Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-12-31

slavey-his conscience was clear as
long as he did his work.
That clarity was lacking today !.
therefore his haste However, he
halted once, drab blanket unnoticed
in his hands. and stood merely looking
l. road before him sounded the steady
laundering of trains with the home
ward rush. From the street beneath
came the warm doors OF a tenement
block in late May: there were the
quarreling voices OF women at near
by store, the playful shrieks of chill
dren, and far away. the tinkling of a
hurdy-gurdy. Joe Barry disregarded
them all. Once more that boyish,
wistful light was in his dark eyes,
and his finely cut features had soft
ened A faint indication Of smile
trembled at the corners of his lips
then departed. More roomers had
come stumbling up the worn steps,
soon to begin their complaints. Joe
Give guy timer he snapped.
Timer asked a protesting voice.
How much time do you want? These
rooms ought to be made up by noon;
and you amt even touched mine yet"
Another ledger Joined the quarrel.
You weren't here last night"
"Oh yeah7" asked Joe Barry surlily.
''Oh YEAH Then why wasn't you
here to fix that faucet In the wash
room this mornin'7'
The corners Of Joe Barry's lips
jerked downward.
what OF ity' he asked YEARLY.
.'Just enough of 1t that I'll make
squawk to the Old Egg II 1t happens
again. a guys got right to have his
room made up"
Joe spread the blanket and
smoothed 1t.
"squawk and see II care" he said
DULY.
AN you weren't at Louie's last
night either" The youth halted an
grily at the doorway of fresh task.
II suppose you went down there
looking for me?f
Nav, | never went down there
lookin' for you They come up here.
Said You hadn't showed up. told
'em you was probably drunk some
where"
you would"
Jaw, g'wan, you accordion playerir
That evidently was the supreme re-
tort. 1t brought sarcastic laughter
from two other rooms. and reflec-
ton from the main antagonist.
"What joint this Is A lousy
miser for landlord and an accordion
player for chambermaid r
Then every one laughed, while Joe
Barry stood and scowled, one hand
beating slowly into the palm OF the
other. At last his shoulders slumped
and he went silently back to his work,
silence which continued, In spite OF
complaining and OF taunts, until his
last job was done. Then with sud-
den. new air OF hurry. he went to his
room, shaved with cold water, changed
his wrinkled gray suit to the less
shabby one which hung over the chair,
and drew from beneath the bed, an
oblong case Of battered black A mo-
ment later. he was on the street,
bound for his work OF the night
He walked; nickels were precious.
Long ago. he had convinced himself
that walk from Third avenue and
Sixteenth street to below Washington
square was good for fellow. Some
times he strolled. looking In windows.
Tonight. however, he all but ran; his
arm ached from its burden and he was
out OF breath when at last he reached
Louis Bertolini's italian restaurant, on
the fringe of Greenwich village. A
waiter, slumped on his
hips. hands Imply clasped behind his
back. rolled his eyes toward the stairs.
as he was known, was
never demonstrative.
Upstairs for YOU" he said. Then
In reply to swift question. Louie?
He amt come In yet" AT that he
grinned. You'll know when he gets
here"
Joe nodded acknowledgment to the
and started toward a
stairway leading from the main dining
room Joe Barry knew the place SO
we'll that the slightest deviation was
lrresting; he halted at the stairway.
when did he get the radon" he |
asked.
Las night, when you never showed |
1p," said Fullhouse. and on his fiat
eet, moved away. But Joe Barry re-
NAMED at the bottom OF the stairs,
ooking with something of fright at
he inobtrusve brown cabinet and Its
wire, leading to a light
ocket. The instrument was quietly
prophetic.
Joe Barry made his way hastily to |
IN old storeroom at the rear and
nened the black box. An accordion.
I the cheapest professional kind, lay
Within He brought 1t forth and bent
0 receive Its strap. Then he went
orth to his job OF the night, playing
be tables"