The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-11-01

south. He's got a big gambling house
IN Baltimore at present and an inter
est in one in New York, besides 'aving
a string o race horses.
We'll. Tom Braddock comes from
Baltimore. His father was a boss
trainer and trader there for a good
many years afore he died-w'ich was
about two years ago.. I've card It
said by them as knows, that he ome
times traded bosses in the dead or
night and forgot TO leave one in ex-
change for the one he tool away.
However that may be. he never got
caught at it and so died an honest
man. 1t seems that he Borrowed one
of Colonel Grand's riding bosses to
30 after a doctor one night, some
years ago. and didn't return 1t for
nearly eighteen months. He wouldn't
ave returned it then If the colonel
'adn't seen i'm riding It In Van Styles
street parade out in a little Indiana
town during county fair week. ] was
with the show at the time. w'ich was
afore old Van Slye sold out to o
Braddock. Well. Tom and Mrs. Brad
dock begged so ard for the old scamp
that the colonel not only let i'm OF.
but took i'm back to Baltimore to
train bosses for i'm. That was about
five seasons ago, and It was the first
time any Of us ever laid eyes on the
colonel.
""Tom Braddock and Is wife lived
in Baltimore in the winter time. where
she kept little Christine in school from
November to March. The rest Of the
year she teaches 'er 'erself. / might
say that Christine Is a specially vel
edicated child and we'll brought up.
You can see that for yourself. Tom
wanted 'er to learn 'ow to sing and
dance sos she could be earning money
all winter, but 'er mother said nix to
that, very proper like. In course O.
time, Toms father worked It SOS
Tom could practice is bareback acts
at Colonel Grand's stables. He was
the best rider in the country at that
time. The colonel got i'm to drinking
and gambling. That was the begin
ming. The poor cuss admit been such
a bad lot up to that time. Him n
Mary had always got on fairly we'll
until he got to drinking. 1t wasn't
long afore the colonel took q notion
to Toms wife. He as a wife of is
own, but that didn't stop i'm. He
just went plumb crazy about Mary
Braddock. who was the purtiest, love
lest woman he'd ever seen or my OF
US. for that matter. III never forget
how nice she's allus been to my gal
ere and to every gal In the show, for
that matter. She's an angel II there
ever was one. Don't interrupt. Casey.
I've said it. You keep still. too. Ruby,
md don't snifle like that. either.
II won't go into the 'istory OF 'ow
the colonel tried to get 'er away from
Tom. ! dare say that's the very thing
that makes 'er stick to Tom SO loyal
like In spite OF wot he Is now. Just
principle. that's all. Well, for more'n
two year the colonel as Deer Fostering
'er almost to death and she as to
stand 1t because he's got such a ter
rible old on 'er husband. You see. the
colonel lent Tom a good bit Of money
when he bought old Van Slye out sea
son afore last. | will say this for
Tom, he paid I'm back dollar for dol
got the show cheap. Tom give up rid
ing because he was tight all the time.
nearly killing Christine once or twice
Every once in awhile. come SO the
colonel would turn up and travel with
the show for q week or so. inducing
Tom to play poker and drink. Tom
allus lost and her the coloneld stake
i'm for a month or SO to run the show
n. This as gone on for two years,
Tom getting wuss all the time and the
more persistent Tom as lost
all sense OF honor and decency. He
knows the colonel Is trying to get is
wife away from i'm and he amt got
spunk enough left to object to 1t. He
don't ever try to protect 'er from the old
They say Grand as promised
'er a fine 'ome in Washington and will
Christine abroad. besides Of
fering enough diamonds to oil a at.
But she just despises I'm more and
more every week. He'll never get err
Stree. Why. she just couldn't do
1t. 'Tain't In 'eri
Early this season he lent Tom i've
or six thousand and Tom can't pay 1t
back, I know. business as been so bad.
He's come on this time. l dare say. to
bulldoze 'em into Is way Of thinking.
He's wonderful persistent Like az not
he'll help Tom out some more afore he
leaves. Just to draw the web closer.
He'll stay a few days. Angling around
'er like a vulture. paying no attention
to or rebukes, and then he'll go on to
return another day. He's wrecked
Tom Braddock. Just as a stepping
stone. Some day he'll be through with
Tom for good and all and you'll sec
what 'appens to Thomas"
what beasts!' cried David.
Brad as got to this point in Is love
for drink and cards" said Ioov "uoyJ