Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-04-08

.It'l be an nOur JOD, III AFRAID,
.,rp The chauffeur looked up from
no machine. "Shall l call a taxi for
yOui"
.well-no, Henry. I'll walk, for
change. it's not far to the club"
So Burke walked up the narrow
street 1t was in the poorer section of
,so city. and he was observing things
i his usual leisurely fashion.
aJoye. what beautiful roses for a
street stand"
aFlowers, sir, nice fresh roses, sir?"
Questioned the wiZened man at the
stand.
eYes," said Burke, who always
Obeyed his impulses. "Tlf take all those
pink roses"
He had hardly spoken when. crash {!
fruit cart knocked over one side Of
the stand, crushing many of the flow
srs With many Oaths fron.both par
tIes concerned, the affair was finally
settled. and the old man was arrang-
ng Burke's roses when girl rushed
up.
"Oh, sir, these flowers, the crushed
ones. Can l have 'em? They're no
GOOD to you. Can l have 'em. sir?"
Her voice was tragically pleading.
4Just those little few. Oh, sir, can II"
go long pick 'em up, then be off
With yer" from the old man.
Burke watched her indifferently.
She was slim and dark, and might have
been pretty, If properly dressed. Then
something in her tragic earnestness
moved him-but the old man was hold
ng out the flowers, so Burke took
them and went up the street.
Queer" he thought. "What could
she have wanted with crushed flowers?
How eagerly she picked them up. l
could have given her picked ones, or
given her mine, | suppose, but why
bother with beggars?"
His roses were for Judith, of course.
Suddenly he wondered how she would
receive them. Would she have the Joy
Of the street girl? Burke grew curious.
When he reached the club he called
bis favorite messenger boy.
"Jim, take these flowers and note to
this address and deliver them to the
lady herself. Wait until she opens
them and answers the note. Tell me
everything she says and does when she
receives them"
An hour passed, but at last Jim re-
turned.
u delivered 'em, just as you said,
and she said" he stopped.
"Yes, what did she say?"
"She said How stupid of Burke not
to have sent orchids, when he knows
Of my new gown"
Burke laughed. How stupid of him
And the other girl had begged for
crushed ones. What fool he had been
not to give his to her. At least they
would have been appreciated. Judith
was never satisfied. But why think
about such a trivial incident
Burke picked up a magazine and
started to read, but the tragic face of
The street girl came before the
printed page. He lighted a cigarette
and stroled to the window but he
could hear her voice still pleading.
"She actually haunts me. I'm all
kinds of fool, but why did she want
lnemf For my own peace of mind,
III go back to that stand"
SHE'S Just gone again. She took
lhem of, and | told her If she'd come
Oack I'd give her some that wasn't
nesh," the old man told him.
Wanted 'em for a dead 'un."
Here, I'll take these" Burke
LOOK bunch of roses and put bin
u me old mans hand and FASTENED
uIer the retreating figure of the girl.
PARDON me, but ! heard you ask
ag Tor some crushed flowers, won't
you take these instead? They are of
10 use to me-"
Inc girl turned. Then: They're
Oeautiful! Do you mean It? Shall
aEe em?" Then-"Yes, | will, they're
iOr my little Bob"
Tour little Bobw Burke echoed.
yes, my little brother, two years
uO' he's all l had. And he's dead.
drowned In our cellar. found him
myself. The man what owns 1t is
.Sh ana don't care how we live.
0u'u XIII mimi" She almost screamed.
burke drew back in horror.
c'owned In a cellar. How CHASTITY.
'vulo any man so neglect his property 2
terrible Take this money and
sss II liked. I'll give you a larger
s"Ount when l go to my bank"
asiAe was employing his only means
dsympathy.
money It's too late for that. It
sou bring little Bob back. It'll only
~ MS coffin. But I'll take 1t, sir
J, the other folks. And thank you
iOf being so kind"
n's money was half refused? Burke
was surprised.
.. VINO owns those tenements? I'll
~ .lat he's attended to-"
!, oh' sir, l can trust you-the man
wa. owns them is Burke Kennedy"
1Ouay In thu Co,..L -, ,....