE EVENING STORY
rim MoIoney-Brute.


Shelia O'Brien, her blue eyes hashlng'
ito whip Danny Cassidy
Poor little Danny Knocked Big
Tim. "Sure, he weighs two hundred
but he isn't as big as you are" re-
turned. Sheila, witha glance of admlra-
ton, stern1y repressed. You had no
business to strike him.
HE danced five times with you last
night" accused Big Tim. Every time
he does that, and brags about 1t. Il
thump him.
you have no thought Of a poor
girls reputation" rejoined Shella, on
The verge of tears. "Sure, what will
folks say. when they know two Dig
omadhauns were fighting about me
Being unused to the ways OF "onl-
en-. Tim blundered then IF you
didn't dance but once with CASSIDY,
he pointed out triumphantly' tnere
be no fighting and no talking.
t.I'u dance with who I please, fareo
Sheila, white and angry. here
your ring. Tim Moloney; you can
tt was a ruefuI Big Tim who found
himself in the street soon after, MS
modest diamond ring in his poc l,e9
and desolation in his heart mat t .1
hammering of the bumptious Cassidy
would bring any such result ne hau
never for a moment dreamed, or ne
might have beer slower about gong
i'i- But the damage was done. He
promised himself sternly that II cas-
si5v didn't keep a civil tongue in his
head another beating would De ms
p0 Big liz Tim. lately promoted to the
broadway squad governed tne puslf
est corner in the city with roo OF
iron. inches over six feet, with shout
ders as broad as a door ne carried ms
bulk like a willow wand he was
handsome chap, with rogulsn proMn
ax-es His brown hair showed an IN
rI,Iv desire to curl behind, though II
was Clipped short. He was always
clean shaven, with tinge OF hedthy
red in his firm cheeks
we-t on their best behavior at his cor
ner. He had a singular dislike for ar
e1,nient and a red-blooded love for ac-
tior, The man who did not heed the
white gloved hand was hkey 70 IIid
himself ierked bodily to the paving
stones by a blue-clad giant with leap
like a catamount.
The next day after his quarrel with
Sheila he ruled his little kingdom with
the in1partial excellence of Solomon,
albeit it was all dozen subeonsciously-
The warning whistle blew and traffic
! etonned. With one hand he held three
converging strands: a gesture of the
| other and the fourth thread worked It's
others back and forth with the calm
! confidence of the weaver who carries
his design ever before him.
His thoughts were not on his work
Every where he looked he saw Shelia
| blue eyes blazing with anger. clouded
with tears. Every sound resolved itself
! into Shelia's voice. You're a brute,
/ Tim Moloney!
Again and again he rehearsed their
| Quarrel. or thought of the seven hum
dred dollars saved up with which to
start housekeeping. The poor little
spurned ring throbbed and burned
| against his heart.
He did not know that midafternoon.
Shelia. lips compressed and head held
high came down the avenue She
was on a wholly unnecessary errand
which she assured herself. was very
| important Nor did he know that on
pretence of waiting for a car she was
watching him with a betraying wistful-
ness
Despite his preoccupation Tim saw
I the little old lady the curb as soon
as she arrived there. She had silverv
hair Tt showed around the delicate
| fashions last word In the seventies.
She was bent and carried a cane She
wore a shawl: her gown was pitifully
shabby In her faded blue eyes was
look almost of terror. The streets were
slippery with new fallen snow.
Tins whistle shrilled. Both hands
wenl up decisively. All traffic-trucks.
motors, trolleys-stopped- The living
stream. DOIlnS IN from TOUR UlfSCLlO4S.
was damned Motormen banged their
gones peevishly. chauffeurs honked in
quir;ng1v But Tim looked neither to
the right nor the lett he FASTENED to
the old lady on the curb.
You want to cross. na'am?" he
asked. with his sunny smile, and Of
fered his arm
The old lady took it gratefully. T
suppose a lame ould woman has
business on this busy street" she said,
little breathlessly.
Sure. and you have. ma'am.' re-
turned Tim. stoutly- Take your time
ar don't slip. It's bad footing
Thank you. young man; you're the
frs person I've met since 7 left home
that wasn't in a hurry The city's
dreadful place."
II is SO. ma am agreed Tim. So
berIy.
WHEN their slow journey was half
con7uleted the old lady realized that
the lane of six feet which they were
traversing was banked on every side
by impatient hundreds who waited on
her footsteps.
She halted and withdrew her hand
from the po1iceman's arm, the better
to raise a Gliding forehnger. "AII these
people waiting just for me2 You
shouldn't have done it. They're more
! important than ! am
They think they are. but they're not.
ma am assured Big Tim. .'Waftin'
Is good for them
He gave the nearest motorman
level glance that stopped him in mid
bang grim, contemptuous stare.
sweeping over a befurred chauffeur and
significantly to his license number,