All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

226 ALL LX A GARDEN FAIR.
quietly sitting on the pavement. Naturally one
was a winner and the other a loser. The latter
who, of course, was the Maltese— lost his money
first, his temper next, and his self-control last.
Then he sprang to his feet, and with flashing eyes
and w^ild gesture accused the Greek of cheat-
ing—in fact they wxre both cheating, but the
Greek cheated best—and demanded his money
back. The other rose too, and in calm and
mocking tones gave him to understand that the
money was safe in his own pocket and would
remain there. Whereupon the Maltese drew
a knife—a long, glittering knife—and swiftly
plunged it into the body of that Greek, who
fell with a yell, and two policemen bore down
upon the Maltese, and they carried the Greek
to the Foreign Sailors' Home and the Maltese
to the House of Eepentance and Little Ease,
and the drama was finished.
There were a good many spectators of this
one-act tragedy, and cjuite a little crowd of
women, who seemed acquainted with sailors
and their ways, and took boundless interest in