The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-10-09
PEeGIE
BY ANNA PHILLIPS SEE.

Jim Kenny, lineman. went straigt
home from the Golden Rod saloon
that Is, as straight as his uncertai
legs would carry him.
When the lineman entered his con
Portable home little Jimmy rushed JOY
ously to embrace his father. At tn
sudden impact big Jim's equilibrium
was ov%erthrown, and he fell helplessl
across the dining room couch, wher
he remained to listen to the inevitabl
and deserved berating from his wife.
Carrie was as stout as Jim was lear
but her embonpoint was not symbol
Of good nature.
"Jim Kenny" she cried sharply
"youve been drinkin' again ant
wastin' your money in the s'loon-an'
me slavin' to get you a nice supper
and me kept. waitin' this hour!"
As a matter Of fact the supper hat
been culled from a nearby delicatessel
shop, for Mrs. Kenny "cooked with I
can opener" Under ordinary circum
stances Jim would have reminded hel
Of this fact, but he was too drowsy
So she proceeded:
you're on the job tonight, too. AL
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. "It's
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 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
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 a 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 un-
made, the floor unswept. Little Jim
was as neglected looking as his sur
r%oundings. Carrie sat idly, with her
feet 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
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 encouragement. How could he
manage to be both father and mother7
IF l only had two legs!' he groaned.
At last, the awful winter wore away
and May came with balmy days. One
day Jim stood hear the Strand theater,
on Broadway gaunt figure Of a
man with a wooden leg. He al
ming the brilliant poster Of the photo
plays when a prosperous-looking
stranger tapped him on the shoulder.
Looking for a job, friend?" he
"How'd you like to 60 to the
country for a while and act in a movie
play2 Five dollars a day and ex-
.penses."
"Me? You meal me" cried Jim
incredulously.
"Sure! You're just what we're
fora nan with an old-fash-
loned wooden leg. You could act all
right. What do you say"
"Tm your man." cried Jim eagerly.
'How long will you want met"
"Well, you're in a good many
scenes-a month, anyway. That's a
and fifty dollars. Some
money for a pegleg, amt it"
"A hundred and fifty dollars for q
Why, I never earned anything
like that with two legs!" exclaimed
II 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
night send cards to the different film
,ompanies-something snappy, like
Only Peg-leg In the Business Or
why, that leg of yours oughter be q
gold mine, MI. -"
"Kenny-Jim Kenny"
my names Levisohn. Well, Mr..
come to the office on Monday (;
here's the address and-say-" Mr..
heart was as warm as his
Eyes were keen. "And, say, Mr.. Kenny,
A-- I-11n, n -. - w.. |