Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

110 TEE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE mother for the last shirts she ironed for you." Kathleen Casey had a clear, ringing voice, and every syllable fell distinctly. "I've put up with your impudence as long as I'm going to. Now I'm tired and I tell you I won't be pestered any more. I wouldn't let you carry that basket if I dropped in my tracks. What's more, you couldn't carry it even if I gave you leave. Now you get out or I'll have you arrested." The speaker was warm, tired and almost ready to cry with vexation. "I'll settle him, Miss." Shannon, ever chivalrous, reached the side of the unwelcome swain in two strides. Gus Lighthead turned impudently to face the newcomer. The next instant he found himself in the gutter, studying astronomy. 1 ' Good boy, Spike ! ' ' called a voice from the doorway. ' ' He '11 not forget that in a hurry." But Shannon was not out for applause. He saw only the pretty face of the Widow Casey's daughter. Turning toward the girl, he touched his cap and smiled sympathetically. "Excuse me, but isn't this Miss Casey, the lady who got the most votes at St. Michael and All Angels' fair last winter." Kathleen Casey gracefully inclined her head, but did not venture a reply. "Well, I'm Shannon — 'Spike' Shannon. I helped in that contest. Father Donahue give me a tip. Me an' some of the sports turned right in an' we didn't do a thing to them votes. We made sure that the one his reverence favored was the right one for us. I guess we put you thru all right." The young girl blushed. "Sure, you did!" she exclaimed. "I've always wanted to thank the gentlemen who did it, but Father Donahue couldn't remember their names." She extended her hand as she spoke and the pugilist grasped it cordially. "Now I've got double reason to be grateful," she added. Kathleen's glance followed the limping retreat of the vanquished Lothario. Shannon, forgetting his engagement at Sullivan's eafe, promptly took possession of the McLaughlin "family wash," and a moment later he and pretty Kitty Casey were walking down the street together. From that day on Shannon was a frequent visitor at the Casey home. Mrs. Casey grew to look forward to his visits almost as much as did Kitty herself. "Sure, Mister Shannon," she remarked one day, ' * 'tis you would be th' foine b'y on th' police force. If iver ye think to join jist sind yer name roight in to me husband's brother Patrick, him that is Sergeant in the East End precinct. He's got a pull an' kin git ye a job fer th' askin'." But "Spike" Shannon at that time did not aspire to civic duty on the police force. There was big money ahead. He looked forward to the fight with Thomas as the sure thing that was going to make his marriage to Kitty financially blest. It never occurred to him that neither Mrs. Casey nor Kathleen recognized in him the popular pugilist of the same name. He had often talked of the pleasures of "the game" and took it for granted that both women knew what he was talking about. All summer long he kept steady company with Kathleen. As the date set for the fight drew near, he had told the girl of his love and that if no accident happened he would clean up enough money on the coming game to take them to Niagara Falls on a wedding trip some time early in October. "It's booked for next Thursday, you know, Kitty," he had said enthusiastically, as they sat in the park one September evening. "Th' sports are all with me. I'm lay in' ten to six. Nobody's ever afraid to back me. They know I play fair and win out every time." "I just wish I could see you," Kathleen had replied, looking with admiration at her splendidly built lover. "I'd like to hear the crowd cheer you." And neither knew that each was