Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-17

mc-guesS I'd better have look at
what's doing outside. I'll be back in a
few minutes"
Uncle George gazed searchingly at the
face of the man who, in an earlier
day, had been the theme of acres of
reporters omancing-romances which
had resulted in his being still remem
bered, though somewhat vaguely, as a
grisly name that once upon time had
done something (just what was per-
haps forgotten) which was brutally
tragic. Uncle George, wise old world
ling, thought he understood Jerry be e.
lieved he knew what ideas, what i'm
pulses. what passions existed behind
that dark, taciturn surface which was
shown the world. But sometimes Uncle
George was not at all certain and he
wondcred-iust as he now sat wonder =
ing as Jerry stepped out of the office.
a pair of screens shut off the little
office, and also side door opening on
hallway. from the dining room, and
behind these screens Jerry paused and
glanced through. The Pekin was doing
good business that night, as, in fact, it
did almost every night. The dining
room was large and low celinged, with
rows of iron topped tables barren of
napcry, with sawdust covered floor.
with n cleared central area where at
this moment a 1.-THE young man in
evening clothes and his showily dressed
partner were whiring about in be
wildering dancc-for this was years ago
at about the time the cabaret and the
tango and its coeval dances were moving
uptown to their period of prosperity and
popularity. At the tables nearest Black
Jerry sat the passengers Of rubber
neck wagon Captained by n guide who
knew nvppythinU nhpni thn NNnpll nd
who was communicating his informa -
tion by use of smirking innucndo in
order that his chargys might likewise
know everything and yet not have their
refined ears befoulcd by the direct word.
At other iron topped tables sat men
and women-but mostly men-of a diff =
fcrent sort; theirs was the air of be e.
longing here; they glanced up casually
at these invaders. smiled at each other
and spoke in low voices. and returned
to their food and drink But the cargo
of the sight seeing coach gazcd about
with all the delicious stirring of horror
for which they had been prepared and
for which they had come.
The guide had just begun his "spicl. -
and Jerry at his back, could but over
hear it all well. here you are" the
/ shepherd was saying to his flock in that
suppressed and guarded whisper which
1 SO heightcns tlE effect of recitals TINT
! have to do with horror and naughti
/ ncss-"hcre You are in the joint OF
| Black Jerry Malone perhaps til,
/ toughest joint of its sort in tow.
"Nou all know about Black Jerry
| his big trial ten years ago--how he
| barely beat his case one of the most
notorious men in New York And
! these people at the other tables. they re
, L.. 6 Al.
| burglars, cracksmen, pickpockets, con :
tidence men, and | won't offend you by
telling you what the women are .
And Black Jerry has a daughter, pretty
and smart--Jcnne's her name. Wish
| could show her to you; she and hcI
father have an apartment upstairs. II
YOU could see her and Black Jerry
together. you'd certainly say, heavens
what a pair ~
The guide became more serious Pro
fessional experience had taught him thai
n bit of philosophy, with a touch o.
. sentiment. was always effective viii
these good people from out of town.
II m not one of these here sociology
men, he went on, but did you evel
think what must become of all tn,
children of criminals children VIII,
are born in this sort of surrounding
anu never hHO" any lhlnS tlSts EAn'
there are millions of them Eve
think whether their parents can reall.
care for 'em?-and if SO, how? Eve
think what such children grow up t.
be? Something big to think about there
you bet It's sure got me guessing y
The sightseers nodded excitedly; i
was indeed something big to ,thinl
about, and it had them guessing, too
From behind the screens Black Jerr.
stared keenly, suspiciously. at tn
guide. The mouthing of that gentleman
seemed to Jerry to be uncanny. |
was as though the guide had stolen int
the secret places of his own heart an,
mind, places which he had not yet evel
: explored.
Presently he became aware that tn
: hall door just behind him was bein
gently opened. He stepped quickly t
one side, keeping behind the door
There slipped in a slender girl of per
haps sixteen. She peeped cautiousl
through the door of the office Jerr
had Just left. Then she peered througI
the space between the screens and rap
idly surveyed the interior of the cafe
Excitement was flushing her face, AM
she was reaching out a hand to part tn
screens. when Jerry whispered sharply
Jennie -
She whirled about. Dad"
She was even then pretty, more thai
pretty-though not as pretty as she wa
later to be-with dusky skin and darl
hair, and eyes of cleaning blackneSs
Her grace and lightness of figure she Ger
tainly could have had only from he
mother: but in her rounded face ther
were hints of qualities that might b
derivations from her father.
what are you doing down here:'
demanded Black Jerry.
Aunt sent me to get two dollars TO
the washerwoman.
Jerry did not speak his unbelief, II
handed her the sum requested, AM
pointed at the door through which sh
had entered.
Tell your aunt, when she wants an!
money, to wait till | come upstairs-o
TO come down for it herself. You bet
ter remember what ] told you; you +
to keep out of here.
"Ali right. dad d'-and the girl slip
ped through the door.
Black Jerry gazed after her with mar
rowed eyes as she mounted the stair
way z; then he closed the door, and re
sumed his survey through the screens
The 1.-THE young man and his Showil
dressed partner had finished their ex
hibition number and couples from tn
tables were making for the central ope
space. The 1.-the young man crosse
to the tables where sat the sight
seeing group, and in a manner whic