The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-10-26

He knocked on Bob's door. which
was significant. since in that simple
household 1t was not the custom to
herald your approach by a knock.
"COme in. Oh. it's you. Pat? Take a
chair Bob answered.
ARE We busy. BobT"
"Oh. no. Glad to see you. Only
thinkin' a little"
For some moments the two sat silent
before the fire. Patrick shutting about
in embarrassment. for he knew not
how to unburdan himself of his GRAND
At last be bolted out:
bob. why don't ye git married?"
"Humph," Bob CALCULATED contemptu-
ously. why should ! get married.
"Ye're a quare laad. Bob McAdoO.
Ye have no BOWLS av tinderniss at all.
| don't behave there's a person in tn
worruid. av he'd die. ye'd give tn
lasthe heartache to. Ye have no
frinds. Ye're tn lonest, frindlissist
man | k~now-sarve We right he con
cluded eXasperatedly.
Friends" Bob sneered. IL don't
need EN- They do what | want.
That's enough for me. What do |
want with friendshipT'
Patrick threw out his hands help
lessly. A We could ask that quis.
ton We could nivir understand tn
answer. But" he returned doggedly
to his text. "ye ought to git married
just tn same. Ye made some wan to
care fr We an like ye."
Bob laughed. you just said no one
likes me. Anyhow. who'd | marry"
We'll" Patrick said deiantly
there's Kathleen"
"Oh. Kathleen amt the woman for
me- Bob said carelessly.
Then Bob did a strange thing. With
a quick movement he tore his shirt
and undershirt from his body and
waist.
See"
He drew his arms up. and the huge
biceps swelled until you wonld have
expected the skin to burst. Then he
drew himself tensely together. The
DlS NtNtot dlN StOou out III Nv a.
ers. and his waist muscles were a So
ries of bullying. sharply defined ridges
he turned around Patrick saw a
back covered with knots and lines OF
magnificent muscles Bob seized him
by the wrists.
Break loose" he commanded
Patrick writhed and pulled to break
the iron grasp In vain.
Bah" Bob threw him contpmptu
ously into the chair
That's why" he cried In passionate
pride - that's why | don't want
friends. Thst's why Kathleen amt
for me. But muscle is nothing I'm
lust as strong here" He struck his
forehead with his palm.
81 never felt what you call friendly
to any one" he went on dropping into
his usual quiet one II never wanted
have anybody through friendship get.
tin a hold on me. It's the same reason
that made me quit drinkin'. 1t don't
hurt me now, but 1t might get hold of
me some day. It's the strongest win
out in this world. Pat. and l must be
strongest"
Patrick sat. awed and half fright
ened by this the longest speech be had
ever heard from Bob's lips and by the
spirit that inspired the outburst.
"Ye're right" he said slowly. 'Ye're
cruel sthrong. An mebby We can do
without friends. | don't know. But
some day. I'm thinkin'. yen love some
body-hard. Thin God pity We"
They did not know that In another
room lay a girl who had CHANGED to
hear words not meant for her ears.
Minute after minute. hour after hour.
dragged by and Kathleen never stirred.
Poor Kathleen. Her love, battered and
torn under the needless wheels of a
strong mans ambition. was fighting
the bitter battle Of her life's one ro-
nance.
But next evening began the lessons.
Never was q more earnest tutor and
never a more faithful pupil. And no
one saw the change In Kathleen. her
girlhood lost, her womanhoOd won in
a night.
One day FIVE years later Director Of
Public Safety McAdoo arranged the
documents he had been reading into
neat, m%ethodical piles n rose fro
his desk. stretching his muscles with
a sigh OF relief. He had become a
faithful desk worker. but there were
times when be longed for the fierce
muscular effort Of the old mill life.
Five years had wrought many
changes In the life Of Bob McAdoo.
He was twenty pounds tighter than
when he had worked In the mills. al
though his sinews were still Kept in
condition by systematic. vigorous ex
ercise. His face was thinner q timer
and marked by lines of thought and
study. He had grown mentally In thu
new life and under Kathieen's tutelage.
His clothes were now made by The