The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-06-19

away his scabbard and charged upon
Olympus.
"Havc drink with me, Billy"
he said Familiarity "you and your
fricnds?"
Don't mind If do, old man." said
the great leader, "just to keep the ball
rolling"
The last spark of keys reason fed.
"Wlnc," he called TO tile bartender,
waving trembling hand.
The corks of three bottles were
drawn; the champagne bubbled in the
long row. Of glasses set upon the bar.
Billy McAiahan took his and nodded
with his'beamihs Smile, at '1key. The
lleutcnants and satellites took theirs
and growled Here's 10 your lkcy
took lis nectar in delirium. All drank.
key threw his weeks wages In a
crumpled roll upon the bar.
Greet" said the bartender, smooth.
ing the twelve one.dollar notes. The
crowd surged around Billy McAfahan
again. Some one was tcllingl how
Brannigan fixed 'cm over in theEElcv-
enth. Ikey leaned against the bar
awhile and then went out.
He went down Hester street and up
Chrystie and down Delaney TO where
he lived. Aud tlleie his women folk. u
bibulous, mother and three dingy sis.
tiers, pounced upon him for his wages.
And at his confession they shrieked
and oDjurgatcd him in the pithy rhet.
ORIG of The locality. y
SBut even as they plucked at him and
struck him key remained in his &C.
static trlnce of joy. His head was In
the clouds; the star was drawing his
wagon. Compared with what he had
achieved the loss Of wages and the
bray Of women's tongues were slight
affairs.
, He had shaken the hand Of Billy Nc.
Mahan.
Billy McMahan had wife, and upon
her visiting cards was engraved the
nume Mrs. William Darragh McMa.
han" And there was certain vexa.
ton attendant upon these cards, for,
small MS they were, there were houses
in which they could not be inserted.
Billy McMahan was q dictator In pol.
itics. four walled tower In business,
a mogul dreaded, loved and obeyed
among his own peonle.' he was grow
ing rich: the daily papers had dozen
men on his trail to chronicle his every
word of wisdom; he had been honored
in caricature holding the tiger crins-
ing In leash.
But the heart Of Billy was sometimes
sore within him. There was a race OF
men from which he stood apart but
that he viewed with the eye Of Moses
looking over into the promised land.
He, too, had ideals, even as had key
Snigglefritz, and sometimes, hopeless
of attaining them, his own solid sue.
cess was rs dust and ashes in his
mouth. And Mrs. William Darragh
McNahan wore look Of discomfort
upon her plump but pretty face, and
the very rustic Of her silks seemed
sigh. tNq sl-f
There was brave and conspicuous
asscmblage In the dining salon OF
noted hostclry where Fashion loves to
display her charms. At one table sat
Billy McaIahan aud his wife Mostly
silent they were, but the, accessories
they enjoyed little needed the indorsc.
mcnt of speech. Mrs. McAlahan's iia.
monds were outshone by few In the
room. The waiter bore the costIlest
brands Of wine to their table. In even.
Ing dress. with M expression Of gloom
upon his smooth and massive coun.
tcnance. YOU would look In vain for
n more striking figtire than Bllly's.
Four tables away sat alone tall,
slender mdn about thirty, with thought.
full. melancholy eyes. a vandyke bearl'
aud peculiarly white. thin hands. 10
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