Gilpin observer., 1920-06-17
LACK OF rs CENTS
BY NATALIE J. HoYT.

noon on one of the bare vet cluttered
streets east of Third avenue. At II
tenement window stood little old
woman looking anxiously up the street
toward the corner straining her eyes
to pierce the heavy yellow haze.
A fire escape juttted out in front of
her and hung down the face of the
building, partially Obstructing her
view, so that she did not see him as
he shambled down the street, keeping
as close as possible to the buildings
for the scant protection they afforded
from the sun.
He came up the rickety stairs,
opened the battered door with key
from his pocket, and stepped into the
room. Still she did not hear him,
through the noise of elevated and
trolley and children in the streets.
Mary!' She turned. half-Startled.
wholly relieved and came toward him.
but she still had him!
He kissed her and went over to the
rickety old couch and sat down.,
very rickety old man. She seated
herself beside him, laying her hand
soOthingly on his knee, observing with
inarticulate misery the strained face
and hopeless attitude
ITS no use, Mary"
She did not seek to question or deny
just sat close to him, gently patting
his knee.
Three months now l have been at
it-day in and day out. But who'd
have a poor old horse like me? How
do they know it amt drink or good
fOr-nOthingness that's brought me
where l am? And even sickness is
just as bad. What d'they want with
an old man who's been sick-and
shows it?"
Silence, his big hand now laid over
hers.
''NTilly and Dam" he rambled on
again. They've been keepin' lis all
this time-think of it, Mary!
"But what could we do, Tom?" she
interrupted hOpelessly. "NIilly wouldn't
hear to our-gOin' to the almshouse."
"God help us. no! l want thinkin'
of that. Don't you know they'd sep
arate us there! There's better way
than that. You see, Mary, as l look
at it we amt entitled to more'n one
life apiece, and for three months now
you an mes been poachin' on some
body else's." He looked at her, half
humOrOusly, half pityingly. "WOuld
you he afraid. Mary-with me?"
She began to comprehend and
shiver passed through her. you
mean-you mean"
"WOuldn't it be better'n to live
apart, you an me-who amt never
been separated for over 60 years?"
"Yes-oh, yes! she murmured.
He turned her face up to his. look
Ing into her eyes. 'Tell me-yOu amt
afraid, my girl-with me?"
NO. Tom. amt afraid-tO go any
where's with you!"
Meanwhile in the fiat upstairs
MS though spreading their more youth
full and sturlier wings protectingly
over the old people-lived the daugh-
ter and son-in-law. Here, some time
later in the afternoon. the younger
generation WAS likewise intent on dis
cussing the great question of ways
and means. But their faces were
aglow with new hope and purpose.
AN now, Milly, old girl" Dan en-
claimed triumphantly. you an the
little kid can go to the country an
take your blasted old fresh air cure :"
"Oh. Dan, amt it grand." she re-
peaied for the hundredth time. But
just wait till l tell ma an pa" she
looked at him proudly, that You been
made foreman. Didn't always say
twas comm to you? They amt talked
mnch about it, Dan. bu, they been
frettin' mighty bad to think you've
had to take care Of 'em. It's been
eatin' the very heart out ~ poor pa
with me an little Kitty sick especial
Is. I Just can't wait to tell 'em you've
got some real pay comm To YOU now,
an that need 'em-as bad as they
ever did us-to look after you an
the other kids while me an Kiity's
away. Come on-let's go down now -
In buoyant spirits they hurried down
the rlckety stairs to the door below
and tried the knob, then raped
waited. and raped again. But there
was neither sound nor stir within.
with the dawning of fear in her
eyes, Milly looked ut her husband
MA wouldn't we gone out without
calm up to me-"
Dams face was set and he began
to pound the door, that soon gave be-
fore his kicks and blows. A burst
of heavy. nauseous air assalled them.
With instant command of the situ-
ation Dan seized the panic-strickcn
Milly, looking her in the eye-and
spoke sharply. "Don't lose your nerve
now. Open the windows wide. quick
I'll get an ambulance."
The young surgeon set to work with
x,pIi.iinlr ilio SnrulDns of lun