We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
102
THE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE
some to Owen, when Annie came quickly down the walk. The books under her arm proclaimed her a school teacher, and Hinges had regarded teachers as his natural enemies ever since the days his good old mother had sought to help out the truancy officer with a stout stick. Hinges arose, with a profound bow, and a speech that Owen didn't like. He looked to see her hurry on, but she stopped, and her finely-cut lips curled in scorn as she surveyed her three tormentors.
"And you call yourselves men?" she asked.
Red and Hinges laughed. It was not often their victims answered, and they pressed on after the girl, in the hope of provoking her to further retort; but the speech cut Owen's dormant pride, and he followed the others, catching up with them just as Hinges caught the girl about the waist.
This was too much, and, with a shout, Owen was upon them, thrusting the men back, and stooping to pick up the girl's fallen books.
OWEN VISITS ANNIE
"I'll go on a way with you," he offered, awkwardly. "Those guys dont know when they've had enough — unless it's from me."
Mechanically she set her pace to his, still burning with indignation, and yet too close to tears to speak her thanks. It was not until they had reached the door that she found her voice.
"You will come and let me thank you ? ' '• she asked. ' ' Tomorrow afternoon ? It was very good of you. Will you come?"
Owen bent and kissed the tiny hand she held out to him, in rude imitation of the men he had seen in the theater.
"Will t come?" he repeated. "Lady, a cop couldn't keep me away. ' '
With a smile, she was gone; but a new world had opened to Owen. It was the first time a decent woman had ever spoken to him as an equal, and his head was in a whirl as he turned away. He resolved that he would not only go, but that he would go sober.
That afternoon was the first of many. Annie declared that he must not come in such a shabby suit, and pressed into his hand the money that was to buy new clothes. More than once one of the girls at Mag 's had "staked" Owen, but this was different. He had taken it only as a loan, after she had put it, that way, and for the first time that he could remember he wanted to earn money for some other purpose than to buy whiskey with. Not even when he met the gang did he break faith, but pushed on and sought the clothing shop, and felt well repaid for his denial by Annie 's delight in the change. He could not even read the big type in the extras, and she insisted that he become her pupil.
It was not.:.easy to learn to handle the pen, but with her soft fingers guiding his clumsy digits, "pot hooks" and curlicues were conquered, and even the hated speller became a delight. He fairly hungered for knowledge, and Annie delighted in his progress.