The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-06-12
HIS FRIENDS Wife
BY GORDON TOMBSTONE.
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Barry Malone lifted his eyes from
the carpet and stared at the tousled
head of the boy reading the newspa-
per.
Did / hear you right, Denny?' ne
asked. did you say Nora Reagan
Denny scanned the column n
found the paragraph.
Yes" he answered. Mrs. Nora
Reagan, East Thirty-fourth street
Malone pressed the hot ashes in his
clay pipe and rubbed the bowl medi-
tatively with the palm of his big hand
Read 1t again. lad" he urged soft
ly, as his gaze returned to the lowered
pattern of the carpet.
The boy read it with the intonation
of a child reciting a memorized lesson
at school.
"a young widow. Has child for
adoption. Unable to support. Baby
eighteen months old. Irish blue eyes
Weighs twenty pounds"
Denny laid the paper in his lap and
looked at the big man sitting on the
horsehide chair.
"Will you tear that out and give 1t
to me, Denny?" the nan asked. The
boy complied with his request.
Crossing the room. he picked up his
hat and opened the door.
Where are you goin, Barry?" called
Murphy senior from the kitchen.
For a bit of a walk, john" Malone
answered.
Reaching the avenue, he urned
down. BY the light in a store WIN
dow he took out the ragged paper n
studied the address. Replacing 1t ID
his pocket, he took VI his walk, re
peating the number to himself.
Hallway down the street he found
the address, and searched the dimiy
lighted hallway for the name. Run
ming his eyes over the dirty mali
boxes, ne found IT.
He pressed the button. A pause en-
sued. There was no response. Again
he rang and waited. After what
seemed an interminable time the latch
clicked
Pushing his way in, he climbed the
stairs covered with oilcloth. On the
second landing he backed into a n
ner to let a much-perfumed woman
pass.
On the floor above Nora Reagan
stood in the lighted doorway, a little
red head piuowed against her Shout
der. Malone paused near the top n
looked at her. The woman peered into
his face.
Barry" she cried. Barry Ma
Ione!" She staggered back into the
room. lis it yourself, or an ] dream
ing?"
Its no dream, Noreen," he an
swered. Its myself"
A bright flush crept up from her
white throat over her face and lost IL
self in the bronze hair. She had not
heard that old name in ages. To her
husband she had always been Nora.
No one but her mother and Barry had
ever called her Noreen, and that was
years ago on the boys round Wexford.
She reached out her d~isengaged hand
to him.
OOuc ILL., DdiAy cAC o0AN1
bring your happiness with you. It's a
sight you are to cure blind eyes. And
it's a girl / am again TO see you.
Malone stepped into the room and
closed the door. Turning. he looked
at the frail little figure radiating her
Joy. but showing the signs of a battle
against odds.
The face would always be beautiful
There was the milklike skin, and the
charm of eyes and hair. The girls OF
Nora Reagan's coloring were the glory
of ireland. Malone's eyes rested on
the little red head pressed against her
shoulder. and the wonder of a child
less man dreamed in their depths.
He dropped into the chair h point
ed out to him.
Barry" she cried. 'it was my good
angel that sent you tonight. There
was a woman here just now that want
ed to take the baby"
Morals voice fell to q horrineo
whisper:
And, Barry. there was paint on bel
cheeks. Think Of it! Red paint!
Malone remembered the woman ne
passed in the hall.
Yes" he said; Il met her on the
way"
The woman shuddered and huggee
the little bundle closer.
Malone glanced UP at the crayon OF
the wall.
When did Tim go?" he asked
quietly.
Twelve months this morning Tues
day"
1--WE been down in Panama, III
MISUNDERSTANDING on the ANAL.
don't know much about what's COINS
on"
"He was killed in the expressman'
strike" she explained. He used u
speak of you very often. Barry, an'
wonder where you were keeping your