South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-15

the city man know that the grass
green goddess IS upon her throne.
He sits at his breakfast eggs and
toast. begrit by stone walls. opens
his morning paper and sees journal
ism leave vernalisn at the post.
For, whereas. springs COurfers
were once the evidence OF our finer
senses. now the Associated Tress
does the trick.
The MARBLE Of the first robin in
HaCkensack. the stirring OF the
maple sap in Bennington, the bud
ding OF the pussywillOws aiong Main
at IN Syracuse, the first chirp Of the
buebird. the swan song Of the Blue
Point. the annual tornado in St.
Louis. the plant OF the peach pessi-
mist from POmpton, y J.. the regu-
lar visit OF the tame Wild goose with
"A broken leg to the pond near Bflge-
water Junction, the base attempt OF
the Drug Trust TO boost the price OF
quinine fOiled in the House by Con-
gresham Jinks. the first tall pop
lar struck by lightning and the usual
stunned picknickers who had taken
refuge. the FIRST crack OF the ice jam
In the Allegheny river the finding OF
a violet in its NOISY bed by the
correspondent at Round Corners
these are the advance signs Of the
burgeoning season that are wired in
10 the wise city, while the farmer
sees nothing but winter upon his
dreary fields.
But these be mere externals- The
true harbinger is the heart. When
Strephon seeks his Chloe and Mike
his Maggie. then only is spring ar
rived and the newspaper report Of
the hve-foOt RATHER killed in Squire
Pettigrew's pasture confirmed.
Ere the first violet blew, Mr.. Pet
ers. Mr.. Ragsdale and Mr.. Kidd sat
together on a bench in Union Square
and cOnspired. Mr.. Peters was the
D'Artagnan Of the loafers there. Tic
was the dingiest, the LATEST, the sor-
riest brown blot against the green
background Of any bench in the
park But just then he was the most
important OF the trio.
Mr.. Peters had a wife. This had
not heretofore affected his standing
with Ragy and Kidd. But today it
invested him with a peculiar inter-
est. His friends. having escaped
matrimony had shown a disposition
20 deride Mr.. Peters for his venture
on that troubled sea. But at last
they had been forced to acknowl-
edge that either he had been gifted
with a large foresight or that he
was one Of Fortunes lucky sons.
For. Mrs. Peters had a dollar. a
whole dollar bill, good and receiv-
able by the government for customs,
taxes and all public dues. How 10
get possession OF that dollar was the
question up for discussion by the
three musty musketeers.
How do YOU know it was a do
Iar?" asked Ragsy. the immensity OF
the sum inclining him 10 scepticism.
THE coal man seen her have it,"
said Mr.. Peters. she went out and
done some washing yesterday. And
look what she give me for break
fast-the heel of "A loaf and cup Of
coffee. and her with a dollari"
Its fierce" said Ragsy.
CdA W. ~ uU anu lullNu Ct anu
stick towel in 'er mouth and cop
the coin" suggested Kidd, viciousy.
"Y' amt afraid OF a woman, are
YOU 80
"She might hOller and have US
pinchcd." demurred Ragsy. Il don't
believe in smuggling no woman in a
houscful Of people"
"Gent'men." said Mr.. Peters. Sc
verely. through his russet stubble.
my wife. A man who would lift his
hand to a lady except in the way of
Mcguire" said Dagsy, pointedly,
"has got his book beer sign cut If
we had a dollar we could"
Hush up" said Mr. Peters lick
ing his lips. I'VE got TO get that
case note somehow boys Amt
what's mans wife's his? Leave
it to me. I'll go over to the house
and get it, wait here for ne"
I've seen 'em give up qulc;, and
tell YOU where it's hid if you kick
'em i'm the ribs" said Kidd.
"No man would kick a woman
said Peters. virtuously. "A little
choking just a touch on the wind
pipe-that gets away with 'em-and
no marks left Wait for me. I'll
bring back that dollar, boys"
High up in n tenement house be-
tween Second av. and the river lived
the Peterses in a back room so
gloomy that the landlord blushed to
take the rent for it. Mrs. Peters
worked at sundry times. doing odd
Jobs Of scrubbing and washing Mr..
Peters had a pure. unbrOken record
Of FIVE years without having earned
a penny. And yet they chung to-
gether. sharing each others hatred
and misery. being creatures of habit.
OF habit. the power that keeps the
earth from flying to pieces: though
on the safer OF the two chairs ana
there is some silly theory Of gravita-
ton.
Mrs Peters rePosed her 200 pounds
gazed stolidly out the one window at