The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-01-25

too insignificant to receive his atten-
ton. 1t was Bob's changed manner
toward men that amazed Haggin.
Dashed If you amt gettin' to be a
regular mixer" he grinned n morn
ing as Bob and he walked home from
headquarters together "You got Paul
skinned now. What's got into your"
God knows!" Bob answered with
a hard laugh.
"Well. mebby he does" Haggin said
philosophically. "What l know Is
you're goin' to give Mac the all fred
est lickin' he ever got"
Could 1t have been Bob who made
the answer? mo. no. Tom! You and
! have deluded ourselves with that no
ton long enough. Not I. but the peo-
pie. are going to whip MACPHERSON"
Haggtn snorted IN profound disgust.
SAW. g'wan! You talk like Paul in
his speeches. They're goin' 70 do 1t
fer you. Guess that means you're do
In It."
bah! Why should they do it for
me?"
Haggin's brow puckered over the
problem. 81 know. but ! dunno how
to say II. II the peoples dom II all.
what are you workin' so hard fer. half
KILN yourself? Even you can't stand
the pace you're settin'."
"You can't understand Bob growl-
ed helpIessly. 1--WE got to-"
1t was quite true what Haggin sug-
gested. The strain was telling even
on Bob's strength. But feverish activ-
ity was a necessity to him to deaden
all thought Of the thing that haunted
him-the face Of a woman whom he
had brutally struck down in his wild
anger.
But his work told. The city was in
a turmoil Of political excitement. The
press reveled in the opportunity. bris-
Ting with charges and cruntercharges.
innuendO and recriminatiOn. At the
club. over lunch counters. by the fire.
side. men-and women, too~-discussed
and took sides we the campaign. The
children on the streets became bitter
partisans.
To the Steel City the issues took con
crete form in the person and name Of
one man. Bob McAdoO. Either you
were for or you were against Bob Nc
Adoo; mostly you were for him.
One n~oonday-not two weeks before
the e'ectiOn-Bob leaned back In his
chair with an air of fatigue that sat
strangely on his stalwart figure and
let his eyes stare vacantly into space.
While he sat thus abstractedly Paul
entered. Bob nodded mechanically.
Paul addressed a remark to him.
which did not pierce the abstraction.
Bob made no answer Then Paul no.
ticed the absent manner. He repeat
ed the remark more loudly. Bob came
to himself with a start.
"Eh?' he exclaimed. "Oh. it's you.
Paul"
Paul looked at him curiously.
whats the matter with you anyhow?
Glass"
(which way?" Bob asked. without
interest.
"To buy"
"All right. Sell"
mo" Paul said eagerly. This is a
good tip. | got it from Brown. Hart
ley's broker Hartley. you know. is a
director. Next week they're going to
declare a 4 per cent increase in divi-
dends.'
"Humph! The broker who will dou-
BILE cross his client will do the same to
you"
But | tell you it's a good tip" and
Paul pounded the table in his earnest
ness. land | want to raise $4,000 or
so for it. l can treble the money In a
week"
Bob smiled tolerantiy, al though
Paul had been a child asking for an
expensive but useless toy. What do
you want with so much money!
] "Oh. I'm serious about this. Bob.
Will you lend me the money!
Bob did not answer at once. In the
gray hollows the red lidded eyes
cleaned with a hot. fierce light.
'Why not: Why not add M more
link to the chain of obligations by
which he would break the hold Of
The MONDAY sun was streaming in
through the shadeless windows. yet
Bob was seeing again the face of the
stricken woman as he had sleepleSsly
looked upon it through the small
hours of that morning. accusing. fear
ing. appealing. When he spoke Paul
hardly knew the voice. SO constrained
and Guerulous was it.
81 can't do it,"
why not?"
Bob's words came uncertainty. Il
can't afford it. l need every cent that
isn't tied up for the campaign"
"You could go or my paper"
Bob shook his head. NO. not on an
uncertainty
Paul said nothing. Then he rose,
dra awning a long whistling breath and
without another word went out.
Bob stared in troubled perplexity at