| Show T s Daily x r PEGGIE I ANNA PHILLIPS SEE 1 1916 by y the McClure Newspaper Syndicate en enny ny lineman went straight om the Golden Rod saloon saloon- as straight as his uncertain lId ild carry him He knew that oss at t the electric light com com- ou d d see him he would be beT T IS had been the ultImatum t 1 n strong terms on the ocd oc- oc d f e e last offense t the lineman T entered his com- com home honig little Jimmy rushed jo joy joy- 1 r em race his father At the impact t big Jims Jim's equilibrium rt own and he fell helpless- helpless nE ho dining room couch where I ined to listen to the Inevitable erve d berating from his wife was as stout as Jim was lean embonpoint embonpoint was not symbolic nature Kenny ny she cried sharply teen een drinkin again and iney mey in the and and me meet et you a nice supper supper and and Ur this hour er of fact the supper had from a nearby delicatessen mrs Kenny cooked with a I IH j i sere H rt Under ordinary circum- circum I r rim would have reminded her IIer act t but he was too loo drowsy a on tho job tonight too AUr Allt All AU t r are re down from the storm ck k interrupted her and she he door to Dillon and McCon- McCon McConI I mates ron on n Jim they called Its 1 l tonight them the they got him on his ced him to drink a cup of of a and supported him down downs s s 5 the auto truck whizzed orbs the keen October air all lead tead somewhat When they rk Hill HilI Jim managed to toe topo po joie v e tho though gh his long legs in I If f Loots boots seemed to belong to else For a time habit I then without warn- warn Im ed lost his balance struck I nd ltd fell crashing to thet the tho t theater Ater i ter he came from the hosI hos- hos I ippie f e with but one leg At the company Jim declared at was through with drink to o 3 was but the boss could lID o work began an hard times for or the thethis art this they were not alone ands an s found themselves in the i The great war had dealt a mighty blow and I men were seeking employ- employ emi y had p pluck uck hut but n iio no r right ht pull Pull had he pos- pos f j uld ld have served him better legs gS or more For POI days dars weeks uL th saim Jim looked for work only I scores of bodied able-bodied men I gt t every even job Still he kept I P. 1 and stumped hopefully I I I about on Peggie as he had christened chris chrls- I his peg leg i When no man size job could be found Jim sold papers to eke out what he r received from the charities At first Carrie Carne made ineffectual attempts to earn money After a time she did nothing except to upbraid her husband for their misfortunes Her reproaches he bore patiently for he had provided I for lor himself a handicap not to be o er come I I I On a bitterly cold afternoon he be returned reI returned re- re j I turned tired and hungry to the one I room they now occupied Ever Everything thing was in disorder The bed was unmade I the floor Little Jim was vas as asI neglected looking as his surroundings I Carrie sat idly with her feet on the broken stove Hello Jimmie called his father cheerfull cheerfully Heres Pop and Peggie How much you got demanded demanded demanded de de- de- de Carrie Carrle He pulled pulle some pennies from his pocket Only enough for something to eat he replied soberly She burst into copious tears And this is what weve we've come corne to with your our drinkin and losin your our leg I wonder at your our about Peggy and me without even a nickel for the movies movies' You had enough to buy this this' Jim retorted kicking the beer can into a corner Dont talk about my drinkin I never touch a drop now and you OU know it it- it Well you did A one-legged one man is no good anyhow Ive I've a mind to get ou out t The next night when Jim came home he found Jimmie alone and a scrawl from Carrie pinned to the mirror She had found a place as waitress in a I restaurant where restaurant where she did not specify and and she would look out for herself Jim took his boy in his knee and forthe forthe for forthe the first time allowed himself to give way to How could he manage to be both father and mother j If I only had two legs legs' he groaned I As the number of the unemployed increased the dole from the charities I grew smaller and Jim Kenn Kenny was I forced into the ranks of the bread breadlIne breadline breadline I line Even there he had courage to spare for his comrades Well I T never expected to be a lineman lineman lineman line man again became a w well known jol jolts joke f Sometimes be lifted Peggie high hi in air all remarking quaintly No o chilblains on this foot and the quip would draw a laugh from the woeful line At last the awful winter wore awa away and May came wit with i balmy da days s Hunger is easier borne In warm weather and Jim with new 11 hpe pe began began began be be- gan to look for a a. real Job One lne lne day he stood near the Strand theatre on Broadway Broadway-a a gaunt figure i ure of a a. a aman man with a wooden leg His Ills appearance proclaimed him down but the spirit in his blue eyes denied that he was out lIe He was scanning the brilliant posters of the photoplays when a a. prosperous prosperous prosperous pros pros- looking stranger tapped him on the shoulder Looking for Cor a job friend he asked Jims Jim's glance took in the plaid suit the purple the socks and the flashing diamond diamond diamond dia dia- mond ring Sure Im I'm lookin but lookin but I 1 Oh this this job is all right said sall the man Howd you ou like to gO go to the country for awhile and act in a a. moue play Five dollars a day and ex expenses ex- ex Me You mean me cried Jim Kenny Sure Youre You're just what were we're looking looking looking look look- ing for for for-a a man with an old-fashioned old wooden leg You se see the plays play's laid twenty five years ago Old farmer with witha I a wooden leg forbids boys to swim in his brook they brook they do it just the same same- farmer comes along and bo boys s 's hide I under a bridge as bridge as farmer firmer stumps I Iacross I across It his leg goes through a hole hole boys boys grab it and hold him him country country fellow comes along with an ax chops off wooden leg takes leg takes I farmer home on loa boa dof dot hay hay so so forth and so on You could act It all right I What do you ou say Im your our man cried Jim eagerly How long will you want me Well Veil youre you're in a good many scenes a. a a month anyway That's a hundred and fifty dollars Some money for a peg leg aint it A hundred and fifty dollars for a month Why I never earned any anything thin like that with two legs legs' exclaimed Jim JimI I bet you didn't Now youve you've got something other movie actors a tors aint got See If you fill the bill in this play you'll have chances for others You might send cards to the different film companies something companies something snappy like IOnly Only Peg-leg Peg in the Business or or- or Why that leg of yours oughter be a areA reA regular lar gold mine Mr 11 1 Kenny Kenny Jim Jim Kenny I I j My Iy names name's Levisohn Well Mr i Kenny come to the office on Monday I heres here's the address and and sa say and say Mr i i Levisohn's heart was as warm as his eyes were keen leen And say Mr Ienn Kenny I heres here's ten dollars on account You may want to buy a few ew thin things I know you'll 1 I report on Monday j Jim Kenny's voice was husky as he replied I Sure well we'll be there Mr Levisohn Levisohn- I I me mc and and Peggie I |
