The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-11-09

For that evening Haggin's back room
had assumed its official habit. This
vas accomplished by consolidating the
three small tables into II Around
this oblong sat a dozen men. They
leaned forward owe the table. silent.
amazed. intent on the words that fell
from the lips Of a very handsome
young man in evening dress-the first
garment of that sort to penetrate the
Businesses of lriShtown. az one may
well suppose. This young 'silkstock
ing had dared TO defy the 'old man.
and his nerve had shown 40 diminution
when confronted by the boss in person.
Across the table from the young man
sat Bob McAdoo. motionless and in
scrutable as the sphinx. his mouth
twisted in a peculiar. wry smile.
The plea ceased. All eyes were turn
ed to h boss. us that allT' He
spoke quietly. but the words somehow
carried n p%erceptible sting. The young
man flushed and sprang impulsively
to his feet again.
No" his voice rang out. 1T Is not
all There's m thing m%ore-fOr you.
Boss McAdoo. You've given your
orders that Smith be set aside and
good reason, but wholly arbitrarily,
just because II happens TO please yor
These other fellows may obey your
orders. They almost certainly will.
But &C long an | am on this committee
my ward votes for Smith. You prom
Used TO crush me II | stuck to this. All
right. You'll find ! can take a lot OF
crushing Your brutal threats don't
frighten me you bully"
Bob rose slowly to bis full height.
The rest Of the committee. OK stood
up in%volunfarily. Bob's eyes were
glued to the handsome flushed face
across the table. The others giancps
were fastened on his big right list.
"Ha" they breathed as they saw il
clinch cOnvuisiveiy. More than one
face went pale. They expected moth
ing less than to see a murder done
But Bob's hand u~nclinched immediate
~.
Put the notion" he commanded
quietly. maintaining his steady gaze
1T has been moved and seconded
that this committee indorSe StouShton
for the Legislative nomination" the
chairman repeated mechanically. "AIl
in favor
AYE" said all but Remington and
Bob The chairman paused.
"All opposed" The suggestion came
from Bob
"No!" Remington's voice rang out.
Vi guess that settles 1t. Remington"
vt settles the immediate question"
was the defiant answer.
Meetings adjourned" Bob motion
ed the committeeman out of the room
"Nothin' but a drink as high as the
ceilin will do me after that" wins
pered one. reminds me of the night
the old mar licked Haggin."
me. too: only there wasn't no
scrap" and there was a shade of re-
gret In the low voiced reply. 81
thought fer awhile. though. to buy
flowers fer the kids coffin. Five
years ago I'd had to too"
"Oh, Remington" Bob said casually.
"just wait a minute. will your
"Well?" He turned toward Bob
with a certain graceful recklessness.
Here. smoke this Bob said grufIly
as be handed over a cigar. IL don't
like to see a man smoking cigarettes"
pan1inntnn hncifatnl than annantn1
It.
And l wouldn't take this business
to heart If | were you. We have to
preserve discipline in the organization,
you know. There's nothing personal
In it,"
The handsome face flushed eagerly
"Do you mean that? Then call In
the boys, l want to apologize for call
ing you a bully"
NO! Come, now; no theatricals.
You're too good a man to be wasted In
such childishness."
So the descendant of the renegade
Jewess Won his fight.
Bob. returning home. found Kathleen
alone in the library. He entered and
began without preliminary:
kathleen. this afternoon l told you
that | didn't want any friends. You
rememberT"
Eyes"
"The other day a young chap-a
fool. an ass. judged by my standards
met me on the street and without in
PRODUCTION or by your leave demanded
my friendship. He was most theatrical
and asinine. and | liked him for it.
He had been lighting me politically.
though he's a greenhorn. ! told him
! would crush him-kill him politically
Tonight be continued his opposition
He took the opportunity to tell me a
few things about myself which he
seemed to think I had overlooked. j
have not crushed him. shall not.
He-he has much that I lack. And l.
you hit It exactly-I have been very
lonalv am ~oiuD IN toot vuup tho0Pv