The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-18
Strike of the
John Kelly Local
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By James Gardner Sandereop
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Cos

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Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Coz
Annie raised her hand menacingly,
but the quick duck and upward, fend-
ing swing of JOhnny's arm failed TO
follow. Instead of this usual maneu-
yer, her son caught the hand and held
it, looking angrily and fearlessly into
her eyes. Annie gasped in bewilder-
ment and struggled weakly. The sig
niticance of the resistance became sud
denly clear, and she cast herself into
the low chair beside the window.
'Wurra ~ she sObbed. "Wurra! Oh,
Johnny! Oh, Johnny boyr'
She rocked her body to and fro. and
the walls lost nothing in volume by
reason of the apron over her head.
Her son eyed her in disfavOr.
Jaw, cut it out" he muttered I'M
easily. I'm thirteen and big enough
to be me own boss, l guessr'
''Kapin' company wild cross-eyed
girl in Oliver Street," interiected An
ME sharply.
She amt crOSs-eyed -
You'd ought to be glad of tn good
home I've give We since your father
died. God have mercy on his sowl
It's not afther cross-eyed girls he'd be
Goin', neither" walled Annie.
"She amt cross-eyed !" snarled John
ny, stung by the repetition. IF l
likes girl 1 likes her, and it's not
even me mothers business, under
stand?"
ME wild my rheumatismatics
Many's tn time I've stood in tn snow
earnin' living to support you! Ii Il
was many tn mother, I'd bat you
acrost tn face for talking back t. me-"
reproached Annie.
You'd only bat me once, then" re.
forced Johnny stoutly.
Mrs. kelly's grief broke forth afresh.
de" son surveyed her sullenly and
reached for his hat.
I'm goin' out" he remarked.
Mrs. Kelly gave no sign of having
heard.
I'm goin' down to Oliver street."
he added tauntingly.
Then Mrs. Kelly removed the apron.
You go down to Oliver street and
you can stay there" she said, trem-
bling.
"All right" replied Johnny. IN
stay there. And you can be getting
some one else to help sell your pa
pers, he added shrilly. Il won'tw
The slam Of the door closed the dis
cuSsion. and Mrs. Kelly sat by the
window alone. The fountain of tears
evaporated swiftly in the heat of her
gathering wrath.
"Shtruck, has hep she muttered
aloud to the silent room. "Readir'
thin coal mine stories. it's like. And
he'd be LAWN me FIR a red-headed hus-
sy-th' diyil sind her joy of him! All
right, let m! I'll not take 'm back,
not f'r President O'RoOseyelt and tn
whole crowd Of arbitraries. | know
me business :"
With the final sentence Mrs. Kelly
rose and set about her evenings work.
The vigor with which she banged the
iron fryin pan upon the table beside
the kitchen sink spoke volumes for
the earnestness Of her resolve.
Me wurrkin' me hands to tn bone
an him lettin' me! It's on a grating
he can sleep this night" she said saw
agely, at the end of two hours OF IN
assisted toll
AS she flounced from the kitchen,
outraged motherhood caused her to
lock the door yicously. and to indulge
in the hope that the autumn night
might be cold.
During all the following day Annie
stood 1T her post in front of one of
the newspaper buildings on Park Row.
Annie had been selling papers at this
particular stand for more than ten
years, and in the crowds streaming to
and from the bridge there were dozens
whose days would not have been fully
begun or ended without Il CHEEKY word
ana hurried purchase as they paused
before her. And usually as CHEEKY
word had been tossed back to them.
On but one OccasiOn-when Johnny.
KS " bt'bS, LAY very III WITH ulpnlneflu
could her customers recall such de.
preston.
1t CHANGED that one of the oldest,
who remembered, and who now no.
ticed Johnny's absence, made in
quiries.
Annie told her woe volubly. The
man shook his head.
"Better arbitrate it, he said grave
~. Seems the only way TO do bust
ness nowadays" Then he dashed
around the corner for a trolley car.
Johnny remained obdurate, and in
the tenement on Cherry Hill dust
gathered for three days upon his bed.
Mrs. Kelly ate desoIate breakfasts and
did all the work At dusk on the
third day she followed an insistent
impulse and went for little walk.
Totally OblviouS footsteps carried her
stout and r0tund figure down into
Oliver street. she happened to no
tico the crosS-eyed girl sitting on her
doorstep in close and unabashed corr
verse with Il hoy who was not Johnny.
Shortly afterwards, She returned Fome.