Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-17
Printed by special arrangement with Hough-
ton Mifflin Co.
Copyright, 1919, bp LEROY Scott.
Tb, Garden where Jennie Grew


The Garden Where Jennie Grew
T HE'S. histories do not begin at
lLsome definite point, before which
there was nothing, and after which
there is everything. Their beginnings
reach back through years and genera
tions and through the conditions which
have helped twist or nourish or glori-
ously develop them. But since histories
must start somewhere, this history OF
Jennie Malone. and of her strange
father, Black Jerry, and of the three
nen who loved her, and of the half
iozen or more other persons who vi
ally Influenced her ambitions and her
oul--this history may be started, per
laps somewhat arbitrarily, on certain
light early in October in the Pekin
afe. For the Pekin had been Jennie S
environment since her early childhood !;
IS habitues, many her friends, had
IL been familiar figures to her; and
,G,n such scenes as this evenings she
al peeped almost nightly.
Nm that October evening, in the
S:tle office at the rear of the smoke
aged, orchestra -inspirited cafe, sat
,sJn men, a bottle of imported mineral
"ater between them. One was deep of
..sst and of powerful width of shoul-
ders. and had square, grim face, with
tngt stippled duskincss which the
closets shaving cannot cxpunge from
DIRK and heavily bearded skins 1t was
that swarthy skin, together with his
shining ebony hair (forty had now
marked it with a few lines of gray ..
which. long ago. in this quarter where
every one who deviated from the aver
age was tagged with his outstanding
characteristic. had caused him to be
rechristened "Black Jerry
The other was as bland and open OF
manner as jerry was grim and reticcnt.
He was of indefinite .age-sixty might
be near the middle of ones guessos. BE .
meath eyes and jaw were debated
pouches, suggesting bulkier days when
an unprotesting stomach had permitted
a generous eating of all good things OF
the earth His few short gray hairs
were parted exactly in the middle; of
eyebroks he had none at all, of eyelashes
almost none. His gray eyes were gen
ial bland, shrewd-inhnitely wise
and sophisticated and resOurceful
Among his friends he was known as
"Uncle George though by blood OI
law he was uncle to none. At present
he was out of his habitat rarely in
these, his more mellow years, did hC
wander below Fourteenth street, except
as now TO VlSlt blHCh Jerry. SOlnt
thirty or forty blocks uptown, in the
territory whore stood the smartest res
taurants of Broadway, and the seem
ingly more proper but really very
similar hotels along Fifth avenue-that
was Uncle Georges home country.
Just now Jerry'S face had relaxed
somewhat of its grim control, for Jerry
was in the company Of a proved and
trusted friend. But the relaxation was
only partial. The habit of reticence
and self -containment was so strong
upon Jerry that he could not really let
himself go even with such friend as
Uncle George.
Now, see here. Jerry. what's
worrying you?" insisted the older man.
Nothing worth talking about. Uncle
George"
That's what you said before re-
turned Uncle George in a dry. drawl-
ing voice, but with a keen look at the
other from his old eyes. But, excuse
me. jerry may be too wise n guy,
and like the top side of the earth
crust too we'll to call you liar-but
words to that effect are what some
moro reckless party. who had no proper
regard for his beauty in the place
where it last was. might in thought
less moment try to say to you. But
Jerry.'I'd be publicly insulting my OWL
intelligence if | didn't mildly slip you
a hint that that bunk don't go with