The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-08

knocking the face off policeman,
or else maybe like playing Coney
Island straight across tho board from
popcorn to the elephant houdahH,"
''it'r the spring IN yer bones" said
Mrs McQuirl. TITS tho sap riHin'.
Time was when couldn't keep me
feet stiii nor me head cool when the
earthworms began 10 crawl out Ia
the dew Of the mornln'. ~ris a bit
OF tea will do ye good. made from
pipaissewa ana gcntian bark at the
druNglst'R"
Hack upr' said Mr. Mcouirk. I'm
patiently. There's no spring IN
sight. There's snow yet on the shed
In Donovan'H backyard. And ycnter'
day they puts open cars ON the sixth
Avenue lines. and the janitorH have
quit ordering coal. And that means
six weeks more OF winter. by all the
signs that be"
After breakfast Mr. McQuirk spent
10 minutes before the corrugated
mirror. suhIugnting hts hair and AR
ranging his greenland purple ascot
with iu amethyst tombstone pin
eloquent OF his chosen calling.
Since the strike had been called II
was this particular strikers habit 10
hio himself each morning TO tho cor
nsr saloon OF f'lnhorty Brothcra. and
there establish himself upon the side
walk. with one foot resting on the
tootblack's stand. observing the
panorama OF the strcet until the pace
OF time brought ~ o'clock and the
dinner hour. But on this morning
MIR. McQuirk did not hasten immcdl.
ately 10 his post Of lciSure and oh
scrvRtion. Something unusual that
he could not quite grasp WAS In the
air. Something disturbed HIS
thoughts. ruffied his senses. made
hun at once ianguid. irritable, cla,cd.
dissatisfied and nportiye. lie war no
diagnontician. and he did not know
that Lent WINS breaking up physio'
logically In his system.
Mira McQuirk had spoken OF
spring. skebticafiy "'riger" looked
about him for signs. Few they were.
Tho organ. grinders were at work,
hut they were always prccocious
harblngern. II was near enough
spring for them TO 40 p~nny'hun,'
/ ing when the skating hall dropped al
the park. In the miiliners' windowa
Faster hats. grave. gay and Jnbilnnt.
bloasomed. There wrrc green patches
among the sidewalk debris OF the
Rrocers. on a third.atory window
sill the first elbow cushion Of the
scsson--oid gold stripes on'a crimson
ground-supportcd the klmonoed
arms Of n pcnsiNe brunette. The
wind blew cold from the East river
but the nparrows were flying 10 the
caves with straws. A second hand
store. combining foresight with faith,
had set out an ice-chcst and baseball
goods.
And then '-rirrrs- eye. dincredit
ing then. signs. fell upon ono thai
bore bud Of promise. From q
bright. new iithogrnph the head Of
| CApricornua confronted him. betokrn
ing the forward and hcady brew.
Mr. McQuirk entered the saloon
and called for hia glass Of book IL
threw hts, nickel on tho bar. raines
no glass. set !, down without tasiini
d and atrolicd toward the door.
"wot's the matter. Lord Boiin
broker inquired tho sarcastic bar
tender: want a chiny vase or !
gDld.iined epergne to drink u out o
~hryT''
Say said Mr.. McsouIrk. wheel
ing and shooting out Horizontal
hand and n tsdeRrer nhin. "yos
know your place only when n CONES
for Eivin' titles. I've changed my min'
about drinkin'--acc, You got you
money. amt your Walt tili you ge
r,unK before You ret the droop q
your iip. viii your