The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-03-02

desk. The smoke from Bob's to-
bacco filled the room. The ST.
lence became uncomfortable. Paul
was the first to break it.
"Why in thunder don't you
smoke something besides those
rotten tobies?" he exclaimed petu-
lantly.'
Bob took the offending toby
from his mouth and looked at it
in mild surprise. You're becom-
ing too aristocratic for a politi-
clan. l was brought up on tobies
and lately I've taken to them
again" He replaced the toby
in his mouth and emitted a cloud
of strong, pungent smoke. Another
silence ensued.
At last Paul dropped his papers
and glanced coldly at Bob.
"Well? You've come for some
thing, l suppose?"
Bob watched the curling smoke
a moment before answering.
II see your tip was good, after
all. Did you go in on it?"
For answer Paul opened draw
er of his desk and drew out the
check that Sanger had given him
and which he had not yet depos-
tied. He handed it across the
table. Bob read it over twice be-
fore he looked at Paul.
That's a good deal of money"
he said quietly. More than the
average man earns in lifetime.
You made it in a week, without
lifting a finger. When you come
to think of it, that isn't fair, is
it?"
"As a moralist, you're not a
conspicuous success" Paul retort-
ed coldly. 1.-The point is, l have
the money. Beyond that, nothing
is to be said"
YES" Bob assented with a sud,
den unwonted air of cheerfulness
"Who staked your"
Paul's head went up trifle
defiantly. Sanger"
"Sanger!"
l. Il gave you the chance first"
"But Sanger's an enemy. It's
bad policy to get under obligations
to a man you've got to fight" Boil
| answered evenly.
"Your enemy, you mean" Pau
sneered. mot mine, as this check
proves"
Evidently" Bob looked out
of the window.
Another silence, again broken
by Paul. "See here, McAdoo"
Bob turned slowly at the name
lGVAc ~ ;nly
he paused-"Paul." There was 6
slight emphasis on the name
which Paul did not heed. The lat
ter seized a plotting pad and i'm
patiently mopped up the ink. Their
he turned again to Bob.
"There are some things you and
1--we got to come to an understand
ling about"
And they are"
"In the first place, why did yor
take me up?"
You've asked me that before.
Don't temporize. 1 ask il
lagain."
| Bob smiled. "You seem to have
put me on the witness stand. How.
lever, I'm not bound to answer.
Aren't your" Paul said with
an ugly laugh. maybe l can an
swer for you. It strikes me you
took me up to make use of me and
to keep me down where 1 could
never demand what I've earned
That's true, isn't it?"
at strikes you that way? A
few thousand dollars put a differ.
ent light on a good many things
don't they?" Bob inquired with
suspicious gentleness..
| Save your insults for youl
hired heelers," Paul struck the
table angrily. I'm not one oil
Them"
Bob threw away his consumed
toby and took a cigar from his
pocket. "Since you object to my
Itobies, I'll try a cigar" He held
a match to it and puffed vigorous
ly several times.
''Is there anything else Sanger
your friend Sanger-suggested
to your"
Eyes," Paul declared with angry
Ivehemence, che is my friend.
want that understood. AS foI
what else he has suggested-I've
learned from him what you didn't
dare tell me, that he offered tC
help make me governor, and you
refused"
"WeIl, what of 1t? You wouldn't
have me take up that offer, would
Iyou?"
i "Why not?"
81 might refer you to a certain
lspeech Of yours for reasons"
"Bah!" Paul threw out his arms
lin a gesture of supreme disgust
'l"Don't try to come that slush on
lme. The role of sanctimonious
Pharisee doesn't suit you, Nc
Adoo. We're in this game to help
Yourselves. Be decent enough to
admit that to yourself, even IL you
lare fooling the silly public"
$50 you class us all together,
Iyou and Sanger and me-liars
lhypocrites, bunco-steerers? Pro-
coed with the indictment. There
are other counts, / suppose?"
you seem to take 1t all as a
Ijoke," Paul exclaimed bitterly
But ! suppose you have a right
70 consider me a joke, after the
tlway I've played the fool for you. -
Bob heard this outburst i'm
passfVely 10 all outward seeming