The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-10-09
CHAPTER XIX (Continued)

Anu tnuS tney passed the lay, Will
strolling about, hating to look at an
old tiled roof, a broken iron gate, a
wrought iron balcony, a snail-covered
garden wall; and when evening was
come they went to a hotel to rest; but
no sooner had night fallen than they
went out again to resume heir walk.
Look here" said Tom, beginning
to lag, ri don't want to kick, but I'd
Just like to know why l am fool enough
to walk all day like a mule OF a tread
mill?"
"You said you'd walk with me-"
said I would! Haven't II"
EYES," the giant drawled, "in a man
uer."
"If I haven't walked l don't know
what you call walking. You have
made a machine of me, a corn-planter.
Would you mind telling me where we
are going now?"
"T confess | don't know" the giant
answered.
"Then let US look around and find
out. Right now I'd rather be in old
Gid's house, sitting with somebody on
q bench-and I'm going back tomor-
row. What fun is there poking about
this way like a couple Of gawks? You
even pull me away from the supper
table to tramp up and down these
streets. Hang it, l don't want to see
people. Every face | see is"
"a disappointment" said the giant.
"Then why do you take the crowded
side of the street? Let's 60 in here
and sit down a moment"
They had halted in front of a music
hall. From within proceeded the
husky song of a WORKOUT negro min,
strel.
"You may go in but I'll walk on
Jim replied. cts nothing but a dive.
I'll go on down to the corner and wait
for you. Don't stay long"
Jim strobe away and Tom went into
the beer hall. At the far end was a
stage, and on it stood the minstrel.
dimmed by intervening tobacco smoke.
The floor was covered with damp saw
dust. The place was thronged with
a motley crowd, sailors, gamblers, with
here and there a sprinkle of hayward
responsibility. Painted girls attended
the tables and everywhere was the
stopping of beer and the stencil of the
cigarette.
Tom was about to turn away when
the sight Of a company gathered about
a table halted him: and through the
smoke his vision leaped and rested
upon-Louise. There was a rush. an
over turning of a table, the topping
over of a tipsy man. and Tom stood
confronting her. In a loud voice he
cried: "What the devil are you doing
here?"
She got up and held out her hand
bur resentment entered her mind and
she drew it back. what are you do
ing here?" she replied. tive as much
right here as you have"
"IIl show you about that" he roar
GU LIE au6Si llIlh6 NIB NoASO hi6h
above the grumble and the sharp clacl
of the place. "II drag you Quit"
Beside her sat a solemnly-respect
able man, and he got up and quietly
said: "Your language is most insult
ing, sir"
Tom did not wait to weigh the re
mark; indeed he did not hear II, fol-
like a bull dog In a fury he lunged a
the quiet mans throat. laid hold of hi!
collar, showed him off 10 arms length
and struck him. but the blow glanced
and the man jerked away. And thel
amid loud cries. the over-turning o
tables and the smashing of glasses, tn,
furious %youngster felt himself seizel
by many hands. But he was a tige,
and they could not bear him to tn,
floor. He broke loose and sprawleC
one man upon the saw-dust. Other
rushed upon him and again he was il
a tangle and a tug. but he tore himsel
from their hands, got a square blow a
the proprietor of the house and knock