Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-04-25

as "Sort Tommy. Nnlle MS fatner,
who was one of the largest railroad
contractors In the country, was known
Tommy, was playing going to col
lege" and making a fool of himself
whenever occasion offered. A compila-
ton OF the idiotic things Tommy did
In the course of two years would make
small volume of statistics. He got
drunk, he bet on horses, he played pok-
he got into Jail, he ran himself and
his father into debt to the tune of thou
sands. AS windup he fell in love
with chorus girl at New York the
ater, went on a drunk lasting two
weeks and was disgracefully expelled
from college. His old man stopped
building the Colorado Midland long
enough TO come east and bribe the
chorus girl to let so, pay up Tommy's
debts, talk to him IN vigorous Eng
lish and then take him west to fill
some unimportant position where he
could keep an eye on him.
Tommys halcyon days were over.
He had TO knuckle down and be good.
In the course of two years he became
so good and so sensible that he was
permitted to go east and marry the
daughter Of locomotive builder, with
whom he had become acquainted while
she was making a tour Of the west. It
was conceded on all sides that Tommy
Was no longer soft" He had become
interested in his fathers work been
given partnership, and he was looked
upon as coming man In the business
of constructing and outftting railroads.
Tommy and his bride were to do"
the east and then bring up in their fu
ture home in Denver, and everything
went according to programme until
they headed for the west. Then Tom
my received word 10 bring along a
sum OF money from Wall street. The
fact that he had $4,000 buttoned up
behind his coat caused q relapse from
virtue on Tommy's part He became
soft again. He drank and swag
gered and told everybody what a big
u,
and soon after leaving Ashley on his
home coming he fell into the hands of
the Philistines. Three thieves and
gambler had spotted him and were
after his money They didn't care how
they got hold Of it, but after awhile
found that the game of poker would be
the easiest way. When Tommy began
drinking he became obstinate, and,
leaving his fearful bride In the parlor
car, he took hand In the game start
ed elsewhere for his particular benefit.
Then the chorus girl made her en-
trance. She had let go OF Tommy for
good. She had never cared for him In
a sentimental way. She had drifted
from the chorus in New York to the
vaudeville In western town of hard
repute and was on her return from a
trip TO Chicago when she ran across
Tommy and his wife. Her first emo
lions were those Of jealousy to think
that he had married and she thirsted
for revenge against the child faced
bride. Then she reasoned that she
never intended to marry Tommy any
treated her very literally, and she
gave over her idea Of revenge Tommy
didn't recognize her during the long
day that she occupied seat directly
across the aisle, but she saw that he
had something ON his mind and was
drinking himself up to It. The gam
blers were going to make up a game
for the night, and he wanted to be
counted In and arrive in Denver with
q few extra hundred dollars in his
pocket. The protesting bride was or
dered to the stateroom, and Tommy
went In search of the game. He soon
found it. The ex-chorus girl had sized
MP the newly married couple and the
situation, and she reasoned them out
as followsi
Tommy the soft Is not as big fool
an he was, but he ls fool enough TO be
taken In By those card sharps. From
his swaSger hs has evidently got q lot
R money with him. He has gone and
forgotten me and got married instead
OK pining along In single blessedness,
but won't hold that up against him
u
Bhe may have seen a circus once or
twice in her life, but her knowledge Of
the world stops there. II she would
take Tommy by the ear, as l used to
do, instead of playing the baby, she
could bring him to the mark But she
hasn't the pluck Tommy will gamble,
lose his money, and there will be
scene when he faces his father.
must do something for the helpless in
fants.'
The game was going on in the smok-
er. There were only two or three pas
sengers In the car, and 1t may have
been that the conductor stood In with
the blacklegs. At any rate, when the
ex-chorus girl made her appearance in
the car he politely hinted that she had
made mistake.
Not IL the court knows herself" was
her reply. II came In here to get
smell Of this smoke and watch the
game, and I don't think there Is any
rule to bar me out"
Tommy was drinking with one hand
and playing poker with the other. He
also kept his mouth going as to what
q great man he was in connection with
the Colorado Midland. The line would
have never been thought Of nor sur
Veyed nor constructed but for him. He
had played poker since he was ten
years old. He was no chicken. He
had the money, and money talkt !.
From her nearby seat the woman lis
tened to his vaporings and saw the
gamblers fleeing him at every hand,
and she said to herself:
IL used to get about hundred dol
lars day out of Tommy when he was
struck on me, but these sharpers are
doing a heap better If he was born
without brains it's not my fault, and
yet | feel sorry for that little wife Of
his. This Is all new on her She is In
her stateroom crying her eyes out when