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Show DIAQK : JAMS mm& Charles jrftur Leslie k':: . .--.-. '-''----:,:.:::.:.r.:i?..i:-i,:-:.,;-i ii1 HE soft, fleecy snow, float-H float-H ing down straight from the heavens, melted as 1 quickly as it struck the x5 sidewalks and turned oLJT) n' mu under the hur-rying hur-rying feet of the thou-5 thou-5 sands of late Christmas 6ljr shoppers. Black Jakie stood in the shelter afforded by the elevated road pillar, his threadbare raincoat drawn tightly about him, his hands thrust deeply into his pockets, as he gently tapped first one foot and then the other oth-er on the wet pavement. Not that Jakie was cold, but his shoes had worn quite thin, and the dirty, brown slush had sought out all the little cracks through which it might seep and find a comfortable com-fortable haven. " 'S going to be a lean Christmas for me," Jakie sighed reflectively to the gleaming lights of Broadway. "Awful lean." i In his pocket he jingled his one lone quarter against the key of his cheap Sixth avenue room and smiled as he thought of the days when he had jingled gold coins. In those days the racing game had been good, and Jakie was one of the best-known bookies book-ies at Sheepshead. Then he had been affluent. He had dressed in the height of ultra-fashion and radiated with thai ready-money look. The dying out of the racing sport and too frequent trips to the bar had left Jakie stranded, without a friend In the world. Silently and moodily Jakie reflected on his hard lot. His chin, with its two-day growth of heavy black beard that same heavy beard which had al out of the store, but I didn't know whether you would want to speak to me or not." "Silly," laughed Marie. "Want to speak to my old pal? Of course I do. And now that I have seen you we are going to have a good, old-fashioned chat, but we can't stand here in this wet and talk. I am living with my married sister now and Just came downtown for a few things to hang on the kiddies' tree. Come on up and help us fix the things." Jakie thanked her, but remonstrated remonstrat-ed that his attire was scarcely suitable suit-able for an evening call. Marie Insisted In-sisted that his clothes made no difference differ-ence to her and. that her sister would surely think the same. Anyway, no matter what her sister might think, Jakie was her friend, and that settled set-tled it. They walked to Fourth avenue and took the subway to Harlem, Jakie insisting in-sisting on spending ten cents of his precious quarter for the carfare, although al-though Marie had tried to shove a dime into his hand. On the way up Jakie told his story, laying the blame on hard luck and the state officials who had put racing on the bum. Marie listened with quiet attention, nodding her head here and there and interjecting a question now and then as the ex-bookie seemed about to drift away from his story. Jakie was introduced to Maude and John, her husband. They were either too busy decorating a tiny Christmas tree on a stand in the corner of the room or else they didn't care, for neither nei-ther evinced disapproval of Jakie. He was made to feel at home in the little family circle, and entered with keen enjoyment the work of trimming trim-ming the tree and arranging the presents pres-ents for the two children fast asleep in the next room. 1 The final arrangement completed, 1 Maude and her Uusband took a last peek at the sleeping kiddies and called Jakie to see them. As the little group stood in the doorway door-way Jakie noticed that John put his ' arm about Maude's waist and that the light in Maude's eyes shone with peculiar pe-culiar brilliance as she snuggled ' closer. It was a picture "of domestic love and felicity and it touched Jakie deeply. John and Maude having retired foi ' the night, Jakie and Marie were left ' alone in the parlor. Seated before the fireplace, where the gas log was throwing forth a cheery heat, Jakie asked Marie about , herself. ' She had left the chorus and all her former gay companions and was now employed in a millinery establishment. "What's the matter with the show game?" asked Jakie. "Too fast for you?" "Yes, Jakie. Somehow or other I couldn't let myself drift like the others had, and when I came up here to live with Maude and John and the kids, well, they didn't think it was the best thing for the kids to have their aunt in the chorus. Not that they objected to the chorus part oi it, but then there are so many other things that go with It. The gay company, com-pany, the loose way of living and things of that sort." "So you cut it out for the sake of the kids?" "Yes, for the kids and for my own sake. I was becoming tired of the life, and the home life here seemed tc touch something in me and make me want to live right. There is nothing in that fast life, Jakie; the right way is the only way. You may prosper foi a time on the wrong road, but soonei or later you come to grief." Yes, she was right. Jake knew. The wrong way had dragged him down. Drink and loose companions had brought him to his present level. For a long time he sat and gazed l at the fire. When next he spoke l there was a tenderness in his voice 1 such as had never been there before "Say, Marie," he said, "do you think l you could help me get on the righi ; track, the honest road? I want to try l I see how happy you are and what a change it has made in you. I am go f ing to try." ,' Tenderly she put her hand on his 3 arm. "I am glad that you will try 3 You know I always liked you, Jakie 3 Somehow you were different from the , rest of the old crowd, for you were t always a gentleman in your manner 3 You would never stand for the reai 1 rough stuff." '- "That's the kindest thing I have - heard for two years," said Jakie i slowly, as he patted the small hand - that still lay on his arm. 3 Suddenly he stiffened in his chaU 3 as a thought seized him. "Marie," he asked tenderly," is there 1 any fellow, right now, that you think t a lot of? You know the way i mean.' 1 "No, Jakie, not now," she answered i slowly, as she understood why he 3 asked. Then she added, "but there might be if " f "If he were a right-living sort o! e fellow?" broke in Jakie. t "Yes." e The clock on the mantelpiece struct I- twelve. i "Gee. it's Christmas morning,' t sighed Jakie. i "Yes, Christmas." breathed Marie softly. y "Could you do you think, will yoi t wait until well, until 1 can get on the u right track?" She nodded her head in silence l- Jakie put his arm around her wais d and drew ner head to Pis shoulder, s "You do care, Marie?" ne whispered Again she nodded and then turnec k her lips to his. s "My Christmas present," said Jakii r softly, "tne best little girl in thi " world." 3. "And mine," added Marie, "is th e man that is to be." Yes, It Must Be She. ways shone through his pallid skir and had earned for him his cognomer of Black Jakie, trembled a little, and the thin, blue lips pulsated with low muttered maledictions heaped upot the world in general. The sporting element soon forgets old pals down oi their luck, he reflected. Nervously scanning the faces o shoppers emerging from the doorwa; of a department store, Jakie's face lighted up as he saw a petite figure laden with many bundles start acrosi the sidewalk. Marie Lecourt! Yes it must be she. Marie, the pretties girl in the Follies chorus. Should hi speak to her? Perhaps she woulj have at least a kind word for the fel low who had bought her many din ners at swell cafes and had lavishee his money on her when he nad it. In stinctively he started forward, hi! hand on his ancient velour hat, th one relic of palmy days. But almost as he started he cheekee himself. No, it would be better no to speak to Marie, for she, like al the rest of the old crowd, would tun him down, would refuse to speak t a bum. He stepped back to the shelter o the elevated pillar just as Marii turned to cross the street. Her brigh eyes twinkling with good cheer, sh came up quite (.lose to Jakie. Sud denly a flash of recognition crossei her countenance and she almos dropped her packages as she rushei forward. "Jakie" she cried, "is it reall: you? Where have you been? Wha are you doing here and where are yo going?'' Before Jakie could think of an ai swer to the questions which calle for a recital ot almost his entire life history, she went on: "For goodness' sake, Jakie. you loo a sight! What's the idea of all thi poor-folksy makeup? Is it a stall o are you really forced to wear them? "Forced is right," replied Jakie Tru broke. I saw you s you cam |