Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-07-07
Gannon's
War-Song
ra@
BY JOHN BARTON OXFORD
(Copyright)

her brown head.
She stood behind the closed blinds
at the front window, looking across
the narrow confines of Blossom Court
at a certain stoop on the opposite side,
where, in all the glory of pink shirt
and a tie of dazzling blue, young Mr..
Martin Ryan, better known TO the deni-
zens of the court as Blink" sprawled
his big frame, the while he smoked
innumerable contemplative cigarettes.
In the one plush rocker the gaudy
little parlor of the Shaughnessy fiat
afforded Aloysius Cannon, slight OF
frame and mild of mien, swung to and
fro in uneasy silence.
cor father who wasn't too old to
teach some of these young whelps
their manners" Nellie went on, with
glance at Cannon that set his face
flushing.
cor II I was only q man myself" the
girl at the window ratified on. She
sighed with much ostentation. I'D
show Blink Ryan that he couldn't
take liberties with me nor anybody
belongn' to me-"
Jaw. say, Nellie" Cannon deprecat-
ed, che didn't mean nothin' by it. 1t
was Just him kiddin'."
The girls eyes flashed.
1T don't make no difference what he
meant. he done it," she said fatty.
"Now. maybe you gave him bit of
encouragement" Cannon suggested
hopefully.
you know me better than that" she
cried in fine wrath; cor If you don't
you'd oughter. Twas last night, when
we was comm home from st. Joseph's
picnic The car broke down an we
didn't get back tin near ten. Blink
walked down with me from the car,
our ways layin' in the same direction.
An when we got here to the door he
put hand on my arm.
"Good-by. Nellie says he. Haven't
you the bit of goodnight kiss for
meT
eve not says |, tryin' to get the
key in the door, but he held hold of
my arms.
"'Nellie you're lookin' as fresh rs
primrose, says he. I've a mind to
have my goodnight kiss without the
askin'"
you'll be doin nothin' of the sort
says |, for I'm as good as promised to
man who Is so much better than you
are, Blink Ryan, that you're not wor-
thy 10 unite the shoes Of him. I'm
Savin' my kisses for him.
"An'-an' then he threw his arms
around me so / couldn't move an up
tilted my chin an'-an' kissed met"
"Well, we'll tits no great harm DONE"
Aloysius observed with a sickly grin.
The girls lips curled scornfully. The
glance she threw in his direction was
filled with supreme contempt
IF I was a man." she snapped de
rIsively, nd like to know Of another
man kissin' my steady, whether she
wanted him to or not"
She crossed the room to the old
fashioned square piano and began soft
ly running her fingers over the yell
lowed keys. For time she struck
mere disconnected chords; then, still
very softly, she began to play ''Kil-
larney"
With the first notes OF II Gannon's
dropping shoulders Strengthened For
the first time that evening he sat erect
In the chair.
Nellie" he said "'twas a low-down
trick. No man is goin' to take liber-
ties with you, not when l know It. Say
the word an I'll go across the court
an punch the face off him"
"For a minute, Al, thought maybe
you are afraid Of him." she said, "but
now I know you amt, an that you'll
give him what he deserves FOR gettin'
fresh with me last night. Go, Al, an
I'll love you for it," she ended impetu-
ously.
Cannon stood looking at her, at a
loss just what TO do or say. The per-
Epiradon streamed down his forehead;
his knees felt like paper.
Nellie he cried hoarsely, play
Killarney again."
Without looking at him she bent over
the keyboard and began playing once
more. The effect on Cannon was in
Simultaneous.
I'm learn him to kiss We, Nellie,
that I will" he cried in fine defiance.
"Tll 20 over there an I'll make a
shambles Of that stoop, mark what
say, now. Only he had paused at the
door, "for the love Of Heaven. Nellie,
keep on playin' Killarney will YET
Don't let up on II for minute. IT'S
because don't want We to see the
slaughter" he added as she locked az
him wonderlngly
Never In my life have loved you
as ! do this minute, Al" she said.
Then play-play as We never have
before" he commanded, and the door
TO the hall was banged shut In her
face
Across the narrow court the placid
Mr.. Ryan calmly rolled another cigar,
cite, evidently quite unaware of the
impending doom hanging over him.
Ryan, looking up, beheld the advsn-
cling figure with q smile Of lazy good
nature.
Hello, Al" he called afrably.
an ~