The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-12-23
CHAPTER III.
Bob Lays Hold of the World.

With deep stisfaction of soul
Bob opened his eyes on new
day.
"I'll stay here" he said aloud.
And stay he did, Bob, in the
arrogance of his boyisn egotism,
taking his welcome for granted.
while to the Films, big-hearted
and instinctively hospitable. it
never occurred to wonder at the
boys presumption. The arrange
ment thus tacitly established prov
ed a happy one. Bob found in the
wholesome, homely atmosphere of
the policeman's family life partial
corrective for the dwurfing influ-
'ence of the tenement. AS for Pat
rick and his wife, had they been
told-which they never we're
that they were exercising an un-
usual virtue in thus adopting the
little vagrant, they would have
been astounded, such pride did
they take in Bob from the Begin
ming. And the non-appearance of
little Paddy ceased to trouble their
honest hearts.
So it was that when Policeman
Finn set out that noon to his
duties, Bob accompanied him, to
revisit yesterdays battlefield
where henceforth, by right of con-
quest and Patrick's protection, he
was to reign supreme. And when
the days work was done, together
they returned home to "Irishtown.' :,
A few days later their bonds
were finally rivited.
1t was Saturday night, and the,
family of Finn was gathered in
the kitchen, which was also the
living room. The master of this
household, reclined in the one big
armchair, was seeking the mini
STATIONS of my lady Nicotine, who,
in Patricks case, was a very
strong lady indeed. Norah's head
was bent abstractedly over a bas-
ket of sewing-no fine lady's en-
broidery, bu the homelier task
and no mean one-of darning her
lords socks. Over the table in the
corner Bob counted the earnings
of the week. To this task the as
sistance of Molly and Kathleen
was needed, since, alas! Bob's|
notions of arithmetical values af-
ter the sum of ten was reached
were hopelessly vague.
"Three dollars and fifty-three
cents" Kathleen announced proud
ly.
IT'S tn wealth av TIL Injies,"
gibed Patrick. 81 s'pose now, Bob
yell be LAWN yer friends FIR TIL
milyunaires av tn East End, ye're
so ruch? Belize, yell set up wild
a bank here in Irishtown. Bob
McAdoo, Banker'-it> has tn fine
large sound to it. Or better still,
yell kape a saloon. 'Twould be a
fine investmint, that last; Irish
town has a snakin' Thrust FIR the
crather."
He'll be layin' aside a bit av
it, a dime or a quarther mebby,
FIR tn Sisters whin they come,
won't ye, Bob?"
Norah suggested piously.
But Bob had planned other uses
for his money than either specu-
lation or charity. He laid to one
side the fifty-three cents and gath
cred together the three dollars,
which he carried over to Norah
and dropped, jingling, into her
capacious lap.
"An' what's this for?"
"Take it," said Bob.
"Ye name kape it FIR YEP
mo, keep it fer yourself"
can why should kape it?" de-
manded Norah.
ITO pay fer me bed an grub"
away wild We, We little rapscal-
lion! Kape yer money, yen be
nadin' 1t FIR clothes an tn like.
Ye can stay here without payin' yer
way, an welcome"
but that's charity amt it,"
Bob demanded directly.
"Well, yes-sometimes," Norah,
returned slowly, embarrassed by
the straightforward question. But
not in this case, whin it's frinds
is givin' to ye."
"Aain't goin' to be charity
boy" Bob insisted. "Char'ty boys
gifts licked"
With sudden warm gesture,
Norah caught the boy to her.
"Shure," she exclaimed compass.
sionately, I'VE poor la-ad, ye're NOT
thinkin' we're goin' to bate -,
are We, Bobsy?"
"No," he answered promptly,
'"but l got to pay"
"But why?" Norah insisted.
L.. Il