The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-12

AT the age OF twenty Thomas Al
pleby, Jr,, was generally referred |
as soft Tommy" While his father
who was one OF the largest railroa
contractors in the country, was know
as a level headed man, his only sor
Tommy, was playing going to co
lege" and making a fool OF hlmsel
whenever occasion offered. A compila
ton of the ldiotic things Tommy di,
In the course OF two years would max
n small volume Of statistics. He 20
drunk, he bet ou horses, he played pol
er. he fell In love with his laundress
he got into jail, he ran himself an,
his father into debt to the tune of thou
sands. As a windup he fell In lov,
with chorus girl al a New York the
alter, went on a drunk lasting tive
weeks and was diSgracefully expelled
from college His old man stopped
building the Colorado Midland Ions
enough 10 come east and bribe the
chorus girl TO let go, pay up Tommy'S
debts, talk TO him in vigorous Eng.
lish and then take him west to All
some unimportant position where he
could 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
so good and so sensible that he was
permitted to 20 east and marry the
daughter OF locomotive builder. with
whom he had become acquainted while
she was making tour of the west. II
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 a coming man in the business
or constructing and outfitting 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 to bring along a
sum Of money from Wall street. The
fact that he had $4,000 buttoned up
behind his coat caused relapse from
virtue on Tommys part He became
soft again. He drank and swag-
gered and told cYeryaoly what a big
man he was In the Colorado Midland.
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 |
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 !
trip to Chicago when she ran across
Tommy and his wife. Her first emo
tions 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
way and that he and his papa had
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 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 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
rs he was, but he is fool enough to be
taken in by those card sharps. From
MS swagger he has evidently got lot
IF money with him. He has gone and
forgotten me and got married instead
If plning along in single blessedness, /
put won't hold that up against him.
That wife of his is a little innocent. !
She may have seen a circus once or ,
vice in her life, but her knowledge Of
he world stops there. If she would ,
AXE Tommy by the ear, as | used to
10, instead Of playing the baby, she {
'ould bring him to the mark But she {
asn't the pluck. Tommy will gamble.
ose his money, and there will be a {
Gene when he faces his father. t
must do something for the helpless in I
ants" 6
The game was going on in the smok- {
r. There were only two or three pas [
engers In the car, and it may have /
cen that the conductor stood in with Y
be blacklegs. At any rate, when the t
x-chorus girl made her appearance in t