The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-08-14

pIeby. Jr., was generally referred to
as soft Tommy" While his father,
who was one of the largest railroad
contractors In the country, was known
as a level headed man, his only SON,
Tommy, was playing "golng 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
a small volume Of statistics. He got
trunk, he bet on horses, he played polk
ar, he fell In love with his laundress,
be got into jail, he ran himself and
his father into debt to the tune of thou
sands. As a windup he fell IN love
with a chorus girl at New York the
alter, 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 bride the
chorus girl to let go, pay up Tommy's
debts, talk to him In vigorous Eng
ish and then take him west to I'LL
some unimportant position where he
.ould keep an eye on him.
Tommy's halcyon days were over.
He had to knuckle down and be good.
In the course OF two years he became
80 good and so sensible that he was
permitted to go east and marry the
daughter OF a locomotive builder, with
whom he had become acquainted while
she was making a tour of the west. It
n1 oil fhnk
was no longer soft" He had become
Interested In his fathers work, been
given a partnership, and he was looked
upon as a coming man In the business
Of constructing and Quitting railroads.
Tommy and his bride were 10 do
The east and then bring up In their fu-
nre home in Denver, and everything
went according to programme until
hey headed for the west. Then Tom
my received word to bring along a
sum of money from Wall street. The
,act that he had $4,000 buttoned up
behind his coat caused a relapse from
virtue on Tommy's part. He became
soft again. He drank and swag-
yered and told everybody what a big
nan he was in the Colorado Midland,
and soon after leaving Ashley on his
home coming he fell into the hands Of
he Philistines. Three thieves and a
gambler had spotted him and were
litter his money. They didn't care how
hey got hold OF 1t, but after awhile
,ound that the game of poker would be
he easiest way. When Tommy began
Thinking he became obstinate, and,
eaving his fearful bride in the parlor
ar, he took hand In the game start
ID elsewhere for his particular benefit
Then the chorus girl made her en-
rance. She had let go OF Tommy for
rood. She had never cared for him In
I sentimental way. She had dr1fted
rom the chorus In New York to the
vaudeville in a western town Of hard
epute and was on her return from a
rip to Chicago when she ran across
Tommy and his wife. Her first emo
ions were those of jealousy to think
that he had married, and she thirsted
Tor revenge against the child faced
bride. Then she reasoned that she
never intended to marry Tommy any
way and that he and his papa had
treated her very literally, and she
gave over her idea Of revenge. Tommy
1idn't recognize her during the long
lay that she occupied seat directly
across the aisle, but she saw that he
had something on his mind and was
thinking himself up to it The gam
Olers were going to make up a game
for the night, and he wanted to be
In and arrive In Denver with
1 few extra hundred dollars In his
pocket. The protesting bride was or
lered to the stateroom, and Tommy
went in search Of the game. He soon
.ound 1t. The ex-chorus girl had sized
Up the newly married couple and the
situation, and she reasoned them out
rs follows:
Tommy the soft is not as big fool
as he was, but he Is fool enough to be
taken in by those card sharps. From
his swagger he has evidently got lot
Of money with him. He has gone and
forgotten me and got married instead
Of pining along in single blessedness,
but won't hold that up against him.
That wife of his Is a little innocent.
She may have seen a circus once or
twice in her life, but her knowledge Of
the world stops there. If she would
take Tommy by the ear, as 1 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 q
scene when he faces his father. I
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 limited that she had |
made mistake.
mot II the court knows herself" was |
her reply. 81 came in here to get q
smell Of this smoke and watch the
game, and l don't think there Is any
rule to bar me out"
Tommy was drinking with one hand |
Ind playing poker with the other. He
also kept his mouth going as to what |
great man he was In connection with |
he Colorado Midland. The line would |
have never been thought Of nor sur
Keyed nor constructed but for him. He
lad played poker since he was ten
TeaPs odd. He was no chicken. He
lad the money. and money talked.
from her nearby seat the woman Ms
tened to his yaporings and saw the
gamblers fleeing him at every hand,
Ind she said to herself:
Il used to get about a hundred dol
ars day out of Tommy when he was
truck on me, but these sharpers are
Icing a heap better. If he was born
without brains it's not my fault, and
ret feel sorry for that little wife Of
his. This is all new on her. She Is In
Ter stateroom crying her eyes out when !
| wife of spunk would be In here rails