The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-09-01

to a passing car, swung aboard and was gone.
"Well-wha' d'yuh know about that /"
Martin asked himself, bewildered and pres
entity grew aggrieved. Eddie had failed him
friendship had failed him. It was despera-
ton, sheer, that drove him to the next step:
he went to the Real Estate parsonage whose
name had worked such magic-applied for
the coveted position and was made wiser by
full knowledge of the difference between that
successful gentleman drunk, and ditto, sober.
Daily that week, moreover, he suffered the
humiliation of the incompetent job-hunter;
but there was nothing for it but to try Eddie
Nelligan again.
He chose a Sunday. Eddie had more
leisure on that day, and the strain Of worry
over the boy would be we'll past. Moreover,
the year was ending-this was its last Sun
day; and Ellen was beginning TO wonder that
no day had been set The prospect was
showing nearer and ugGer that he would have
to tell her-tell EIlen.-the truth He
needed Eddie desperately; and it was the last
straw that Eddie shouldn't be at home No
body was at home.
In gust Of temper he gave the door a
mighty kick and rattle and had turned to the
stairs, when someone scuffed heavily across
the floor of the Gumann kitchen and opened
the door It was Nina, Otto's wife, and his
double.
Coon herein" she called. that some
very goot coffee then stopped. Martin
twitched his hat of and on. briefly
g. How DIDO, Mis- Gumann? It's Breen.
D'yuh know where Eddie IS ?" Minna Gut
mann did not answer at once, but then she
and hurry were ever hostile.
a" Elite NelIiga', she repeated finally, he
i fought you vass Rosie COON back. She
bass been longer time gone. She
bass been to Elite. He iss Py der hospidIe
gone"
"IVhGt?'
"Yah-d1s morning only. Idiss dos pneu-
monyah he catches"
Martin feIl back to the Nelhgan door and
leaned against It, his hand dropping to the
knob where Eddie,s hand had held that Sun
day Of the boys taking
"Which-hospitl2 he asked Nina
shook her head.
a don'd know. Rosie coot tell-she iss
gone dere. A1ebbe you will COON see her
soon ?" It was tentative. Martin nodded.
"Ayuh-you tell her so. III go try look
him up Much oblige, Mis-" As he
pushed himself away from the door, the final
movement Jared something loose within
something that fell to the wooden floor with
an unmistakabIe click. It was the key-in-
side. For an instant they stared;
then Martin whipped about. ratified the knob,
beat on the panels and called, Rose-Rosie!
Rose-Nelligan, There was no answer.
He looked back, uncertainty, at A1inna Gut
mann. She had covered her mouth with her
apron and her eyes were frightened. He
bent to the keyhole and sniffed-in the next
movement was up, hat and coat off, and she
had caught them from him; and he thudded,
shoulder first, against the panels. Once,
twice-fung himself furiously the third time,
and smashed in. The faint of gas was
stronger:
First, from that closed inner room, he
brought Eddie's babies to Nina; then, after
a guIp of air, was in again and out, dragging
Rose, who strove against him with what con-
seriousness was left her. There was another
run in to turn of the gas-open windows; and
then work.
Little Eddie Michigan came alive first
deathly sick; but it took a fearful while to
make sure of the flicker of breath in the girl
baby's body. 1t was done at last, though
the need of a doctor and dread of arrest past;
and then, zeal of saving life over, the meaning
of it-what it must n1ean-came to Martin
Breen. Rosie lay on the lounge where he had
put her an arm over her eyes, her lips blue,
and such of her pale little face as he could see
drawn with nausea. He went out, abruptly,
muttering that he must fix the broken door.
What he wanted was to be by himself.
He shut the windows, through which the
snow was driving, lighted the gas in the Mel
ligan kitchen, and sat down by the table to
think. So that had been the matter
with Eddie-with his pal, Eddie.
He took his tongue between his teeth and bit
till the hurt of it angered him. Think he
must-but for the living Himself had
brought Eddie's wife and babies back to what
life would be for them; and, in all the world,
he knew there was none save himself to help
them face it. 1t was there that he broke out
and cursed, alone as he was-crlrsed, blackly
and briefly, the craven within him that asked
why he should take the burden of -sneering
that only fool would saddle himself with an
other mans dropped cares when his own
were so pressing and so dear. And but for
that once, the craven was not heard even to
whisper. What he conceived to he
duty Martin Breen faced to the full, and &C
cepted in the half hour he took for his own.
Then he shook himself to action.
On the table lay a fat envelope, sealed and
addressed to Minna Gutmann; but because
he guessed its contents he opened it.