Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-03-26

II guess you can walk TO the door
with me- said the girl hesitRtingly. but
with a certain pleased hutter "Stil |
never heard anything extra good about
Wall street brokers, or sports who go
to prize fights either Amt you got
any other recommendations
Il think you're the swellcst locker I've
had my lamps on In little old New York,
! said Colk impressigeiy.
THAT viii be about enough Of that
now. Amt you the kidder" She mod
| fed Ter chidlng words by a deep, long
/ beaming, smile EN- belllshed look at her
cavalier. Wen drink our beer before
we go, haf"
A waiter sang. The tobacco smoke
grew denser, drifting and rising In
splrals, waves, tilted layers, cumulus
clouds, cata racts and suspended fogs like
some nth element created from the ribs
of the anci Mt four. Laughter and chat
grew louder, stimulated by Rooney 5
liquids and ROOney's gallant hospitality
| to Lady Nicotine.
One o'clock struck. Downstairs there
was a sound Of closing and locking doors.
Frank pulled down the green shades Of
the 'front.' windows carefully. Rooney
went below in the dark hall and stood
at the front door, his cigarette cached in
the hollow OF his hand. Thenceforth
whoever might seek admittance must pre-
sent a countenance familiar to Rooney g
q true
sport
Cork McManus and the bookbindery
girl conversed absorbedly, with their ell
bows on the table. Their glasses Of beer
were pushed to one side, scarcely
touched, with the foam on them sunken
to a thin white scum. Since the stroke
Of / the stale pleasures Of Rooney's had
become renovated and spiced not by any
additions to the list distractions, but
because from that moment the sweets
became stolen ones. The --LATEST glass Of
beer acquired the tang Of illegality ,he
mildest claret punch struck IA knockout
blow at law and order; the harmless and
genial company became outlaws, defy.
ing authority and rule. For after the
stroke Of 1 In such places as Rooney
where neither bed nor board Is to be had
drink may not be set before the thirsty
Of the city of four million. 1t is the law
Say" said Cork McManus, almost GOV.
ering the table with his eloquent chest
and elbows, was that dead straight
about you workin' in the bookbindery
and livin' at homeland just happenin
in here-and-and all that spiel you gave
me 2"
Sure it was" answered the girl with
spirit. why. what do you think? DO
you suppose I'd lie to you? Go down
"On the dead level?" said Cork. That's
the way I want it; because"
Because what?"
You've got me .godin'. You're the girl
company with me, Ruby z"
would you like me to-Eddy?"
"Surest thing. But wanted a straight
story about-abOut yourself, you know,
When fellQ ~ ba s iTd6t steady girl
She's got to be straight goods"
YSl find me straight ,ri g Gods Eddie
you told me- But you can't blame me
for wantin' to find out. You don't see
many girls smOkin' cigarettes in places
like Rooney's after midnight that are
like YOU
The girl flushed a little and lowered
her eyes. 81 see that now" she said
meekly. Il didn't know how bad it
looked. But I won't do 1t any more. And
I'll go straight home every night and
stay there. And I'll give up cigarettes
If you say so, Eddie-I'll cut EN- out
from tits minute on
Cork's air became judicill proprietary,
eondemnatory, yet sympathetic. "a lady
can smoke" he decided, slowly "at times
and places. Why9 Because it's being a
lady that helps her to pull 1t or"