The Washington herald., 1920-10-05

4 -.
"A tidy man sat in. a rocking
chair by window. He had. just
lighted a pipe and was putting
blue clouds with great satisfac-
ton. He had removed his shoes
and donned a pair of blue, faded
carpet slippers. With the morbid
thirst of the confirmed daily news
drinker, he awkwardly folded
back the pages of an evening
paper eagerly gulping down the
strong, black headlines, to be fol-
lowed as a chaser by the milder
details of the smaller type.
In an adjoining room a woman
was cooking supper. Odors from
strong bacon and boiling coffee
contepded against the cut-plug
fumes fro mthe vespertime pipe.
outside was one OF those
crowded streets of the East Side,
in which, as twilight falls, Satan
sets up his recruiting office. A
mighty host of children danced
and ran and played in the street.
Some in rags, some in clean white
and beribboned, some wild and
restless as young hawks, some
gentle-faced and shrinking, some
shrieking rude and sinful words,
some listening, awed, but soon,
grown familiar, to embrace-heret
were the children playing in the
corridors of the House of Sin.
Above the playground forever
hovered a great bird. The bird
was known to humorists as the
stork. But the people of Chrystie
street were better orniehologists.
They called il a vulture. .
a little girl of IL came upN
timidly to the man reading and
resting by the window and said:
Papa, won't you play a game
of checkers with me if you arn't
too tired?"
The red-haired, unshaven. un-
tidy man sitting shoeless by the
window answered with a frown.
Checkers. No, / won't. Can't
n man who works hard all day
have a little rest when he comes
home? Why don't you go out and
play with the other kids on the
sidewalk"
The woman who was cooking
came to the door.
John" she said, II don't like
for Lizzie to play in the street.
They learn too much there that
amt good for 'em. She's been in
the house all day long. 1t seems
that you might give up a little
Of your time to .amuse her when
you como home"
Let her so out and play like
the rest of 'em if she wants to
be amused said the red-haired.
unshaven. untidy man, and don't
bother me-"
You're on" said Kid MuIIaly.
Fifty dollars to s25 l take Annie
to the dance, Put up"
The Kids black eyes were snap
ping with the fire OF the baited
and challenged. He drew out his
roll and slapped five tens upon
the bar. The three or four younG
fellows who were thus taken"
more slowly produced their stake.
The bartender. eX-officio stake
holder, took the money. labor
iously wrapped it, recorded the
bet with an inch-long pencil and
stuffed the whole into a corner
OF the cash register.
And. on, whatIl be done 10
you'll be a-plenty." said a bettor.
with anticipatory glee.
That's my lookout" said the
Kid sternly. Fill EN- up all
around, Mike"
After the round Burke, the
Kids" sponge. sponSe-holder,
pal, Mentor and Grand Tizier.
drew him out to the bootblack
stand at the saloon corner where
all the official and important mat
ters OF the Small Hours Social
Club were settled As Tony poll
ished the light tan shoes of the
clubs President and Secretary
for the fifth time that day, Burke
spake words of wisdom to his
chief.
Cut that blond out. Kid" was
his advice. "or therell be trouble.
What do you want to throw down
that girl of yours for? You'n
never find one thatll freeze to
you like Liz has She's worth a
hallful of Annies."
I'm no Annie admirer" said
the kid" dropping a cigarette
ash on his polished toe, and wip-
ing it off on Tony's shoulder.
But I want to teach Liz a lesson.
She thinks I belong to her. She's
been Dragging that I daren't
speak to another girl. Liz is all
right-in some ways. She's
drinking a little too much lately
And she uses language that lady
ouShtn't"