The Winslow mail., 1916-10-20
PEGGIE
BY ANNA PHILLIPS SEE.

that is, as straight as his uncertain
legs would carry him.
When the lineman entered his com
Portable home little Jimmy rushed joy
ously to embrace his father. At the
sudden impact big Jim's equilibrium
was overthrown, and he fell helplessly
across the dining room couch, where
he remained to listen to the inevitable
and deserved berating from his wife.
Carrie was as stout as Jim was lean,
but her embonpoint was not symbolic
of good nature.
"Jim Kenny" she cried sharply,
"you've been drinkin again and
wastin' your money in the s'loon-and
me slavin' to get you a nice supper
and me kept waitin' this hour" !"
AS matter of fact the supper had
been culled from nearby delicatessen
shop, for Mrs. Kenny cooked with a
can opener" Under ordinary circum-
stances Jim would have reminded her
of this fact, but he was too drowsy
So she proceeded:
you're on the job tonight, too. All
the wires are down from the storm"
A knock interrupted her, and she
opened the door to Dillon and McCon-
way, her husbands mates.
"Come on, Jim," they called. Its
Park Hill tonight"
Between them they got him on his
feet, forced him to drink a cup of
muddy coffee and supported him down
the stairs. AS the auto truck whizzed
into the suburbs the keen October air
cleared his head somewhat When
they reached Park Hill Jim managed
to climb a pole, though his long legs
In the spiked boots seemed to belong
to someone else. For a time habit
worked for him; then. without warn
ing. he fumbled, lost his balance,
struck out wildly and fell crashing to
the ground.
A month later he came from the
hospital a cripple, with but one leg.
At the electric light company Jim de-
clared firmly that he was through
with drink, as indeed he was; but the
boss could give him no work
Then began hard times for the
Kennys. In this they were not alone,
for thousands found themselves in the
same straits. The great war had dealt
New York business mighty blow, and
everywhere men were seeking employ
ment.
Jim Kenny had pluck, but no right
leg and no pull" Pull, had he pos
Sessed it, would have served him bet
ter than two legs or more. For days,
weeks and months Jim looked for
work, only to find scores of able
bodied men clutching at every job.
Still, he kept his courage and stumped
hopefully about on "Peggie," as he
had christened his peg-leg.
When no man-size job could be
found Jim sold papers to exc out what
he received from the charities.
On a bitterly cold afternoon he re-
turned tired and hungry to the one
room they now occupied. Everything
was in disorder. The bed was I'M
made, the floor unswept. Little Jim
was as neglected looking as his sur
roundings. Carrie sat idly, with her
feet on the broken stove.
The next night when Jim came home
he found Jimmie alone and scrawl
from Carrie pinned to the mirror. She
had found a place as waitress in a
Observation-Disclosures, she did not specify
and she would look out for herself.
Jim took his boy on his knee, and for
the first time allowed himself to give
way to discouragement How could he
manage to be both father and mother?
eff only had two legs! = he groaned.
At last, the awful winter wore away
and May came with balmy days. One
day Jim stood near the Strand theater,
on Broadway gaunt figure of
man with q wooden leg. He was scan
ming the brilliant poster of the photo
plays when a prosperous-looking
stranger tapped him on the shoulder.
Looking for a job. friend" he
asked How'd you like to &c to the
country for while and act in movie
play? Five dollars a day and ex-
penses."
"Me? You mean me?" cried Jim
Kenny incredulously.
"Sure! You're just what we're
looking fora man with an old-fash-
toned wooden leg. You could act all
right, What do you say?"
'I'in your man." cried Jim eagerly.
'.How long Will you want me?''
"Well, you're in good many
scenes-a month, anyway. That's a
hundred and fifty dollars. Some
money for a pegleg, amt it?"
"A hundred and fifty dollars for a
month! Why, / never earned anything
like that with two legs" exclaimed
jim.
Il bet you didn't! Now you've got
something other movie actors amt got.
See? If you fill the bill in this play,
you'll have chances for others. You
might send cards to the different film
mpanies-something snappy, like
fnnlY, Dor laO in tho pucipoec