Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-07-29
CHAPTER vi.
* AYHEN the door had closed
AW behind the visitors Mrs.
NJ NJ Brooks and Smith sat

/ " NJ Brooks and Smith sat
down and gazed at each
other in silence for some minutes
i *Well?" exclaimed Emma. interrog-
atively. at last
We'll" he replied. "between you
and me- Joe came as near getting
skinned alive as any one / ever saw"
IT was terribler'
1T was terribly true. You saved
him.
81 know
/ THE captain must like you. never
/ did think he could like anybody
Il hate him. she declared. with a
grimace Of disgust. ugh. what a
4 BEAST
Smith reflected.
maybe and maybe not" he unused.
II can't just make him OUT
At this iuncture the front door
| opened ard Brooks entered.
81 saw them drive off, he said, drop
ping into chair. 81 hope they will
stay away In future. That mother
and sister Of yours make me tired!
can't stand for them. and. what's more
! / won't! They'd drive saint to drink,
and I'm no saint and don't purpose to
be, either"
His wife began to reproach him for
ais attack upon Captain Williams and
for his general i'll humor during the
evening, but he cut her short sharply:
I'VE won't talk about that! Not a
word, you understand? Not from you
or any one else. That's finalp'
very well; It's dropped" she said
and, angry at last in turn. rose and
went to her room.
Indiferently he watched her go. then
turned to Smith.
Got anything to smoke. Jimsy 2" he
demanded
NO" he replied, fumbling in his
pockets. as usual, I'm just out, but
I'll run around to the corner store and
get some cigars"
Left alone. Brooks began to give way
to the uneasiness and apprehension
that had followed upon his scene with
Captain Williams.
Il wonder if Williams will fire me, -
he muttered IF he doesn't it's on ac-
count of Emma. He acted as if he'd
go long ways for Emma"
He was anxious to know what had
happened after his brusque departure.
He went into the bedroom and found
his wife in tears.
"Don't cry, Emma" he said soothing
~, going to her and taking her in his
arms. Il didn't mean to hurt your
feelings. | know I've got fierce
crouch on tonight. but can't help it.
So would you have one if you'd had to
put up with what have today"
Mrs. Brooks was one of those sweet
natured women who could not sulk for
more than five minutes If they tried.
1t needed but his caress and apparent
contrition to dispel her resentment.
you certainly have had cause to
worry. dear she assented.
AFTER what's happened tonight I'll
have to hunt another job" he said.
But don't care. I'm glad told the
beast what | thought of him. Some
day somebody IL tell him what they
think of him and plug him. too, as
sure as he's born"
You'll noe have to hunt for another
job yet awhile" she told him. THE
captain said he would overlook it and
that it wouldn't make any difference"
Her husband looked at her in aston
ishment, half incredulous.
i HE said that?"
Yes, and I'm glad it's turned out as
it has, for how we'd manage if you
were out of work just now goodness
knows. l don't!"
"Just how did he put it,"
HE said he was almighty sorry for
what had occurred, that he knew he
had been hard at times and that as
far as your place and we were con-
cerned there would be no change"
Brooks relief showed in his face.
"Well, that knocks me-" he comment
ed Nobody else ever bucked up
against him and got off scot free.
can't understand it. Did your mother
put in word for me?"
mo"
"Then it's you who must have pull
/ He died right down when you spoke
to him. | never would have believed
| such thing. Ii you had been a man
standing there in front of him he'd
have smashed you. Darn it, won
4 der who's ringing now? Can't be
Jimsy; he hasn't had time to get to the
street at the gait he goes
He went to the head of the stairs
i and met messenger boy who was
bearing letter and had received in
structions to wait for an answer.
"Sure!''' he exclaimed joyfully as he
perused the missive. ''Tickled to
death! Go and get your things on.
Emma. It's from Beatrice Langle..
and Willie Ferguson. Willie's giving
a sort of theater party, and they want
us to go with them. There's going to
be little supper afterward."
She shook her head.
s'Tall them we can't pon