Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 32, Number 131, 2 June 1907 — Page 9

By Raymond-Lee Harriman.

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Copyright, 1907, fcy Thomas II. hlcKee. H, WALDO VINCENT TRENWITH a war. five feet one inch of fashion, taas3 culms gender, with fiasen hair and W 9 little pink, perfectly manicured fingernails. The ladies said he. was cute, and regarded him as something tnfir, which must be rocked to deep. At Harvard they used to call him ' Little Buttercup." " ' It was reluctantly that he left Miss Creighton's .'rawing-rcom. Outside it was snowing-, wet, heavy -flakes - thai, a moment after touching- th3 street transformed' intc a muddy slush. The bad weather served only to emphasize the sheltered felicities of the roou-, where a fire burned cheerily in the grate, and where- the atmosphere was ;warm, cozy and supremely of culture. The very temperature was at a degrf-e calculated to distil tho finest subtleness of thought. Such a profitable afternoon! The time had swiftly passed in a discussion of Whistler's technique, or, rather, in a discourse by Mr. Trenwiih, to which Mi3 Creighton had listened to intelligently as to dilate his dilettante soul to undefined dimensions. Miss Creighton had that rare manner of attention -which always made Mr. Trenwith's thoughts seem immortally significant. Charming women! Mr. Waldo Vincent Trenwith was loo well-bred, of cours-, to reveal his desire to linger. He took Miss Creighlon'n hand and told her ihat he was delighted to perform this service for her. Really glad. If he could save her any fatigue he was joyed at th opportunity. Undoubtedly he was a poor substitute for her gracious, sympathetic self, and so forth and so forth; but he would use all his tact and so forth and zo forth to atttend upon Mrs.

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. -. y . . '. :,: v'. iA'V; -'i 4 '. V vs .5, L WALDO VINCENT BEGAN THE BENEVOLENT ' O'Rourke's needs. Ho would explain to the good lady Miss Creighton's indisposition, and might he call at "four to-morrw with a report of the results? ;He hopl that upon his call Miis Creighton would '.ho greatly improved. Exit Mr. Waldo Vincent ; Trenwith into tho-storm. He looked almost as if "he might melt in' the snow. A-servant had telephoned for a carriage, and it was waiting. . Mr. Waldo cave his instructions to the . jrlistcmns; rubher-clad - cabby, and stepped '(daintily into the conveyance. Cabby hoisted his 'flapping hulk upon ths box. An revoir, Mis Creighton's drawing-room, co-j- and warm, with the fire burning cheerily in the grate! The carriage turned' a comer. The business at Mrs. O'Rourke's again" claimed his ' attention. Drawing a fountr in-pen and a notebook -with tha Trenwiih crest gohistamped thereon from a pocket, Waldo Vincent began to write. He intended that no detail of hij errand should be overlooked. Hence this copy of Miss Creighton's solicitude, toward the O'Rourkes. How is your supply of-coal? Ijo you need any groceries? - Hiss Maggio sufheient underclqthing? 3la3 Tommy any rubbers? Js Michael still working at the s.imo place? Waldo Vincent paused, cudgelling his brain3. That wasn't half of Miss Creighton's question','" j really. Hut preoccupied gaze wandered ont of the : window and fell upon a sight which made him sigj nal the tabfy to stop. A horso in one of the Hunt & Feeble's express wagons had fallen and lay across tho shafts, tangle 1 and helpless in its harnts. A few men stood oh the edge of the sidewalk viewing the prostrate eniriiai with a listless sort of curie-sty. The teamster, a loose-jointed, powerful nan, with little pig-like eyes set in fat folds of-.Cesh.. I seized the t nimal by its bridle, jerking it sullenly as ha beat the helpless head with the butt-end of a whip. fVtff Terse struggled, kicked, doubling a foreleg under himself, and sank back again, "his eyes rolling with terror. i " The teamster swore and repeated the jerks and blows. I The horse rolled, straining to gain a foothold in TT T" "jr .'-' TT X 'ir4 U4 c ! f 1 : i r" '.r y l!i 'J . .lit. - .r-&rJl C -

the soft Ejush and on the still more Elippery pavements underneath. At last, exhausted, he gave up, his neck stretched out in a wild gesture, his nostrils distended in a labored breathing. The sidewalk spectators gave no sign of indignation, but stood, hands in pockets, shuffling their cold feet in a damp apathy. ' . x Th-J driver slopped around, swore some more, 2nd kicked viciously at the heaving belly. The animal did not move. It had lost its courage. Th3ro stirred iu the azure deeps of Waldo Vincent's; calm soul an agitation uncommonly violent. Us? carefully placed his pen and notebook beside him on the peat He turned up his trousers. He slighted. He picked his way through the: slush. He" confronted the' hurley figure with a whip clenched in bis hand. Waldo Vincent's face wa3 child-like aid innocent., , .. "My dxar 'fellow,''"' he began in his soft, whippedcresm voice, "your procadure is..allwrpng." A cheerless guffaw, came from--,one of the bystanders, and was echoed weakly, by two or threo others. ' ' - ' .r "You rliould unharness the animal and.spread a blanket under him." 'i ;.--' ""at.are you buttin in-fer?" demanded the teamster," throwing out "an ugly jaw intended to intimidate. . '' ' ' ... . ' Waldo Vincent, however, heid- his ground more, staunchly than hi:; size would give one to expect. "Theh.orf c maj then gain a foothold." he went on without a flutter. - "What does a lady like you know about hosses?" Another spiritless guffaw from the bystander with the lugubrious sense of humor. ' Uneousciousb Waldo Vincent had struck an attitude. ' Don't you see that such exhibition tends

'4 '-:;3'? li1! V' ' ' - ':V : i. " - ft '. 4 V CATECHISM. TAKING THE REPLIES VERBATIM. to demoralize?" ' A gesture with the walkingstick. "The effect of such an act upon those who have unfortunately witnessed it : is immeasurably depraving." A wave of the gloved hand. "And, reacting upon yourself, such brutality can only destroy all finer impulses." With an iAt of languid intolerance the teamster reached out and gave Waldo Vincent a shove. The force of --he movement was'su-iHeient..to send him spinning backward. He stopped himself with one arm from falling flat and scooped up a sleeveful of slush. "I don't let no figger off fi wedd;.n'-cake takto me like that," declared the driver," 'a satisfied grin distorting his features., Waldo Vincent arose, shook, the slush from-his sleeve, restored his silk hat to its former particular angle. Motioned the cabby to drive along, and, with all dignity, stepped into the -.carriage. Outwardly appeared to hav.o banished the disagreeable incident from his mind, in that swift completeness with which great minds dismiss petty annoyances Tin? carriage slewc.I around a corner into a narrower street. The precincts of prosperity were now l ind; and the figures, huddled into themselvos. which Jslouchcd, shuffled or scurried in and out o2 the deepening dusk were noticeably moro poorly clad. . . Darkness was fast shutting in. Lights were beginning to kindle themselves wearily in tho window of the shabby brick buildings; streetlamps cast dull circles, against tho storm. Ilausr.i.n's bar room, with a more prodigal illumination, spread "on the fronting sidewalk a patch of dirty ye! low. As the carriage raspS, WaHo Vincent sudd ei:I leaned forward end peered oat tho v.-ir-dow.. C'lir.eaii.'g: and senffing.- two forms shot out. cf th? har-rnom door onto the sidewalk. One dro-.hed, j-crawling. The other shock; a brawnv f sr. - .. Ti:!s glimpse, soundless and cnt off '.ike a motionpih're. starUef? Wnldo Vincent into a despairing WiV'tt for the might or that Iwawnv fist; but this l-ir wa? immediately submerged in a shudder at s"rh viol-nco. "Horribly rr;taT!" he rnu'T:;'.:rrd. Tho clssh of hr.man Tiodies always "Iru-t?i him

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as if he wire sensitive to the very vibrations of the impact. Wheeling to tte right. Into'another, stil! narrower thoroughfare the- carriage drew up to the curb about half-way down, and Waldo Vincent alighted. The crooked, tired walls rof tenements were most depressing. As he ascended the steps at number eiehty'-six : he was undergoing considerable adjusting. Ho looked for the bell There was no bell only a square hole. where once had been that useful appliance. He pushed at the door. It opened a few inches and stuck. He wormed himself througu the slit. . . . . - " , ' ' ; Staring in the dark hallway Waldo Vincent hesitated. Odors the steam of wash-tubs, boiling cabbage, frvmg meat conflicted among themselves 1 and collect vrir assailed his noser ' Above, a cKiTd'; squealed, followed by a.: gruff.. bass. An unseen ' door opened: light strCafced--down, .revealing -the stairs;' the door slammed". 'Waldo Vincent gf oped up the narrow rickety. Cight. Two flights. up. Miss Creighton had told him. . He rubbed along a wall, still adjusting himself. .-"AsraiiTke groped -upward. A thin line of light abruptlSv revealed a door. Hi, knock was answered -by.' Mrs. O'Rourke In . person. She was4 a shoTtump'y person,- bristlingwith an animosity evidently. intended for the rentman. ..Waldo Vincent deftly handed the lady his caTd. She took tho Jbit jof pasteboard in a wet, red , "handj but still 'appeared unenlightened. , I'm, from Mis Creighton, " he explained. , "She has been indisposed for the las week." "Oh, y4s God bless the lady! Maggie, git oat iv that chair." . ' Maggio was swept from that useful ' piece of furniture, and the greasy seat given"; a wipe with Mrs. O'ltourke's skirt. - "iJit down," said she affably. . - Waldo Vincent balanced himself fastidiously on the edge. Mrs. O'Rourke returned to .'her. tubs. Maggie stood one side and. bashfully regarded, the visitor;;-lho baby, three years old, who, upon a -chair, was sozzling in the sink, ceased that edifying pastime, -and turned a blue-eyed, stare upon him; Katy', cutting a loaf of bread at the table, stole inquisitive, wistful glances at him between the' slices. Waldo, Vincent drew the notebook from his pocket and began, t.h benevolent, catechism, taking 'the replies verbatim. . How is your supply, of coal? "There Is but a couplo'lv hods-left." ' ' Do you need anygroceries? "I do." Has Maggie .sufficient" underelothing? "She kas-Hot'H .-, ' y , -. . Has Tommy any" rubbers? "He has; but ha' wants' a pair of rubber-boots." ' IsrMichae! working yet? "He is not, and never will be until the union declares the strike off.' Has the baby got over his cough? "He has. He wants another bottle of infant food." Have you enough to pay the rent? "I have not." Is Katy going to school? "She is not. I need her C home." Remarks: Mrs. O'Rourke Is In pressing need of hosiery. Size obviously not ascertained. As he finished, the door was shouldered open and the lord of the . household swung into the kitchen. - . "'.' "Hello," Mike called, genially,, with an air that Included everybody. ;'--'-'' ; ';,.'.,' Mrs. O'Rou-rke's attitude, as she" scrubbed with no response, wa3 one of displeasure. ' Mike appropriated therbaby's flI1" aQd drawing ' himself to the table reached for a piece of bread. Kayt poured him some tea In a nicked cup. Waldo Vincent, detecting some Infelicity between milord and milady, arose rather hurriedly. But he was detained by an exultant pounding of his heart which, figuratively, lifted him off his feet. In the figure which sat at the table he recognized the antagonist of . half an hour before in front of Hausman's bar-room. The jacket buttoned tightlyover a chest which bulged with the iron-hooped stoutness of a beer-keg; the thick, muscular neck revealed by a gaping, tieless shirt; the hard fist like a maliet with red, twinkling hairs on it these marks were unmistakable. Opportunity was singing to Waldo Vincent a ferocious, primitive song in a queer alien rhythm. This was the first sweep of savage passion that had ever convulsed his placid soul; it held terror and tielight, and nearly cracked the glaze of civilization. "I shail inform Mis3 Creighton of your needs," he told Mrs. O'Rourke. "God bless" scrub, scrub "the lady!" Waldo Vincent was still lingering. With a stiffening of purpose he approached Mike. "Are you the gentleman," he asked, in a tentative low -oice, "whom I saw er r fighting about a half-hour ago?" Mike good-naturedly scrutinized the dapper particle of society who had addressed him. "Foightin?" he grinned; "that wa'n't no foight. OI only poked him twicet an' he fill down. He He called me a scab. I couldn't stand f'r it." , "May I have a few minutes' private conversation with you? I think it might be to your advantage." "Sure," said Mike amiably; "but I got to eat me supper now. I'll see yer at Charlie Hausman's s'loon in f fteen minutes." "That is very satisfactory arrangement. Goodday, Mrs. O'Rourke." Waldo Vincent groped his way down to the street. From the O'Roukes he was driven to the nearest drug-store, where he dangler! on the telephone and called up Hunt & Peebles' stable. The information obtained over the line seemed to please him greatly. ; . ' . Fifteen minutes later. Waldo Vincent entered Hausman's bar-room. Mike finished his glass of alo in a gulp, detached himself from the line' ef formo draped along the bar, who were trying to render themsehes impervious . to the inclement weather, and jerked a thumb" towards the backroom Waldo .Vincent followed.- ' The back-room was a portion of atmosphere permeated with the odor of. soured beer and stale tobacco smoke, and enclosed by four walls decorated with prints on pink paper ctit-from a sporting periodical. Dejected cigar-stubs clustered-around the usual cuspidor. "Haw like many people," observed Waldo Vincent to himself. "They have missed their mark. Ah. ouite a neat thought." Mike had dropped into a chair at a table, and Waldo Vincent, taking a place opposite outlined his proposition. The transaction culminated in tho passing- cf a ten-dollar bill over the table to Mike. He wadded the mono; into a little ball, and secreting it abo-tt his person, voiced a disposition to enter into the plan with all the enthusiasm of a personal grk-vanco. "And row." concluded Waldo Vincent very seriously, "I feel called upon to morally establish myself, I murt be assured that you do not misinterpret my motive. It is not that I am afraid of phyr-ituti inrln You, of course, have perceived that 1 art- not iirascularly organized." "Ain't s-nt the stren'th," - translated Mike. s "Tnafr. it I want to impress ou that it is' no

r-.i nr.xm spirit 'that enlists your services. In fact, I hav i vfrv strong desire to undertake the edifvInz tssk i.iyrt;lf, but I would only defeat my owr .M2l 11 "

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ends, and for the sake of dumb beasts, for the sak cf those patient animals which slave so nobly for mankind tne er er treatment must be administered by one who reduces the chances of failure to almost nil. 1 have every confidence in your prowess. Vd slap blazes cut of him. myself," flared Waldo Vincent in a sweet ferocity, "but I'm rot equipped to do it. Have I made myself clear! Mike nodded and smiled with an indolent pride at his own brawny endowments. "Sure," he said, "Oi'na wise." Waldo Vincent drew out" 'his watch. "It's five minuU-s after six. We've just time to make it. Mike climbed awkwardly into the carriage; Waldo Vincent urged the cabby to lose no time in getting ! to Aloysius Court. In scarcely ten minutes the - carriage dre-.v up iu a shadow on the opposite side of the street to number forty-three. Waldo Vincent marveled that Mike was not in the least bit nervous. Peculiar thing. Very interesting, Mike was teciting the tribulations of the union. "We're holdin out for two an' a quarter a. day, an' Oi'm thinkin' " "Quick!" interrupted Waldo Vincent. "There's the fellow!" Ha opened the door and unleashed Mike. "In case of police," was his parting advice, "run for the carriage." Breathlessly he watched his pugnacious emissary ' overtake' the loose-jointed, swaggering figure on tho other side of the street. Broken rays from an arc lit the movements of the-.two men. As the fellow was about to turn Into the tenement Mike reached for him with a swoop of a heavy hand, whirling him around. The teamster's cup of rag was boiling over as he confronted an aggressive chin.'thrust close to his. face. Waldo Vincent held the carriage door open, straining his ears. "Are you the lobster that was abusin' the hoss this afternoon?' demanded Mike. , , "Who'n blazes are you?" "You'll find out in a minute. 'Tis yourself Oi'm goin' ter give seme o' the same." Without further preliminaries Mike jabbed the teamster in the ribs. He. replied in. a blind fury with a lunge, which-Mike avoided' with an agile step. From all directions a crowd began to gather, and soon Waldo Vincent's view of the fight was shut off by a cianing, jostling ring of men and bovs. Determined not ro be deprived, however, he alighted and wriggled himself among the shifting pack. When Waldo Vincent regained his view the men were clinched. Panting and straining, the graopling forms Urussled from the sidewalk intd the

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x$$'- m. r V-i 1 - - ' 4 M 5 "V . -J" ?flV v-''J-""'' - " ... x ' -'it - . J V -rf" x"v ; y ' ..' v THE TEAMSTER REACHED OUT AND middle of the street. In the swaying crowd which gave way to them Waldo Vincent was squeezed, trampled upon, and his silk hat squat down to his oars. -He was quivering and twitching with the excitement. The teamster, his pig-eses glinting wickedly, his face set cruelly, had fastened a grip upon Mike'o throat; but the Irishman with a wrench freed himself, and at the breakaway brought a short hook to his opponent's jaw. For a moment tho teamster was dazed. Mike, taking advantage of his conJitior. began a series of terrific rushes anJ swing?, against which the teamster could deTend himself but weakly. He clinched again to

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avo himself. When they broke the ts&nitter had.rccoreied and began to force the battle. Mike assumed the defensive, allowing his antagonist to exhaust himself. Then, suddenly a left arm shot out straight from the shoulder.. One of the com- , batants dropped like a bale of hay out of the tailend of a wagon. It wasn't Mike. Waldo Vincent's heart pounded once and thea seemed to ttop. The teamster lay flat and still. Was he dead? Waldo Vincent felt a sickening sensation la the pit of his stomach. He prayed Mike had not mortally, hurt, the fellow. At that moment ho tawir an;inner vision of himself, all his motives perverted- to baseness;' self-reproach pointed ?.n accusing finger; he began to deplore ills Tart in the affair. '. No he resisted vindictively he . would "nor be. sorry; - Tho prostrate man sirred scrambled to his knees and perceiving Mike with a stiir aggressive clenched fist.' oromptly laid dowuragalti "to inglorious safety. A low jeer, murmured rthrongh-the spectators. "Are yer, ever goin t'bate; a -boss again?" glowered Mike.- .. ' , ' " -. !. The teamster blinked hli yes and swore. Waldo Vincent-experienced relief that the fellow had recovered his articulation; Mike delivered a kick for 'emphasis. "Will yer alway be gintle t hosses after this and not kick 'em and hit 'em?" -'-Y Another kfck.'t firm, well-directed kick. j xuess so," 'compromised the teamster. "Promi'-o on yer oath!" roared Mike. "On me oath." muttered the teamster after a while. "Now remember," warned Mike, who seemed re- : luctant to abandon an argument, "remember, may ' God help yer it Oi " - "The cop!" yelled a boy. Mike was across tho street to the carriage in three leaps, with Waldo Vincent a close second. Cabby whipped up the horses.. "Cinch!" commemted - Mike, when four or five streets had been put between them and the guardiau of the peace." "I think we may congratulate ourselves as successful," said Waldo Vincent. "Where shall I drive you?" "Oh! Oi guess Oi'll go back V Charlie's." No further wcrd was spoken until the bar-room was reached. Mike evidently was busied mentally to the preclusion of all conversation, for when th light of Hausman's streaked once more into the carriage the expression of his face revealed him in the throes of a great struggle. One eye was closed in deep thought, while the other, the eyebrow of which was screwed up tensely into a wrinkled forehead, girzed mournfully ahead. Both hands were

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"f&K 5 ' mZS 1 1 J y'r..m . ' . , :y y z , , .... y y ' y'yri . ?, , y y -;y :y- ;.'Yr'Cr GAVE WALDO VINCENT A SHOVE. dug into his jacket pockets. "Here we are," announced Waldo Vincent. Mike Vlghed,-stirreduneasily, and then reaching out a closed fist, dropped a crumpled wad of something Into Waldo Vincent's hand. He smoothed it out, surprised. "Oi can't take it," said Mike slowly. OIm r.o thug." - "A delicate sentiment," appreciated Waldo Vincent, ''a very delicate sentiment, Mr. O'Rourke. Will you take a drink with rn?" Mr. O'Rourke would. Waldo drank ginger-alft.

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