New-York tribune., 1915-12-11
Peter Wouldn't Let
His Father Marry
Jimmy Keane's Too S1dden
Elan Dtchej A ter Ap-
peal to City Cle;k Fails.

"He says" relsyed the attendant,
"that nothirg's going to keep him from
seeing you"
Friday is busy day with City Clerk
Scully. He wrinkled his forehead.
well" he said, "show the kid in if
you think he's going to be dangerous"
The next minute the door of the
private Office opened to admit Peter.
His face, especially scrubbed for the
occasion, glinted with high lights
where his chee, bones were trying to
push their way through, and the
creases j his trouser legs and sleeves
were fresh and sharp If bit off centre.
"My father" said Peter, "he wants
TO get married again. want you to
stop him."
"And who's your father?" asked
Scully.
"He's the COY that helps the schamys
up in the Hundred-fourteenth Street
synagogue Peter informed him.
Synagogue ?" echoed the city clerk,
startled. You don't mean to say
you're"--
Sure I'm not-no more than you are.
! was born IN the County Dublin >thir-
teen years ago come January, and my
fathers name is Jimmy kesne."
Then Peter explained to the aston
ished Scully that his father, losing his
job as a hostler, had turned janitor for
the sake Of the rent free rooms in the
basement of the synagogue at "a West
Hath Street.
Them Jewish fellers can't do any
work on Saturday, and they've got to
knock off on all their holidays, too"
continued Peter. That's why every
schamys has got to hi:e a COY to tend
the furnace and light the lights and
keep things tidy around the synagogue.
"i'm not kickin' because father wants
to get married again, but he's goin' to
do il too soon. Mothers only been dead
ten days, and she was too fine wo-
man to have that little respect paid to
her"
Bit by bit Scully got the rest of the
story. He heard how Peters mother
had been taken away TO the Harlem
Hospital, slowly dying, and how Jimmy
Kesne had begun to renew ms acquain-
tance with young woman OF the
name Of Josephine King, who made
cigarettes for a living and used TO be
neighbor of the Keanes.
Peter hadn't been really worried
until one night, few hours after his
mothers death, his father told him
there was going TO be now Mrs.
Keane. Immediately he had set TO work
TO break up the match. Persuasion
being of no avail, he had played de-
tective and learned license for the
marriage Of Josephine King to James
Keane had been issued December 8.
At mention of the license the City
Clerk looked grave.
You're too late, then, Peter" he
said. "Now that the license is issued
nothing can interfere with the wed
ding"
Peter threw his spare shoulders Daek
and his lean jaw forward. ,,
AIN that case" he announced, I'll
have one more heart to heart talk with
my father"
As precipitously as he had entered
the private office, Peter withdrew.
Scully did not keep Peters visit
secret and present. many reporters
were at the door of Miss Kings nat,
at 329 East Fortv-third Street No
0 e seemed TO be home.
"It's a hard place TO get into, that
commented a neighbor. Zone OF the
grimmest-looking boys ! ever saw IN
nv life has been trying to get in every
dav for the last week. II be was a
little older I'd take him for an install
ment collector. He wells in the hall
and bangs on the door, and even tries
the windows before he goes awav
There was man in there the other
day. The bov found it out, and he
yelled 20 the man that # he came out
in the hall he'd lick him"
In the basement of the synagogue,
where are the living rooms Of the COY,
neither Jimmy Keane nor Peter were
TO be found. A new COY, hailing IRON
the County Mayo, was IN charge -.
81 don't know where the keanes are,
he said. Jimmy lost his job to-day
because the schmays doesn't want q
helper without a wife"
But wasn't Keane going to get mar
ried right away"
The new gov shook his head dubious
"rhat boy Peter has the divil IN
him" he said. "It's only an hour age.
met Jimmy on the corner. lie said
Peter had been talkin' 10 him, and ne
mightn't get married at all now. any
how. he's goin' TO wait while.