Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-02-22

Late in the afternoon bomb was
exploded In the midst Of the crowd.
A man, GREATNESS and red faced.
burst into the room He rushed to the
group nearest the door.
"Remington's thrown McAdoo down.
be shouted hoarsely.
Jaw. go on!" was the derisive an
swer
Il tell you"
Chronicle! Extry! Great s'nsashun.
All bout Remington's exposherl'
A strident voiced newsboy ran into
the room, waving a paper around his
head. Great red letters Hared on the
sheet. There was an instant scramble
to reach him. men showing one an
other and snatching the papers that
others paid for. The news once read.
papers fell from nerveless hands, Men
stared at one another with scared. I'M
comprehending eyes An overwhelm
ing personal calamity seemed to have
fallen on every one
The silence was broken by falter-
ing cry. "Its-it's dashed Hep The
speaker was Young man-new to
politics-who had met Bob during the
campaign and had become one Of the
big mans most ardent followers. He
was an earnest young man who cher
ished high ideals of civic duty and
purity.
81 won't believe it," he repeated,
raising his voice appealingly. ITS all
a nev'
Just then Haggin came through one
Of the rear doors, coatless. hat showed
back. cold cigar sticking at an ag-
gressive angle from his mouth.
whats the matter with you guysw
he demanded sharply. That's the
noisest silence | ever heard"
+ One Of them handed to him paper.
He read slowly.
"My Godr' he gasped. stunned as
were the others. Il dunno what to
do He's a sick man-doctor said ty-
phoid- got out O. bed to come down
town-he's comm here now-don't let
him know. an His voice rose in a
hoarse below. Course Remington for
a dirty traitor!''
A man near the door swore sicken-
ingly. Hes coming!' The murmur
ceased instantly.
A carriage drew up before the ram
shackle building Out of it stepped
Bob McAdoo-the man who never be-
fore had needed vehicle for his com
ings and goings. He was a very sick
man: every one saw that. AS he pass
ed from the carriage. fretfuIly waving
aside the driver. who had sprung down
to assist him. he almost tottered. The
hand that reached for the doorknob
trembled visibly.
He opened the door and passed slow.
" along the narrow aisle. nodding
mechanically. Then the strange silence
struck in on him. He raised his head
sharply, the lips parting little.
What is it?" he said. His voice
was high pitched and querulous.
From the street came the strident
voice of the newsboy. He was too
far away for his words to be distin-
guished. but he was coming rapidly
nearer.
"Stop that newsie!' man exclaimed
involuntarily.
What is it? Why stop the newsiey'
The tone was still sharp and queru-
loIis.
The young man who cherished ideals
standing before Bob sought to hide
his paper behind his back. The move
ment caught Bob's attention. Just be-
fore the paper disappeared behind the
young mans back he saw in big. far
ing red letters. "Reming"-
He held out his hand. "Give me
that paper"
The young man stared at him mute
ly, a scared look coming into his eyes.
Give me that paperv' Bob repeated
fercely. He caught the young man
by the shoulder swung him around
roughly and seized the paper.
Then he unfolded It and read. The
crowd looked on in dumb discomfort.
Somehow every one present found
himself suffering horribly.
As he saw the haring headline Bob
felt his heart contract convulsively.
There was sudden sharp throb In his
brain. and then strange numbness
spread through him. He read through
the affidavit without being able to
comprehend what it meant. There. in
its bold type. it seemed so impersonal.
so much the thing which he was used
to see in the newspapers. that be could
not realize that it was Paul's. his
friends, public disavowal Of him. He
read it second time. and. still it did
not seem real-the numbness persisted.
He looked at the young man.
what does it meanY' His hand
passed before his eyes. I'll don't I'M
derstand'
The young man sobbed aloud.
at isn't true. Mr.. McAdoo? Say it
isn't true"
Bob looked at him. the smile still
playing about his mouth.
tsTs If had9" Tho nI1orr1Inusnncs vvas