The Return of the Mucker | Page 2

Saturday and Maggie was off. She sat there rather disconsolate
for there was a dearth of beaux for Maggie, none having arisen to fill
the aching void left by the sudden departure of "Coke" Sheehan since
that worthy gentleman had sought a more salubrious clime--to the
consternation of both Maggie Shane and Mr. Sheehan's bondsmen.
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.
If Billy Byrne felt any sorrow because of his mother's death he did not
reveal it outwardly. He owed her nothing but for kicks and cuffs
received, and for the surroundings and influences that had started him

upon a life of crime at an age when most boys are just entering
grammar school.
Really the man was relieved that he had not had to see her, and it was
with a lighter step that he turned back to retrace his way along Grand
Avenue. No one of the few he had met who recognized him had
seemed particularly delighted at his return. The whole affair had been
something of a disappointment. Therefore Billy determined to go at
once to the Lake Street Station and learn the status of the Schneider
murder case. Possibly they had discovered the real murderer, and if that
was the case Billy would be permitted to go his way; but if not then he
could give himself up and ask for a trial, that he might be exonerated.
As he neared Wood Street two men who had been watching his
approach stepped into the doorway of a saloon, and as he passed they
stepped out again behind him. One upon either side they seized him.
Billy turned to remonstrate.
"Come easy now, Byrne," admonished one of the men, "an' don't make
no fuss."
"Oh," said Billy, "it's you, is it? Well, I was just goin' over to the station
to give myself up."
Both men laughed, skeptically. "We'll just save you the trouble," said
one of them. "We'll take you over. You might lose your way if you
tried to go alone."
Billy went along in silence the rest of the way to where the patrol
waited at another corner. He saw there was nothing to be gained by
talking to these detectives; but he found the lieutenant equally inclined
to doubt his intentions. He, too, only laughed when