The Washington herald., 1922-11-12
The Vengeance
Hen1y Jdrr0nnan
By ROY VICKEKs.


that Uttered the roadway. A street
lamp CLEANED on the name board.
Huckster's Row. To ciaudine the
name had vague, ominous
familiarity. She shlvered. and
Theed pretended not to notice II.
Many OF the squat sium cottages
showed lights In the windows, for
Huckster's Row knows nothing OF
the measured dsy and night. Once
Theed caught her arm to prevent
her falling over drunken man. ly-
ing across the pathway.
As they advanced there came the
sound Of raucous voices droning a
once popular ditty. Theed stopped
opposite the cottage from which the
sounds. were coming.
Theed ratified the knocker, loud
ly, awaking echoes In the alley OF
human desolation. Presently. through
q grating in the door which claud-
Inc had not noticed. . mans voice
demanded:
who are yer?"
you had better tell Nell that
er-soapy Sam. the mouthpiece. has
brought Q lady friend to see her."
said Theed.
That" said Theed to Claudine.
'.is the detestable nickname by
which ] am known in these parts.
Mputhpiece' means solicitor "a
man who speaks for them when they
get into trouble. you know"
There came q shout from within.
and a moment later the bolts were
drawn.
Theed stepped forward, and claud-
| Inc followed him. There was no
passage. She, found herself stand
ing in q room that reeked Of beer
and stale spirits and unwashed hu-
manity. Dimly at nrst. through q
heavy haze of strong tobacco smoke.
| she could discern a number of men
with the beady eyed stamp OF the
underworld. In the center of the
room was a table. Three men were
crouched round Il and At the head
sat a young girl, who. by the posi-
tion of q pile Of notes anda silver.
| a game Of chance.
The girl staggered to her feet on
seeing her guests.
Claudine stared at the girl for a
long second. In that second her
heart missed q beat.
Her soul was slipping-siippins
backwards over the years, and-tak-
lug the young girl with her.
| She was In the cheap. ugly little
room that had flashed in her mind
when frst Theed had spoken of her
| daughter; but now It was not on
herself but on the child that her
memory was focused. Sturdy limbs
that child had had. eyes deep set
and blue like her fathers, and her
mothers red gold curls.
well. my dear. how goes itT'
Theed was saying. I've told this
lady about you. and she wanted to
make your acquaintance"
PLEASED ter meet yer. I'm sure"
said Nell with the easy ringing
twang Of the true Cockney. She
turned fiercely on one OF the men.
Eyes and hair flashed sarishly in
the light.
"Tike yer at OFF. Jim; can't yer?
Don't show yer blinkin Ignorance
afore the gentry"
| Claudine stood tongue tied for the
frst time in her life. CONFLICTING
| emotions that were too strong fer
her tortured her brain. There were
the sturdy limbs. still 1.-THE, but
| destitute of grace. There were the
| eyes-bright now with the cunning
Of Huckster's Row. There was the
hair struggling, unkempt. but still
with a copper streak amidst the
brown.
There was. above all. the reckless
lift OF head. the rapid play OF hands.
that she knew to be her own.
Shorn OF all glamor. all device,
ClauGine saw herself in the person
of Nell Of Huckster's Row.
sit down. missis. an make
yerself at ONE" Nell was inviting
her. Were all friends 'ere-least-
ways for tonight"
Claudine tried to speak. but could
not. She had come with the inten-
tion Of confounding Theed by claim
ing her daughter as her own. and
yet
"P'rsps you'd like ter try yer
''--'- '~'l ratified the dice in the
box Nah. then. me lucky lidy.
he Dir ond an the Fart. An the
more yer put damn. the more yer
picks up"
The men guffawed. Claudine
suspected vaguely that her unbend-
ing attitude had turned her from
a guest into a butt. She tried hard
to unbend. but she could not. She
could feel Theed glowing with salts
| faction.
Thank you." she said. but we
cannot stay-at least, we have only
a few minutes"
Nell. the soul incarnate Of Huck-
ster's Row. was offended-and knew
| how TO avenge the insult in her own