Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
THE TRUE
DOPE ON
SNUFFY
BY SEWELL FORD

BY 81 w ELL fORD
of the argument. And it funny too how the
diff rent tales about how Duggan to be workin
for livn' got started and spread through the place.
Some said his mother had been only sister of the
pute uncle but that when she married Duggan he cast
her off and spoke to her afterwards Others said
how that couldn't be So she wouldn't have named her
only boy for him.
But fn'v it was settled that, while there had been
family row. it had all been patched up few years back,
before Dugean's mother died; but that Tom Lamar
didn't believe in 1oadin' young man down with lux
ures until he'd had chance to make good on his
hook. There big debate for awhile as to whether
it would be when he got to be twenty-five, or thirty,
that Uncle Lamar goln to send tor him to come
West live with him in his doubledecked palace, and
be vice president of railroad But in the end we knew
it was to be when he twentyeight. can't say just
how we knew, but the word was passed around, and
nobody disputed it.
"Just Think says Miss Sprggs, the old maid who's
crack stenographer at fifteen week. "Some day
he will in for four million dollars!'
"Piddie says six, saysI
"Really!" gasps Miss Spriggs II wonder what it
must be like to look forward to that? Six nlons!'
NOBODY showed any green in the eye either. Some
how, everyone mighty kind and gentle to young
Duggan always called him Mister, and made things
easy for him. Even that don't bring out any chesty
signs In fact he got better right along nice and
polite to everyone, don't sniffe half much, and
seemed to be takn on flesh. For one thing, he want
always draggin' Uncle into the conversation,
would. Course, he did flash a pgskin pocketbook
once,-a swell affair, with fancy design stamped
the outside.
"The Lamar crest, he explains.
The inside lined with watered silk, and one part
cut out like picture frame, with photo IN It,
Uncle Thomas says young Mr.. Duggan.
1t was natural all wanted to such fancy
present. and he passes around free Same way with
the gold watch he got on his birthday. That had the
Lamar crest engraved on it too.
"Gee!" says l. a expect that set him back couple
of hundred or so.'
"Oh no, says young Mr.. Duggan. at isn't such
expensive one, really. But it bully of him to
member my birthday"
@IIuh!- says I. "If it me, I'd be he didn't
make it a sixcynder roadster. Maybe he's savn that
up for next Christmas?'
Duggan smiles and shakes his head. Yes he was
modest about it all, that's fact got to kind of lkin
him. for all he such dead wire; used to tow him
out to my favorite quick lunch joints and put him wise
to things 1t would be something you know, years AFTER
when folks mentioned Thomas Lamar Duggan the
young California millionaire, to be able to remark
CASUAL "Oh-Tommy? Yes we used to run together
lot when he was in New York" Besides, there
tein' who he'd be wantn' highpnced private Sec
rotary of these days. You know how it is?
That must have been goin' on two years. Mean
while he's been jumped couple of times to better jobs,
he's bucked up amazin in his work and personal ap-
pearance, and has taken Piddie's hint of wearin
coupin' link between his last two Names that he
signs it Thomas Lamar Duggan. And by the best
count he could make the grand comm out party of his
only little thirty months off.
THEN one day he consents to let pilot him around
to new basement joint I'd discovered, where they
dish up juicy hot roast beef sandwich and cup of
coffee for fifteen cents, with free pickles the side.
It's of grabbn' your own crockery and pushin'
in As crowds up to the coffee tank and passes over
Our cups, what should the faucet juggler do, he