Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-11-23
Bob, why don't re git married RI

bob. why don't re git married r
"Humph" Bob calculated contemptu
ously. why should get married.
'.Ye're quare laad. Bob McAdoo
Ye have no BOWLS Az rinderniss al all
don't behave there's a person in tn
worruid. av he'd die. ye'd give th
iasthe heartache to Ye nave no
frinds. Ye're tn ionest. frindlissisI
man know sarve ye right~ he con
Guided exasperatedly.
.'Friendsl' Bob sneered i don't
need EN- They do what | 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 We could nivir understand th
answer. But" he returned doggedly
to his text. we ought to git married
just tn same Ye made some wan to
care FIR We an like ye.
Bob laughed. you just said no one
likes me. anyhow. who'd marryy"
"WeIl.'' Patrick said deiantly.
there's Kathleen"
..Oh. Kathleen amt the woman tor
me-. Bob said carelessly.
\ Then Bob did strange thing. With
quick movement ne tore his shirt
and undershirt from his body and
stood before Patrick stripped to the
waist.
"See!"
He drew his arms up and the huge
biceps swelled until you would have
expected the skin to burst Then he
drew himself tenseIy together The
big pectorals stood out in thick lay
ers. and his waist muscles were Sc
ries of bullying. 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.
"Bahr' Bob threw him contemptu-
ously into the chair
That's why" he cried in passionate
pride : that's why | don't want
friends That's why Kathleen amt
for me. But muscle is nothing I'm
just as strong here. He struck his
forehead with his palm.
IT never felt what you call friendly
to any one" he went on. dropping into
his usual quiet tone. II never wanted
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 or
me some day It's the strongest win
out in this world. Pat, and 1 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.
"Ye're right" he said slowly. "Ye're
cruel sthrong. An mebby ye can do
without friends don't know. But
some day. I'm thinkin'. yell love some
body hard. Thin God pity yer
They did not know that in another
room lay girl who had CHANGED 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 a
strong mans ambition. was fighting
the bitter battle of her life's one ro-
nance.
But next evening began the lessons.
Never was more earnest tutor and
never more faithful pupil. And no
one saw the change in Kathleen, her
girlhood lost. her womanhood won in
a night.
One day Eve 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
-