Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-28

him. Yet all this while the little
lan1plighter, with the boy at his
heels, was moving rapidly across the
flats
From the town end of the bridge,
youthful eyes had deserted his COM
ing and the word was quickly passed
that the uncle of all the little Mont
gomerys was approaching, presum-
ably with philanthropic intent. This
rumor instantly stimulated an inter-
est which had somewhat languished,
owing to the incapacity of human
nature to sustain an emotional
climax for any considerable length of
time. Untidy women and idle-looks
ing men with the rust of inaction con-
Stunning them, quickly appeared on
the scene, and when the little lamp
lighter descended from the railway
tracks it was to be greeted with
something like an ovation at the
hands of his sister-in-law's neighbors.
His cars caught the nurmur of
approval that passed from lip to lip,
and out of the very tail of his
bleached eyes he noted the express
sion of satisfaction that was on every
face. Even the previously obdurate
landlord met him with words of
apology and Cancellation. 1t was a
happy moment for Mr.. Shrimplin, but
not by so much as the flicker of an
eyelash did he betray that this was
so. He had considered himself such
a public character since the night OF
the Mcbride murder that he now
deemed it incumbent to preserve "a
stole manner; the admiration of his
fellows could win nothing from the
sternness of his nature, so he ignored
the neighbors, while he was barely
civil to the landlord. The big roll of
bills which, with something of a
flourish, he produced from the pocket
of his greasy overalls, settled the
rent, and the neighbors noted with
bated breath that the size of his roll
was not perceptibly diminished by
the transaction.
Presently Mr.. Shrimplin found him.
self standing alone with Nellie; the
landlord had departed with his
money, while the neighbors, having
devoted the greater part of the day
| to a sympathetic interest in Mrs.
| Montgomery's fortunes, now had
| leisure for their own affairs.
"Why didn't you send for me
sooner?" demanded the little man
| with asperity. mo sense in having
| your things put out like this when
| you only got to put them back
again!"
| .sIf Joe was only here this would
never have happened" said Mrs
Montgomery, giving way to copious
| tears.
But Mr.. Shrimplin seemed not SO
sure of this. The settling of the
handy-man's difficulties had been one
of the few extravagances he had per-
mitted himself His glance now fell
on the small occupant of the decreph
baby carriage, and he gave start
of establishment.
| .Lord," he calculated, pointing te
| the child. you don't mean TO tel
me that's yours, too?''
i ',Three weeks. next Sunday. sale
4 Mrs. Montgomery.
another one-well, | don't wonder
! you've kept still about it! What's
the use of bringing children into the
world when you can't half take care
OF emp
81 didn't keep still about it--only
had so much to worry mel" said Mel.
lie, with shadowy sort of resent
ment at the little lamplighter's words
and manner.
I Its ce-lool1ing baby! admitted
Mr.. Shrimplin, relenting.
] Its a boy, see-he's got his fathers
eyes and nose
Il don't know about the eyes, but
| the nose is a durn sight whittier thar
Joe's. Maybe, though, when it's Joe''
| age it will use the same brand Of
paint.
"what you got it in for Joe for
l,He never done nothing to youH sais
/ Joe's wife. with .,alpable offense-
Gle ought to be stood up ant
damned oyer the head with ciubs
observed Mr. Shrimplin, with consid
cradle acrin1ony Of tone. You'd hav'
thought that being witness wouls
have made man out Or Joe tfsany