The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-14

I added grufhy and went up to his room | Later Kathleen left Patrick and Moral | alone.
 Patrick, who had not been dozing l opened his eyes and winked signif cantly at Norah. "Norah, dye smell nawthin'?" "Pathrick. arre ye clane crazy ove the gurrul? Besides, Bob's no mar ryin man."
 Faith" said Patrick proudly, "an could he do betther than marry he mothers gurrul. I'm goin' up to tall to tn bye"
 He knocked on Bob's door, whicl l was significant, since in that simple household it was not the custom t herald your approach by a knock. Come in. Oh, it's you, Pat? Take { chair" Bob answered.
 "Arre ye busy, Bob?" "Oh, no. Glad to see you. Onl. thinkin' a little."
 For some moments the two sat silen before the fire, Patrick shuff1ing abou in embarrassment, for he knew no how to unburden himself of his errand At last he bolted out: Bob, why don't ye git married?' 'Humph.' Bob calculated contemptu ously. "Why should get married :" We're a quare laad, Bob McAdoo Ye have no bowls av tinderniss at all I don't belave there's person in tn worruld, av he'd die, ye'd give tn lasthe heartache to. Ye have nc frinds. Ye're tn lonest, frindlissist man I know-sarve ye right!' he con cluded exasperatedly.
 .Friendsr Bob sneered. "I don't need lem. They do what I want That's enough for me. What do want with friendship?'
 Patrick threw out his hands help. lessly. ''Av ye could ask that quis. ton ye 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 fir ye an like ye. '~
 Bob laughed. You just said no one likes me. Anyhow, who'd marryT"
 well" Patrick said defantly, there's Kathleen"
 "Oh. Kathleen ain't the woman for me-" Bob said carelessly.
 Then Bob did strange thing. With a quick movement he tore his shirt and undershirt from his body and stood before Patrick stripped to the waist.
 'Seew
 He drew his arms up, and the huge biceps swelled until you would have expected the skin to burst. Then he drew himself tensely together. The big pectorals stood out in thick lay CTS, and his waist muscles were se- ries of bulging, 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.
 "Bahm Bob threw him contemptu- ously into the chair.
 That's why."ehe cried in passionate pride = that's. why don't want friends ~ Fhatas why Kathleen ain't for me. But muscle is nothing. I'm just as strong here" He struck his forehead with his palm.
 "I never felt what you call friendly to any one," he went of, dropping into his usual quiet tone. 'I never wanted a friend. And I'm glad of it. can't have anybody through friendship get tin hold on me. It's the same reason that made me quit drinkin'. 1t don't hurt me now, but it might get hold of me some day. It's the strongest win out in this world, Pat, and I must be strongest"
 Patrick sat, awed and half fright ened by this the longest speech he had ever heard from Bob's lips and by the spirit that inspired the outburst.
 We're right" he said slowly. We're cruel sthrong. An mebby ye can do without friends. I don't know. But some day, Pm thinkin', yell love some body-hard. Thin God pity yet" C.
 They did not know that in another room lay a girl who had chanced 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 strong mans ambition, was fighting the bitter battle of her life's one TO- nance.
 But next evening began the lessons. Never was a more earnest tutor and never a more faithful pupil. And no enc 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, methodical piles and rose from his desk, stretching his muscles with @
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