The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-01-11

lie IrOWnoQ 1mpatlenIly.
should lie to any one but you
Kathleen. That's the worst of it.
1t brings the desired results, but
1T doesn't satisfy-you're Irish
enough to understand that, | hope
Because the struggle is so ridicu-
lousy easy. Really, the world is
a very feeble opponent to a man
who sets about its conquest deter
mined and systematically. 1t is
just about able to make it inter
esting for an ordinary man. It's
child's play for me. Sometimes
long for a real struggle, one that
would test my muscles to the limit
That's one reason why l defy
public opinion so often-ti in
creases the difficulties and gives
me the chance to fight. Being SC
brutal, l naturally like fighting"
For some time Kathleen stared
thoughtfully into the fire.
Il suspect the only force that
will give you the supreme test
you desire is-yourself, she said
at length, and then demanded
abruptly. "Why don't you aban-
don your theory? You admit ii
doesn't Satisfy"
He laughed unpleasantly. I'm
as confidential as a sentimental
girl, today. / may as well go the
whole length. Because I'm afraid
Bob McAdoo afraid" Kath-
leen's irony never carried a sting
''Yes-of Bob McAdoo."
She arose and looked down on
him, pityingly.
Bob, you make me understand
as l could never understand be-
fore. the horror in the meaning
of a certain word"
Don't mind me. I'm in a hui
NOR for truth-telling just now"
loneliness!
Without waiting for his reply
she left the room. Bob stood gaz-
ing at the door through which she
had disappeared.
Loneliness! l didn't expect
that. But it hits close. God! ]
am lonely. And yet! That
woman is a living denial of my
theory. Hers is the exact opposite
service, always service. And
she gets far more out of life than
l with all my brutality, or a
thousand Remingtons with his
love of sensation. Nevertheless, !
am far-humph! How trite
phrases will slip into a mans
thoughts! l was about to say,
far from the kingdom of Cod F"
Il
For that evening Higgins back
room had assumed it's official
habit. This was accomplished by
consolidating the three small
tables into one. Around this OBJ
long sat a dozen men. The smoke
from their cigars filled the room
with a thick haze through which
the faces peered mistily. A green
student lamp had been
placed in the center of the table,
to permit the secretary to take
notes more easily. But the sec
rotary had forgotten his notes.
Nor were the men now smoking;
they had refrained so long that
their cigars, mechanically held,
had ceased to fume. The men
leaned forward over the table, ST.
lent, amazed, intent on the words
that fell from the lips of very
handsome young man in evening
first garment of that
sort to penetrate the Businesses of
Irishtown, as one may we'll sup
pose. 1t was not what the speak
er said that held his small audi
ence spellbound. though the SIM
pie words-carefully prepared,
however-were an effective bit of
pleading. 1t was the startling
fact that this young silk stock
ing" had dared to defy the "old
man." and that his nerve had
shown no dimfnution when con-
fronted by the boss in person
Across the table from the young
man sat Bob McAdoo, motionlesl
and inscrutable as the sphinx, his
mouth twisted in a peculiar, wry
smile.
The plea ceased. All eyes were
turned to the boss. els that all?'