The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-03-09

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me?"
/ eyes"
"JuSt Ike I can win at cards easy,
I I can make easy money on any bust
ness proposition I put my mind to.
Say, right now Pm making three times
what any fellow in my line is making.
But I'm getting sick Of this country
tO-country business. Esther. There's
money in it, but I'm just about ready
to get me good partner, settle down
and get me a little-get me a homel
Get me, Esther? A home is what
want"
Eyes, Joe"
get me a partner and settle down."
"a fellow like you would just be
the making Of a boy like my brother
Niche. He's such a kid yet, and two
years older than me, too. But he's
been under papa's thumb in the bust
ness too long. A boy Ike him that
never would 90 to school, gets into
business early. What he needs now is
to get out and hustle for himself in n
business that isn't already made.
That's what I always say-papa ought
to set Niche up for himself"
"Sure thingl Say, I guess a man
like your papa could set his son up
in business with twenty or thirty thou
sand and not feel it, eh?"
THAT'S what Niche says, but pas
slow about it,
"Your brothers got the right idea
all right; why, bet if your papa had
three sons he could set them up in
business and not feel it, Ell? I know
a thing or two about the money that's
been made in the mems clothing bust
ness the last fifteen years"
papa IS right rich, I guess"
"And Il grand old man if there ever
was one"
"He sure is and self-made, too. Hon
est, it's just like a story the way he
Notwithstanding and making his
way peddling, and then when he mar
ried mama, right from off the East
side, too, the two of them starting the
little store together the two of them
pushing through all ,the dirt of the
East side and coming out of it so fine
and all. Shows bow goodness can
grow out of all thGo filth down there,
don't it, Joe?'
ITS grand Esther"
Him and mama don't show IT, may
be, but they're just pure gold, they
are. They-theyre just pure gold"
His hand lay over hers, quiescent.
A waiter lowered in the distance. The
gabbe and laughter of tourists was
suddenly remote.
IF the old gentleman only won't stir
up a game tonight Esther, Wen make
a last evening of it on board, alrighty."
81 just told papa he-he couldn't
drag you down there tonight, Gibral-
tar coming in sight and you knowing
so much to describe about places"
81 sure want to stick with YOU to-
night Esther. fact is, I just want
to stick with you all of them"
Her hand flew to her breast.
"Joe!"
"My little dearie-girlie-I want to
steal you"
ooh, Joe-you-you mustn't"
But he was on his feet suddenly
and crasping his hat from the table.
Cad" he cried, there's the boat
whistling three times. We got to do
some tail sprinting, grille. Look, the
rest Of them have all started down
already"
ooh, Joe. Mama! Let's run. Let's"
Hand in hand and with the Hellenic
swing of youth, they scuttled across
the green turf. Form the harbor, full
Of warning, came another blast
The quicksilver Of madness runs
through the veins Of a moonlit night.
Poets chew their pen-cnds and grope
for meter. The Blessed Damosel leans
out Harlequin laughs in his tight
sleeve and kicks up his heels in kin
ship with the world. AS many maidens
as there are in the world scent the
perfumed garments Of Romance as she
rustles through the corridors of the
night and sigh for or with their lovers.
Esther Lefkovitch sighed, too, but
family, as if she would not break a
spell. Before the approach of the
Roumania the moon unrolled a strip
Of light, just as a pathway Of carpet
is unrolled before the feet of bride.
A hump of black, like the great sill
houette of a kneeling camel, rose
against the sky. Here and there at
its knuckles lights twinkled. Along
the silent deck couples crept out from
corners whispering, pointing in
pantOmime. A star shot down and
died In its flight. Esther LefkOvitCh
followed it with eyes that were mel
low to moistness.
Esther, that you, childT
"Mama, how you scared me, sneak
ing up behind me so sOftw
always in lonesome place like
this on top-deck l find you, Esther.
Twice over this boat I've been, bring
ing you your heavy coat for the damp
ness. Here, put it on"
She slid into the garment, fastening
1t across the smooth V Of her barred
throat.
For why, Esther, you should stay
up here in the dark all alone, when