The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-01-03

and the fathers or the Citizens
Party were in undisphted control
|of the Republican organization) /,
Bob was one of the four men who
finally selected the fortunate
candidate. Under this admins
tration he accepted the office he
now held. His signature. at the
bottom of a check was now IA
miliar to the banks of the city and
passed without question, since he
was rapidly becoming a rich man.
When Macpherson went into
power Bob sold his patent rights
to Sanger for a cash consideration
and, under Squire Mehaffey's
name. formed a contracting firm.
This firm secured many profit
ment. For instance, when the
new Public Safety Building was
erected, there were several large
firms who made very favorable
bids. Mehaffey and Company's
bid was higher, but they were
nevertheless declared the lowest
and best responsible" bidder and
were awarded the contract. This
was very sweet and juicy plum
construct a boulevard through
the fashionable quarter of the
city. Bob was one of the few who
were aware of this project before
it was made public, and secured
options on much good property
along the proposed route. When
the news of the new boulevard
reached the ears of the specula-
tors, he sold his options for fifty
way franchise was engineered
through councils, largely by
means of the votes of Bob's
group of councilmen. Bob's share
of the spoils was a large block
of stock, which he afterward sold
for almost twice it's par value. A
storm of popular protest arose
over this transaction and swept
most of those who had voted for
the measure out of office. But
Bob's friends, who had been the
chief offenders, were returned to
a man; thi was profitable but
dangerous experiment on Bob's
part, and he never repeated it.
1t was at the time of this
franchise affair that he was first
cartooned under the sobriquet
Knockout Bob" as a big, burly
prize-fighter, with the ugly, brutal
Features, and particularly the
heavy, undershot jowl, supposed to
be characteristic of men of that
profession. Kathleen, with
troubled smile, showed it to Bob.
He gave vent to one of his very
rare laughs. why, this is fame,
Kathleen. eGt a scrap-bok and
save all the cartoons of me, will
your"
All this success was not accom-
plished easily, but by dint of hard
unremitting work and unceasing
watchfulness upon MACPHERSON
For, although they had so far
stood together, Bob knew that it
was only an armed truce, that the
boss hated him. 1t was largely
for this reason that he had made
haste to accumulate a large bank
account. Once Harmon was we'll
out of the way, Bob knew the only
consideration which would prevent
MACPHERSON from making war
upon him was that of expense.
Bob's money was now an irwin
chile defense.
But to what end, all this? Late
ly he had begun to ponder this
question.
Bob had cast all but self out of
his scheme of life. This was VIC
lating law of nature and he was
beginning to reap the punishment
in a strong discomfort. He was
not given to sentiment, but as he
looked out on the passers-by, all
wearing the Christmas air, he real
| lied that they had something he,
with all he had won and all he
would win, had not. He had no
illusions. 1t had been bearing in
upon him that If he adhered to
his philosophy of concentrated
egoism, all he could hereafter
gain would be in greater degree
gree what he already had.
But, after ALL" he unused, half
aloud, "for a man of my sort,
power is the only thing worth liv-
ing for. The trouble with me is
that God-if there is a God
made me too big to be contented
with ordinary people and their
ordinary emotions..-Come in. o,
hello, Tom"
Fine Christmas weather we're
havin', Mr.. Nc. McAdoo," said
Haggin, who was the intruder.
Like the other boys" he always
called Bob "Mister" nowadays.
Fine enough, I guess. Can
do something for you?"
80, no." Haggin answered, with
ponderous bashfulness. 81 only
dropped in to say Merry Chris
mus to ye."
VERY good of you, I'm sure,
Tom" Bob's tone was anything
but enthusiastic; yet he was sur
prised by faint glow of pleasure
at the ex-pugilist's greeting"
There was an awkward silence,
at length broken by Haggin. eye
iain't been down to the saloon
dately."
"Why, no, Tom. I've been too
busy. Anything new"
Haggin jumped from his seat,
a * hn- hoJ h1z,x