Page:The ransom of Red Chief and other O. Henry stories for boys.djvu/219

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The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein 199

waited at his duties for chance news of the tragedy, but none came.

At eight o'clock in the morning the day clerk arrived and Ikey started hurriedly for Mrs. Riddle's to learn the outcome. And, lo! as he stepped out of the store who but Chunk McGowan sprang from a passing street car and grasped his hand Chunk McGowan with a victor's smile and flushed with joy.

"Pulled it off," said Chunk with Elysium in his grin. "Rosy hit the fire-escape on time to a second, and we was under the wire at the Reverend's at 9.30^. She's up at the flat she cooked eggs this mornin' in a blue kimono Lord! how lucky I am! You must pace up some day, Ikey, and feed with us. I've got a job down near the bridge, and that's where I'm heading for now."

"The the powder?" stammered Ikey.

"Oh, that stuff you gave me!" said Chunk, broadening his grin ; "well, it was this way. I sat down at the supper table last night at Riddle's, and I looked at Rosy, and I says to myself, 'Chunk, if you get the girl get her on the square don't try any hocus-pocus with a thoroughbred like her/ And I keeps the paper you give me in my pocket. And

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