The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-03-08

mad become one OF the Dig man
most ardent followers. He was
an earnest young man who cher.
ished high ideals of civic duty ano
Ipurity.
II won't believe it," he repeated
raising his voice appealingly. "It's
Iall a lie!"
An uneasy murmur rose. Some
how no one could deny the affida-
lvit.
Just then Haggin came through
one of the rear doors, coatless, hat
showed back, a cold cigar sticking
/ at an aggressive angle from his
mouth.
whats the matter with you
Iguys?" he demanded sharply
That's the noisest silence l ever
heard"
One of them handed to him a
paper. He read slowly.
my Cod" he gasped, stunned
as were the others. my God!"
| One of the petty gamblers was
! the first to recover self-possession.
| Guess that changes the odds"
he laughed harshly. Three to ten
on Larkin! No? Make it four to
ten! Five to
Suddenly Haggin whirled on
the gambler. His big fist shot out
and sent the gambler crashing to
the floor. Haggin did not give a
second glance to the fallen man
He wrung his hands distractedly
as does a woman in trouble.
| my God!" he groaned again,
mumbling the words uncertainty
Il dunno what to do. He's a sick
man-doctor said typhoid got
out o. bed to come downtown
he's comm here now-don't let
him know. An" His voice rose
in hoarse below. God curse
bennington for dirty traitori"
Higgins oath was echoed by a
quick, indistinct murmur. They
were men, most of them, to whom
Deity was merely a word. They
!, were in the habit of using the
, name of God carelessly, frankly
as a metaphor to express any emo
ton. The murmur was con-
fused medley of coarse blasphe-
mics.
A man near the door cursed
sickeningly. "He's coming!" The
murmur ceased instantly.
A carriage drew up before the
ramshackle building. Out of it
stepped Bob McAdoo-the man
who never before had needed a
vehicle for his comings and GO
lngs. He was a very sick man /;
everyone saw that. A two days
old stubble of beard accumulated
the haggardness of his face. The
leyes glittered classify. On his
Isunken cheeks glowed two bright
Ispots. His closely clenched lips
a narrow red line-showed that
only will kept him up. AS he
passed from the carriage, fretfully
waving aside the driver who had
sprung down to assist him, he al
most tottered. The hand that
reached for the door-knob trem-
Died Vfsibly. Curiously enough.
no one thought to open the door
for him; all stood watching him in
sort of frightened fascination, as
though they saw brother passing
TO his execution. The earnest
young man who cherished civic
ideals felt a sudden physical nau-
sea; he wanted to run away, but
could not. They all stepped back,
leaving a narrow aisle through
which Bob might pass.
He opened the door and passed
slowly along the narrow aisle, nod
ding mechanically. At the end of
the aisle he came face to face with
Haggin and the bleeding gambler.
Then the strange silence struck in
on him. He raised his head
sharply, the lips parting a little.
What is it?" he said. His
voice was high pitched and queru-
lous.
From the street came the strid-
ent voice of the newsboy. He
was too far away for his words
to be distinguished, but he was
coming rapidly nearer.
For Christ's sake! stop that
newsie," man exclaimed involun-
tarily.
Shut up, you fool" another
answered gruffly, by his words
accomplishing the very result he
hoped to avert.
"What\is it? Why stop the
newsie?" The tone was still
sharp and querulous.
The young man who cherished
ideals, standing before Bob.
sought to hide his paper behind
his back. The movement caught
Bob's attention. Just before the
paper disappeared behind the
young mans back, he saw in big,
flaring, red letters, "Reming-"
He held out his hand. Give
me that paper"
| The young man stared at him
mutely, a scared look coming into
his eyes.
Give me that paper!" Bob re-
peated fiercely. He caught the
young man by the shoulder,
swung him around roughly and
seized the paper.
Then he unfolded it and read.
The crowd looked on in dumb dis
comfort; somehow everyone pres
ent found himself suffering hor-
Iribly. Even the gambler forgot to
mop his bleeding nose.
AS he saw the flaring headline.
Bob felt his heart contract con-
lvulsively. There was sudden