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unusual to them as was the astonish… ing innovation presented to their gaze
by 〃Big Jim〃。 On the latter gentleman's impassive face there ap… peared a
slight flicker of triumph … a faint flicker； no more to be observed than the
expression called there by the draft of little casino to a four…card spade
flush。
Hoogley's was animated。 Electric lights shone as； indeed； they were
expected to do。 And the napery； the glassware and the flowers also
meritoriously per… formed the spectacular duties required of them。 The
guests were numerous； well…dressed and gay。
A waiter … not necessarily obsequious … conducted 〃Big Jim〃
Dougherty and his wife to a table。
〃Play that menu straight across for what you like； Dele；〃 said 〃Big
Jim。〃 〃It's you for a trough of the gilded oats to…night。 It strikes me that
maybe we've been sticking too fast to home fodder。〃
〃Big Jim's〃 wife gave her order。 He looked at her with respect。 She had
mentioned truffles； and be bad not known that she knew what truffles were。
From the wine list she designated an appropriate and de… sirable brand。 He
looked at her with some admiration。
She was beaming with the innocent excitement that woman derives
from the exercise of her gregarious… ness。 She was talking to him about a
hundred things with animation and delight。 And as the meal pro… gressed
her cheeks； colorless from a life indoors； took on a delicate flush。 〃Big
Jim〃 looked around the room and saw that none of the women there had
her charm。 And then he thought of the three years she had suffered
immurement； uncomplaining； and a flush of shame warmed him； for he
carried fair play as an item in his creed。
But when the Honorable Patrick Corrigan； leader in Dougherty's
district and a friend of his； saw them and came over to the table； matters
got to the three… quarter stretch。 The Honorable Patrick was a gal… lant man；
both in deeds and words。 As for the Blar… ney stone； his previous actions
toward it must have been pronounced。 Heavy damages for breach of
promise could surely have been obtained had the Blarney stone seen fit to
sue the Honorable Patrick。
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〃Jimmy； old man！〃 he called； he clapped Dough… erty on the back； be
shone like a midday sun upon Delia。
〃Honorable Mr。 Corrigan … Mrs。 Dougherty；〃 said 〃Big Jim。〃
The Honorable Patrick became a fountain of en… tertainment and
admiration。 The waiter had to fetch a third chair for him； he made another
at the table； and the wineglasses were refilled。
〃You selfish old rascal！〃 he exclaimed； shaking an arch finger at 〃Big
Jim；〃 〃to have kept Mrs。 Dougherty a secret from us。〃 And then 〃Big Jim〃
Dougherty； who was no talker； sat dumb； and saw the wife who had dined
every evening for three years at home； blossom like a fairy flower。 Quick；
witty； charming； full of light and ready talk； she received the experienced
attack of the Honorable Patrick on the field of repartee and surprised；
vanquished； delighted him。 She unfolded her long…closed petals and
around her the room became a garden。 They tried to include 〃Big Jim〃 in
the conversation； but he was without a vocabulary。
And then a stray bunch of politicians and good fellows who lived for
sport came into the room。 They saw 〃Big Jim〃 and the leader； and over
they came and were made acquainted with Mrs。 Dougherty。 And in a few
minutes she was holding a salon。 Half a dozen men surrounded her；
courtiers all； and six found her capable of charming。 〃Big Jim〃 sat； grim；
and kept saying to himself： 〃Three years； three years！〃
The dinner came to an end。 The Honorable Pat… rick reached for Mrs。
Dougherty's cloak； but that was a matter of action instead of words； and
Dough… erty's big band got it first by two seconds。
While the farewells were being said at the door the Honorable Patrick
smote Dougherty mightily between the shoulders。
〃Jimmy； me boy；〃 he declared； in a giant whis… per； 〃the madam is a
jewel of the first water。 Ye're a lucky dog。〃
〃Big Jim〃 walked homeward with his wife。 She seemed quite as
pleased with the lights and show windows in the streets as with the
admiration of the men in Hoogley's。 As they passed Seltzer's they heard
the sound of many voices in the cafe。 The boys would be starting the
drinks around now and discussing past performances。
At the door of their home Delia paused。 The pleasure of the outing
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radiated softly from her countenance。 She could not hope for Jim of
evenings； but the glory of this one would Tighten her lonely hours for a
long time。
〃Thank you for taking me out； Jim；〃 she said； gratefully。 〃You'll be
going back up to Seltzer's now； of course。〃
〃To with Seltzer's；〃 said 〃Big Jim；〃 em… emphatically。 〃And d Pat
Corrigan！ Does he think I haven't got any eyes？
And the door closed behind both of them。
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The Voice of the City
LITTLE SPECK IN GARNERED
FRUIT
The honeymoon was at its full。 There was a flat with the reddest of
new carpets； tasselled portieres and six steins with pewter lids arranged on
a ledge above the wainscoting of the dining…room。 The won… der of it was
yet upon them。 Neither of them had ever seen a yellow primrose by the
river's brim； but if such a sight had met their eyes at that time it would
have seemed like … well； whatever the poet expected the right kind of
people to see in it besides a prim… rose。
The bride sat in the rocker with her feet resting upon the world。 She
was wrapt in rosy dreams and a kimono of the same hue。 She wondered
what the peo… ple in Greenland and Tasmania and Beloochistan were
saying one to another about her marriage to Kid McGarry。 Not that it made
any difference。 There was no welter…weight from London to the Southern
Cross that could stand up four hours … no； four rounds … with her
bridegroom。 And he had been hers for three weeks； and th