Evening star., 1925-06-21

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Mary's heart. If he was dead she
would be better off The rat has
| taken all her little savings and is
about eating up her profits now. She
won't marry, though Larry's way of
living don't influence me bit where
| she's concerned. If Larry got sent
up for a long stretch it would be bet
! ter for Mary, though she would mourn
him as if he was dead. / wish she
would get rid of the store. quit this
neighborhood. and let me Ike her
happy. But she won't, as long as
that rat is loose.
Didn't e go to work on the dock ,"
asked PegweH. raging. e bunged
me off in tn Stella and took my job,
didn't he?"
"He held the job for one week and
quit" Jack replied. He said he
made a killing at the races. Two
Watchmen since have either fallen off
| the dock at night or been thrown off -
Jack was silent for a moment.
"Pegwell," said Jack at length, I'm
glad you're home. You can do a lot
for Mary. l ought not to mention
this to soul; but | believe you are
her friend
''F'riend?" raSped Pegwell Mister.
you're bloody foolish. That little gal
kin use me fer door mat. an IN
show you what sort of friend | am
fust time l set eyes on that Larry
tNot SO loud" Jack whispered
They passed IA policeman, who nodded
to Jack. 'Pegwell. they're out TO get
Larry now, | have done all / can
can't shield him any longer. He's out
of town for a while, but when he
comes back he's going to be jumped
on. and he'll get 10 years"
"Wot dyou think | can do?" de-
manded Peswel1. Can l save him
when you can't? Want me to go up
for him, same as | made a Cape voy-
age for him. The old man was fu-
rious.
You can only he a friend and com
fort to Mary" said Jack quietly.
Pegwells wrinhled face was screwed
up grotesquely with the intensity OF
his thought.
Seems to me" he said IF YOU
was TO sore of hurry her into we'd
din. maybe you could do bit o
comfortin' yourself Ii | had money
enough to offer to buy her shop or
her | cd take care o the Larry rat -
'Oh, YOU have money enough" re-
torted Jack quickly. Mary said long
ago YOU could pay out of profits You
only need about hundred To pay
down. l guess you have that much. "
DEG WELL was apparently not lis
tening; yet in fact he was. He
seemed TO be looking sheer through
the cold. gray drizzle into the future.
and if his worn, lined old face was
any guide, what he saw in the dim
perspective of imagination held more
light than shadow
What's tn wust this Yer Larry s
done?" he suddenly asked. Killed
anybody"
"Oh, no. replied Jack swiftly.
Nothing like that. He's just a plain
crook. Dope smuggling; peddling. too.
The worst he's done is TO sell dope to
S'hccl MUS Esdu enough, u say.
Not quite as bad as murder,
s'pose," Pegwell growled. though be
blowed eff 1 know why ii amt. Any
how. Jack, me lad. YOU take the ad-
vice of an old lummicks. marry Mary
whether she wants to or not. and I'll
promise to take care o Larry. III
see he don't git sent up. You tell
| her. | be going round tonight again
and see how fur you're right about
that hundred down and hundred
when YOU kctch me shop purchase
proposition. Slong, Jack. Set them
weddin' bells to ringin'"
Late that night Mary Bland babe
Pegwell good night at the door of the
little shop. She was rosy and smil-
ing. Her brown eyes were wide and
| bright. Pegwell had never seen her
50 completely alive and gladstone.
She shook his hand twice. and just
for tiny instant = speck of cloud
fiickered in her eyes.
IF you believe YOU can help Larry.
| know you can she said Il know
he will be safe In your care, old Peg
we'll"
Hell git a mans chance. YOU kin
make sartain," stated Pegwell Good
night, Missy, an keep Smilin' III
be around to meet Jack in the morn
in and settle about the shop. Forgit
yer troubles. TIL cops don't want
Larry. If they did they couldn't git
him
At the end of the week Old Pegwell
took undivided charge of the little
shop, while Jack and Mary went
about on some mysterious business
connected with a license. Old Peg
we'll stood in the door watching them
and his Old pipe emitted clouds of
, smoke in sympathy with the depth of
his breathing. He felt queerly tight
about the heart.
Bless EN-" he barked chokiy
a man came to buy tobacco. The
two men stared at each other
IF t amt old Pegwell," roared the
mate of the Stella. Come to moor
inGs at last hey. you old fox?''
Aye, mister. YOU won't bully old
Pegwell no more. When dye sail?"
The mate laughed, picking up his
change.
Next Saturday. III put yer name
on yer old bunk. Or praps you'd
| like to sail bosun. hey"
Pegwell laughed comfortably He
spread his feet wide as he stood
again in the doorway. gazing after
the rolling figure of the mate. At
last, at last, he was man enough to tell
first mate to go scratch his ear. He
turned to go inside, for the air was
cold in spite of the sun. and the shop
must be kept warm, when a scurry-
ing figure doubled the corner. burst
in after him and slammed the door
Larry Bland stood there before him,
painting, wild eyed.
Where's Nary" he rasped.
Gone out, me son. said Pegwell
grimly. Just calm down. l own this
here shop now. What kin 1 do for
you?"
Larry glanced around the place fur
lively. He had a hunted look. Peg