The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-09-07
H6GlE
~ ANNA PHILLIPs SEE.


Jim Kenny, lineman, went straight
home from the Golden Rod saloon.
that is. as straight 10 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 overthrow, and he fell helplessly
across the dining Q 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
syou'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!
A. a matter Of fact the supper had
been culled from a nearby de~licatessen
shop, for Mrs. Kenny cooked with q
Fan 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 q 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 q 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 n leg.
1t 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,
or thousands found themselves in the
same straits. The great war had dealt
New York business a mighty blow, and
everywhere men were seeking employ
nent.
Jim Kenny had pluck, but no right
eg and no pull" Pull, had he pos
Iessed it, would have served him bet
:er than two legs or more. For days,
weeks and months Jim looked for
work, only to find scoresAof able
,odied men clutching at every job.
Still, he kept his courage and stumped
aopefully about on "Peggie," as he
aad christened his peg-leg.
When no man-size job could be
found Jim sold papers to exc out what
ae received from the charities.
On a bitterly cold afternoon he re-
turned tired and hungry to the one
:oom they now occupied. Everything
vas In disorder. The bed was un-
made, the floor unswept. Little Jim
vas as neglected looking as his r
.oundings. Carrie sat idly, with her
seet on the broken stove.
The next night when Jim came home
he found Jimmie alone and a scrawl
from Carrie pinned to the mirror. She
lad found a place as waitress in a
:estaurant-where, she did not specify
land she would look out for herself.
Tim took his boy IN his knee, and for
the first time allowed himself to give
way to encouragement. How could he
manage to be both father and mother
IF l only had two legsv 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-a gaunt figure of q
man with a wooden leg. He was scan
ning the brilliant poster Of the photo.
L~
plays when a prosperous-looking
stranger tapped him on the shoulder.
Looking for a job, friend7" he
asked. How'd you like to 60 to the
country for a while and act in a movie
play? Five dollars a day and ex'
penses."
ME? You mean me7' cried jim
Kenny incredulously.
"Sure! You're just what we're
looking fora man with an old-fash
loned wooden leg. You could act all
right. What do you say7'
I'm your man." cried Jim eagerly
sHow long will you want met"
"Well, you're in q good man,
scenes-a month, anyway. That's Z
hundred and fifty dollars. Some
money for a pegleg, amt It'll"
IA hundred and fifty dollars for /
month Why. / never earned anything
like that With two legsW exclaimed
Jim.
II bet y0u didn't Now you've 60
something other movie actors amt got
4 49, AM AA~" 4.H&EE - Net = &EN~ 1870