The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-02-01
W HENRY RUSSELL Miller


wv NA0AsAS
For some moments the two sat silent
before the fire. Patrick shutting about
n emba rrassment. for he knew not
how to unburden himself of his Grand
At last he boted out:
Bob. why don't ye git married.?
"Humph" Bob calculated contemptu.
ously why should get married.
"Ye're quare iaad. Bob McAdoo
Ye have no bowls av rinderniss at all
! don't behave there's person In tn
Worruld, av he'd die. ye'd give tn
hsthe heartache to- Ye have no
frinds Ye're tn lonest. frindliSsis
man | know -sarve We right" he con
Guided exasperatedly.
"Friends!' Bob sneered Il don t
need EN-. They do what 1 want
That's enough for me. What do /
want with friendship!'
Patrick threw out his hands help
loosly. "Av ye could ask that quis-
ton ye could nvir understand tn
answer But, he returned doggedly
- his text. we ought to git married
Inst th' same. Ye made some wan to
care rr We an like ye.'
Bob laughed You just said no one
likes me- Anyhow. who'd | marry
Well" Patrick said defantly.
"theres Kathleen"
''Oh. Kathleen amt the woman for
me-" Bob said carelessly.
Then Bob did a strange thing. With
q quick movement he tore his shirt
and undershirt from his body and
stood before Patrick stripped to the
waist
Seer
He drew his arms up. and the huge
hceps swelled until you would have
expected the skin to burst Then be
drew himself tenseIy together. The
big pectorals stood out in thick lay
srs. and his waist muscles were Q Sc
Fies Of bullying. sharply defined ridges
he turned around Patrick saw Il
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.
''Bahw 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.
81 never felt what you call friendly
to any one" he went on. dropping tnro
his usual quiet tone II never wanten
Q friend And I'm glad Of 1t. cant
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 OF
me some day It's the strongest win
out in this world Pat. and must ne
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" be said slowly. "Ye're
cruel sthrong. An mebby We can do
without friends | don't know But
some day. I'm thinkin'. yen love some
body hard. Thin God pity yer
They did not know that in another
room lag 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 lighting
the bitter battle of her life's one 70
nance.
But next evening began the lessons
Never was q more earnest or and
never more faithful pupil And no
one saw the change in Kathleen. her
GirlhOod lost, her womanhood won in
. night.
One day FIVE years later Director Of
Public Safety McAdoo arranged the
documents be had been reading into
neat methodicai piles and rose fro u
his desk. stretching his muscles with
sigh of relief. He had become a
times when be longed for the fierce
muscular effort of the old mill life.
Five years had wrought many
changes In the life Of Bob McAdoo.
He was twenty pounds tighter than
when he had worked in the mills. al
though his sinews we're still Kept in
condition by systematic. vigorous ex
ercise His face was thinner and finer
and marked by lines of thought and
study. He had grown mentally in tn.
new life and under Kathleen 8 tuteiage
His clothes were now made by the
city's highest priced tailor, but, worn
carelessiy. gave little hint OF that sub
tie thing we call style.
His bold negotiations with MacPher
ron had given MIN a mold on the Sixth
legislative district. which careful or
ganization and judicious bestowai o.
the patronage made his by virtue Of
that deal mad converted into q veri