The Washington herald., 1913-11-16

number of invading Persians, he could
not have done better than to have
chosen Mrs. Mary Casey, for it was she
who, by her single-handed prowess, held
gap between two tall buildings against
the strongest army of resl-estate specu-
lators ever assembled in the city Of San
Bruno. State OF California No name In
the directory was more hated Of land
brokers than was hers, no ground more
coveted than the 10ox150 foot plot on
which her tiny, shabby cottage crouched
cial towers which, like tabled giants, had
suddenlys risen out of nothing to over
come her. On the right it was the new
1nsoluble Trust Building, on the left the
sky-aspiring department store Of Nathan
Rosewasser
These buildings were the commercial
!. pride of booming San Bruno; and that
Mrs. Casey's lot was wanted as the site
for still more imposing structure was
secret SO open that it was shouted daily
over every other telephone in town. Yet
Mrs. Casey continued TO raise chickens
on her priceless holdings-two dozen
scrawny Plymouth Rocks, whose daily
egg songs WED with the click of type
writer's in the Offices on either side.
c. W. Ketchum, from his window on
the tenth floor, cast an evil eye upon the
Widows roof. He knew how to clear
half a million by buying that lot within
thirty days, and he could have murdered
the big woman for her mulIshness. And,
as he yearned for Mrs. Casey's lot with a
great passion, he resolved to make life SO
miserable for her that she would have
to move. So Brian Boru Blaney happened
Upon her prosecutions.
Anybody would have noticed Brian
crossing Central Square that morning, be-
cause he wore a suit that rivaIed the blue
Jay in its vivid coloring. In his pocket
he jingled his last hundred dollars, the
rest of his profits on the Healthy View
Sale having faded into Utopia Addition.
He was thinking hard. Being in love,
instinct urged him to ask an uncertain
question of a certain girl Then he fin
gered the sparse coinage between his
thumb and forehnger. and pondered the
fallacy of matrimony without patrimony.
''Somp'n' burnin'," said Brian, shifting
the odor Of hot rags Looking across the
square he saw vast snudge of smoke
rising from the street and pouring through
the gut between the Insoluble and the
Rosewasser buildings. A woman's voice
hurled invective in the tone of outdoor
suffrage oratory.
Brian pulled his green velvet hat over
his eyes and raced across the square in
the direction of the smudge. The gap
between the two vast buildings formed a
natural flue which drew the smoke right
across Mrs. Casey's house.
ssedy workman, going about 1t with
all the dignity Of high priest perform
ing a sacred rite, stood shoveling street
litter on the pyre. Another workman,
smoking pipe, stood amusingly receiving
the volleying abuse that famed from the
lips of a huge Irishwoman who carried a
bucket in either hand, setting one down
occasionally to add a telling gesture to
some lofty flight Of BiIIIngsgate.
Look at him, wud We, tn dirthy /. |
W. W--too lazy to raise III hand av him
to honest worruk, so he must be afther
buildin' foires on tn dure-step av lone
woman. Take that grin on yer mug"'
Mrs. Casey suddenly reached for the |
offending grin. and came sufficiently near
to the mark to knock the workmans pipe |
several feet across the cleared space.
daughter ard applause.)
who sint ye here on this divil's er-
rand?' she demanded. |
Orders from the Board o Health, |
lady," said the workman, mending his |
pipe.
The Board O. Pesthouses, We mean! I
know who's back o. this job-Ketchum
an Sellers, bad cess to their black sowls!"
And, as a sort of emotional climax to |
her curse, she seized a bucket OF water |
and turned ii over the mead of the near
est workman. Taking advantage of the |
confusion, she made for the fire with the |
other bucket and was about to empty 1t /
when the second workman jumped for
ward and defended the sacred flame with
a shovel held bayonet fashion. Mrs.
Casey gripped him by the hair, the work
lr,,rY oh rufTI, Nt,a hor1 Il
die Of the shovel. and the crowd laughed.
Brian Boru Blaney, a bright-hued
streak of wrath, shot forth from the
crowd and wrenched the shovel from the
mans hands.
Look here, Neroo.'' said he, his Gel
tic eyes showing gun-metal blue as he
held the spade like a baseball bat a
convenient distance from the workman's
nose, 81 guess this burlesque shows gone
about an act too far. Chuck the douce on
Little Vesuvius, Mrs. Casey!'
God bless We for a man. sobbed the
fat woman, as the water struck the
smudge with a great hiss
The workman looked around for his
companion. He was gone So he with
drew in a flame of profanity, while the
crowd giggied.
you're a soft bunch o. rubber, amt
youI' sneered the Little Booster to the
audience in general
There's rale g1ntleman al1Ve-saintsI
be praised for tn miracle" II
The big woman advanced on Brian
with arms outstretched. His bushes
wing with his carroty hair, he escaped
through the mob and hurried away to
the ofices OF Ketchum Sellers.
C. W. Ketchum, the Big Booster, was
stiu at his window on the tenth floor
when the Little Booster came in.
Ketchum looked up at Brian's entrance
and scowled.
what were you mixing up in that 6
for?" asked the Big Booster savagely, ]
pointing to the blackened scrap-heap in :
front of the cottage below. {
"A couple of hired gunner were try
In to smoke the old lady out of her c
home, and did the Dustin Farnum I
act" ssdd Brian.
Those gunner were hired by me-, 9
snapped c. w. Ketchum. That Casey b
woman is driving me to distraction.
offer 10000 for the place-ghat does she
sayz"
Ketcham arose and pressed his nose $
aImoEt against Brian's- 6
What does she say?" he repeated.
Says she won't sell for a quintriliion v
ioIlars." Z
so you're trying to smoke her out" s
incurred Brian. lighting one Of ketch- d
inns rather offensive cigars. e
In the last three weeks we've done
everything short Of burning the house c