The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-07
EVENING STORY
Peggie.
(By Anna Phillips see.)

/
home from the Golden Rod saloon
that is. as straight as his uncertain
legs would carry him. He knew that
| If the boss at the electric light COM
pany should see him he would be
fired" This had been the ultinatum,
! delivered in strong terms on the occa-
| sion of the last offense.
When the lineman entered his COM
/ Portable home little Jimmy rushed joy
/ ously to embrace his father. AT the
i sudden impact big Jim's equilibrium
was overthrown, and he fell helplessiy
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
fof good nature.
"Jim Kenny" she cried sharply,
you've been drinkin' again and
wastin' your money in the s'loon-and
me slayin' to get you a nice supper
| and me kept waitin' this hour.''
AS a matter of fact the supper had
| been culled from a nearby delicatessen
i 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 Neon
| way, her husbands mates.
/ Come on, JIM" they called. TITS
4 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 Oc-
tober air cleared his head somewhat.
When they reached Park Hill Jim
managed to climb O pole, though his
| lon ha cr1ik cd
to belong to some one else. For a
time habit worked for him: then,
without warning, 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
dealt New York business a mighty
blow, and everywhere men were seek
i ing employment.
Jim Kenny had pluck, but no right
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 stump
ed 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. At
: first Carrie made Intellectual attempts
to earn money. After a time she did
nothing except to upbraid her husband
! for their misfortunes. Her reproaches
he bore patiently, for he had provided
for himself handicap not to be over
come.
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 unmade,
. the floor unswept. Little Jim was as
neglected looking as his surroundings
Carrie sat idly, with her feet on the
broken stove.
hello, Jimmie." called his father.
cheerfully. Here's Pop and Peg
gie.'
! manded Carrie.
He pulled some pennies from his
pocket. "Oniy enough for something
, to eat," he replied, soberly.
She burst into copious tears.
"And this is what We've come to,
with your drinkin' and losin' your leg!
I wonder at your jokin about Peg
gy'-and me without even nickel Tor
. the moviesi"
you had enough to buy this!" Jim
! retorted. kicking the beer can into
corner. Don't talk about my drink
in. I never touch a drop now, and
you know it
sFWeu. YOU did A one-legged man
, is no good. anyhow. I've a mind to
get out!'
The next night when Jim came
home he found Jimmie alone. ana a
scraWl from Carrie pinned to the mir
ror She had found a place as wait
: ress in a restaurant-where. she did
mot 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 discourage
| ment. How could he manage to be
| both father and mother?
IF only had two legs!" he groaned-
| AS the number of the unemployed
| increased the dole from the charities
| grew smaller and Jim Kenny was
forced into the ranks of the bread
line" Even there he had courage to
| spare for his comrades.
| Sometimes he lifted "Peggie' high
| in air, remarking quantity: mo chill
blains on this foot." and the quip
| would draw a laugh from the woeful
| line.
| At last, the awful winter wore away
| and May came with balmy days. Hun
| ger is easier borne in warm weather
| and Jim, with new hope, began to
| look for real job. One day he stood
| near the Strand theater, on Broadway
la gaunt figure of a man with a
| wooden leg. His appearance pro-
| claimed him down." but the spirit in
| his blue eyes denied that he was
| out" He was scanning the brilliant
posters OF the photoplays when pros
| porous looking stranger tapped him on
| the shoulder
/ Looking for a job, friend ?''. he
asked
| Jim's glance took in the plaid suit,
| the purple socks and the flashing dia-
mond ring