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Maggie scowled down upon the frowsy street filled with frowsy women and frowsy

children. She scowled upon the street cars rumbling by with their frowsy loads.

Occasionally she varied the monotony by drawing out her chewing gum to

wondrous lengths, holding one end between a thumb and finger and the other

between her teeth.

Presently Maggie spied a rather pleasing figure sauntering up the sidewalk upon

her side of the street. The man was too far away for her to recognize his features,

but his size and bearing and general appearance appealed to the lonesome

Maggie. She hoped it was someone she knew, or with whom she might easily

become acquainted, for Maggie was bored to death.

She patted the hair at the back of her head and righted the mop which hung over

one eye. Then she rearranged her skirts and waited. As the man approached she

saw that he was better looking than she had even dared to hope, and that there

was something extremely familiar about his appearance. It was not, though, until

he was almost in front of the house that he looked up at the girl and she

recognized him.

Then Maggie Shane gasped and clutched the handrail at her side. An instant later

the man was past and continuing his way along the sidewalk.

Maggie Shane glared after him for a minute, then she ran quickly down the stairs

and into a grocery store a few doors west, where she asked if she might use the

telephone.

Gimme West 2063," she demanded of the operator, and a moment later: "Is this

Lake Street?"

Well say, Billy Byrne's back. I just see him."

Yes an' never mind who I am; but if youse guys want him he's walkin' west on

Grand Avenoo right now. I just this minute seen him near Lincoln," and she

smashed the receiver back into its hook.

Billy Byrne thought that he would look in on his mother, not that he expected to

be welcomed even though she might happen to be sober, or not that he cared to

see her; but Billy's whole manner of thought had altered within the year, and

something now seemed to tell him that it was his duty to do the thing he

contemplated. Maybe he might even be of help to her.

But when he reached the gloomy neighborhood in which his childhood had been

spent it was to learn that his mother was dead and that another family occupied

the tumble-down cottage that had been his home.

151

The Mucker