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

ashamed; but his thin, flexible lips IUotad
quirk back to a curve of happy content. The
man Ellen Joyce had said eyes" to couldn't
despise himself-even though the condition
she had added to the word left him humbled
and bewildered. She had told him that she
didn't like his job. Would he-did he care
enough for her to find different work2
Carel There was nothing he wouldn't do,
nothing he couldn't do! He fairly stepped off
and up on air as he swung out from the side
walk at crossing. Why, he had
thought of forty things to do, in as many
hours; and all he needed to advise his choice
was talk with Eddie Nelligan, with whom
he had talked over all the big and little things
that had come to him since small-boyhood.
Car after car pounded past as he walked
back and forth on the curb. The last had
been one later than Eddie usual car, and
dusk was gathering, as he stood to watch the
next oncoming car. But no Eddie Michigan
dropped off.
eli! Where's Nelligan-ain't Eddie Mel
lgan off YETI" he shouted. The conductor
leaned far out to answer, but the wind cut out
all save "home" and "pretty sick"
Martin stood where he was for an instant
gaping after the lessening lights; then turned,
stated at the narrow brick canon of street
ahead, and-rousing all at once-started at
swinging pace for the Nelligans'. What had
Rose been about not to let him know! And
what had he been about, to let any woman
even Ellen-fuddle him into forgetting his
chum for so many weeks Two at a time he
took the stairs of the tenement's first flight
and second-but turning to the third was
stopped, foot and breath. From the floor
above, muf1ed but unmistakable, came the
shrill wailing and after babbling moan of an
anguished woman. 1t was Rose Nelligan's
voice After long minute he took
the third flight, holding to the rail, going
heavily; and halfway looked up-to see Eddie
Nelligan's self in his conductors cap and
uniform standing before his own closed door
gripping the knob with his left hand, facing
the stairs and not moving
"Hah!" Martin Breeh's pent breath left
him gustily. "Theye y'are! l heard-I
thought Wv as-sick."
Eddie Nelligan looked at him without see
ing till the moaning beyond the door quoted.
"It's the kid, i" he said then, slowly. "He's
got the dipther'a. They took him in the
ambulance, two hours ago" His hand
wrung the knob. can want here!"
The door of the other tenement that gave
on the box of hall was opened gently, and
neighbor Otto Gutmann-his own bass VOL
made fesh-came out to them. He was in
his shirt sleeves, held fork in one fat, pink
hand and wiped the other, professionally, on
the striped apron that draped him from arm
pits to knees. His gross, good face was very
red, and light, warmth and savory smells
flooded after him into the dim, cold place.
He hushed his voice to a mellow rumble.
Hello, Marty-you make diss teller COON
in to me. My woman ISIS NIT Rosie-he
can't go in. l got some goot hot supper, al
retty-it ISIS bedder to eat something"
ct sure is" Relief cracked Martins
voice as he reached, half-jestingly, to the
hand that held the knob; but at the touch
Eddie Nelligan fell back, his right arm COM
ing up.
amt Ia" A new sound checked him: the
neglected girl baby that had come to the Mel
ligans but six weeks back began to cry lus-
tily. Martin slid his hand up to the shoulder
of his friend.
AYES y'are, Eddie. Yer goin' feat an
See?" And constrained by his hold, his
eyes, and that helpless, reminding cry, Eddie
Michigan let himself be led.
$780," murmured the sympathetic Otto
cunt you COON, ALSO, Marty-I can cook
bedder as can blay, bet you'll"
1t was, therefore, with genuine distress
added to his unrelieved predicament that
Martin-three hours later and an hour late
rang the Joyce bell. There was no white
papered, gilt-corded box of sweets in his
hand-he had forgotten the custom in his
hurry; and a Renaissance of the stout fra
GRANGE of Otto's frying and beer and tobacco
chung to his garments despite the vigorous
cleansing of the wind. Miss Ellen emerged
from his embrace suspiciously alert and over
poweringly the lady.
"I'd most decided you wasn't coming''-
her tone was chill. "But l shouldn't have
set up to wonder why-I've had so many call
ers to-day Pm most tired to death. It's Just
so ev'ry Sund'y." But the obvious deduc-
ton that there were those to make his def
cheney marked was beyond Martins troubled
mind-nor did his adoring and supphcating
gaze atone for the blunder of his literal
reply.
"Well, 1 amt goin' t'keep yuh up long-I
gotter go back an set up with Eddie. His
hids sick an his wife's in bad way"
l"Oh! There's lots of sickness this
weather." remarked Miss Joyce in her best
manner. Don't let me keep you any time
you want to go, Mr.. Breen."
"Huh2" He sat straight. "Who yuh