Middletown transcript., 1910-04-02
rcc.vT,rr,rp NOV LAST wEEK1

Coainpton hustled over to them
Come back in the morning,
Broderson, he whispered. This
win be all right.
But it wasn't all right. Billy
wilkinson went back to Coding-
toms that night, and was there
until two o'clock in the morning.
Why, confound it, man, yelled
Codington, what about meF Here
I've spent more than twenty -hve
thousand dollars on you already
in this business. Are you going
to see me lose all that?
wilkinson shook his head. I'm
sorry, he said, but I can't do it.
/ wouldn't have gone into it, but
for Broderson's representations.
They were false, and they re
good enoughin my mind to nulllfy
this contract. Idon't care whether
they were or not. I won't make
gun barrels for somebody else to
shoot at US.
They won't shoot 'em at US, you
hlomod idiot screamed COding.
ton. There won't be any war.
1 don't care so much about that
either, said Wilkinson, but that's
what they want them for. l won't
do it, 1 tell you. ! WON'T won't
II won't
That don't get me my money
back, returned Codington.
1 can't help it, cried Wilkinson
III getit back to you some way.
I'll work my fingers to the bone
and get it back But l won't carry
ont this contract with Broderson.
II would never have been made
II he hadn't lied to me about it at
the start. You can talk to me
till doomsday, but Ill never do
this thing-never, never, never
Iwon't. talk to You q minute
longer, yelled Codington. You
can get out Of this house and
stay out. You can leave Annabel
alone. III lsue you for my money
and my profits. Broderson will
sue you. I'll make him sue you.
What do I care about this nation
al guard business and this San
Juan Hill froth. You're a scoun-
drel. You haven't got an ounce
of business honor in your body.
You're yellow. I've always
known It, and this provesit. Go
on. Get out Of my sight. Get
ont or I'll put you out. Idiot !!
Fool Knave! Annabel, he cried,
stay here,
But Annabel didn't stay there.
She followed Billy out and whis-
pered TO him in the vestibule.
Billy, she exclaimed, Ill go
with you, anywhere, anyhow, to-
night. / want to go with you.
You'll stay right here, grille,
said wilkinson. I'm going to
fight the whole thing out, alone,
and when I've done it, not before,
1'm coming back-to you.
The Japanese war-with Brod-
erson on the side commenced
next day in Billy's Office and last
ed till nigbtfall. Wilkinson was
victorious, but he was like q rag
when he finished.
The whole town will know
about this thing, Broderson
told him. The whole county will
know the kind Of man you are.
You re ruined from this date.
wilkinson only smiled. He
well knew that the town would
not hear Of it-at least not from
the lips of Broderson-for Bred-
erson was a national guardsman
with q record, and the undisputed
facts were-well, they we're nm
disputed, at any rate. But the
thing leaked out among material
men, and the gun trade heard OF
It, and Billy's creditors began to
crowd him for money, thick and
fast. He knew well that he was
down and out.
Il was three weeks later, how.
ever, that Q man stepped into the
Armory on drill night and asked
for him. This man was a
stranger.
Been looking for you all day,
said this man. Your Office is
closed and your works shut down.
What's the matter He grinned,
az one who knew. Iwant to see
you, anyhow. Come over to the
Mansion House after drill.
Billy Wilkinson went over.
My name, said the stranger,
Is Smith.
Indeed, returned Wilkinson.
It's original at any rate.
I am Smith, went on the
stranger, of the Stacy,Smitb
concern. Yes; and I'm in q hole.
Rkonxx Cr,s44, - ~ a hole