The Ordway new era., 1921-06-08
Gannon's
War-Song.
By JOHN BARTON OXFORD
(Copyrisht)

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 sue
where. in all the glory of PINK shirt
and tie of dazzling blue, young MT.
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 NAT
afforded Aloysius Cannon, slight OF
frame and mild of mien, swung to and
fro in uneasy silence.
"Or father who wasn't too old to
teach some of these young whelps
their manners" Nellie went on. with a
glance at Cannon that set his face
flushing.
"Or If was o.ily man myself the
girl at the wiz ratified on. she
sighed with mach oStentation. ia
show Blink RYAN that he couldn't
take liberties with me nor anybody
belongin' to me-"
"Aw. say. Nellie" Cannon deprecati
ed, she didn't mean nothln' by it. 1t
was just him kiddin'."
The girls eyes flashed.
at don't make no difference what he
meant, he done It," she said fatty.
Nov, maybe you gave him bit of
encouragement" Cannon suggested
hopefully.
you know me better than that" she
| cried In fine wrath; "or 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 till 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
meg
"Tve not says l. tryin' to get the
key in the door. but he held hold of
my arms.
"'Nellie. you're lookin' as fresh as
primrose says he. I've mind to
have my goodnight kiss without the
askin'"
".You'Il be doin' nothin' of the sort
says /, for I'm as good as promised TO
a man who Is so much better than you
are, Blink Ryan, that you're not wor-
thy to 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 me!'
"Well. well. 'tis no great harm done"
Aloysius observed with sickly grin.
The girls lips curled scornfully. The
glance she threw in his direction was
filled with supreme contempt.
"If was man." she snapped de-
risively. I'D like to know of another
man kissln' my steady, whether she
wanted him to or not"
She crossed the room to the old
fashioned square plano 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 xii
larney."
With the first notes of 1t Gannon's
the first time that evening he sat erect
in the chair.
"Nellie," he said, "'twas low down
trick. No man is goin' to take Iiber
ties with you, not when know It, Say
the word an I'll go across the court
an punch the face Off him."
"For minute. Al. thought maybe
you are afraid of him." she said, "but
now 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 q
loss just what to do or say. The per-
spiratlon 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
stantaneous.
"Tll learn him to kiss We, Nellie,
that will !" he cried In fine defiance.
"Ill go over there an I'll make n
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 ye?
Don't let up on 1t for minute. It's
because don't want ye to see the
slaughtey," he added as she looked at
him wonderingly.
"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