The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-07-23
For Mernory's
Sake
!, 1aas- waatsrn Newspapsr uniOn.l
BY DUFoRD JENNIE

! sobDlng.
we went on up the creaking stairs
Of the old tenement, through the reek-
ing air of ancient cooking, thinking Oh
how MANY times that room he had
nassed had held some one who had
found the city ways too troubled TO De
| hanpy He knew by the sound that
this time 1t was girl who had drifted
down In that dismal eddy of the great
| city.
The next day, the old man saw her
He was on the pension list OF his OLD
lumber firm, had carefully banked
enough money to give him a decent
burial; so the sunny days he spent in
the park. That park faced the sea,
and on his special bench 1t was his
habit to rest, watching through the
hours the traffic from the ocean up the
great river
The girl came and sat down on the
same bench. She did not seem to no
tice him. He knew that she was near
the end.
/ When she did look at him, he start
ed The memory Of a girl he had
loved long ago Steiner moved rest
lessly, trying to take his thoughts from
her.
That evening he sought out Mrs
Malone, who lived In the basement,
and who was his one and only friend
In the tumbling old tenement. He ex-
planned what he wanted.
She took her pipe from her sagging
mouth and said tenderly: "Ye OF
fool, ye'd been up the city stead OF
here in clover, ii it want for the ten
der heart o. We. But I'll do 1t fer ye-
She reported on the night OF that
day. "Sure the colleen was dyin' fer
a body to talk to. She's nigh the end
Ye see she was ingaged to q salesman.
They had everything fixed. He whit
South fer his firm. An she niver
heard of him. His firm neither. They
thought he skipped with the money
and left thin In the lurch-an' her,
too. Why We SO glum, man? She's
nuthin' to yer
The old man gave his rare smile
From the basement Steiner went to
Bause,s the owner of the tenement, who
lived In his ramshackle building.
Steiner explained what he wanted.
"Sure." Bause said. "She can stay
as long as she wants If you pay the
BILL No, won't say anything. None
of my business as long as get the
CON-
The next day Steiner lirnped down
to the great docks where until he had
been pensioned he had been night
Waterman for many years. Doors
were opened for him until he faced
the owner of the shipping company
who controlled them. Steiner again ex-
planned what he wanted.
The gray-headed man at the desk
smiled. "Still helping them out, Stein
er? Well, you were the best watch
man we ever had, and we owe you a
good turn. I'll see what can do"
He turned to the telephone, and
Steiner saw him as he talked show
sudden interest. When he turned he
said: "They got track of the young
fellow last week. He was in hotel
fire in some little town down South
burned everything he had up, and al
most finished him. He's out of his
mind now he's in some state asylum,
but they're looking after him and they
think If they could find his sweetheart
she might be able to help him come,
around. I've got all Of this from the,
manager Of his old firm, so It must be
right"
Steiner almost forgot his limp as;
he hurried back to the tenement On
his way he stopped at the Sailors
Five-Cent Savings bank and drew out
the precious money that was to make
sure he would have an honorable place
to rest after his days were over. 81
can squeeze bit of my pension" he
said hopefully.
| he listened at the landing before
the little room. He was sure he heard
little movement He knocked. No,
reply He knocked again. No reply.
he turned the broken knob. A slow
step drew near. The door opened a
bit. The wide, staring eyes of the
girl looked at him.
Il have some good news for you.
Can see your" he asked
Once In the room, he sat down at
the table while she stood. Quietly he
eoAu hOA WHAT ne nad discovered. She
stood dumb; and at his last words she
tainted
he stumbled down to the basement
ana Drought Mrs. Malone putting up.
| When at last peace filled the dingy
room. Steiner rose. The girl looked up
az MIN from the bed, her eyes wide
no longer with despair and horror.
how can thank you? Oh, how can
y IN go tomorrow; and I'll send the
money back just as soon"
Never mind the money" he said.
whenever things are all right you
can send It. won't need 1t for long
time hope"
outside the door he listened to the
brogue Of Mrs. Malone and the happy