The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-09-22

they are afraid he might talk when he
Is drunk"
"He wouldn't take dirty money. any
way" insisted another. "He Is an
honest man."
The third week the special agent
was devoting to the ball park. sitting
in the bleachers three seats back of
O'Toole. He had determined that the
Irishman should tell him the story OF
the customs frauds from the inside.
He knew that, to get on basis of
sufficient good feeling to bring this
about, he must approach O'Toole on
the most favorable basis possible. Too
much care could not be taken in laying
the foundation for his final proposal
to the weigher. The mans love for
baseball first presented itself. The,
agent determined to become a fellow
fan with him. Thus should he come
to know him better and under most
favorable circumstances.
On two occasions the special agent
bowed to the weigher in leaving the
bleachers. He had thus got himself
identified in that individuals mind
as a fellow fan. 1t was the end of the
second week, however, before the con-
ditions developed that made just the
opening that Gard wanted. The situa-
ton worked itself out on Saturday aft
ernoon. The game had gone three
innings when a furry of rain threat
ened to bring it to a close. Then
there was downpour. The people in
the bleachers scurried for shelter.
There seemed little chance for the
game being resumed, and most of the
bleacherites filed out under their um-
brellas.
Some twenty enthusiastic fans held
to their seats on the chance that the
game would go on. Among these were
O'Toole and the special agent. Both
were drenched to the skin. Finally
the umpire announced that the game
was called, and the stragglers turned
homeward. AS O'Toole started to go
he was greeted by Special Agent Gard.
by jove," said the young man, Il
USllOS0 yOu oAS - AAASAS
fan than I am"
"They shouldn't have called the
game for few drops of water" COM
planned the saturated weigher. But
let us go some place and get drink
Whereupon the two dripping fans
found their way to a nearby barroom
and talked of club standings and bat
ting averages while they warmed up
with copious drafts of red-eyed
liquor.
Boy" said the weigher, after the
fourth drink, "have you got fam
ily?"
NO." answered Gard. 81 am not
married"
go get married." urged the older
man. when you begin to get old and
have only a solitary room to which to
go and no children nor grandchildren
to give you an interest in the world.
there is nothing to live for. You per-
form your small duties with a great
void in the back of your mind. There
is no stage setting that makes the
petty play seem worth while. The only
relief is an occasional Saturday night
when you forget"
The special agent began to realize
that the weigher was starting on his
tri-weekly fling. 1t also began to be
evident that he was of the order of in
ebriates who indulge in debauch Of
self-pity as an accompaniment to their
liquor. H
at always seemed to me-" said the
special agent, shat a man could be-
come so absorbed in his work that it
would fill his whole life. Particularly
should this be true when he has a
task so important as yours"
Mother of Mary!" exclaimed the
Irishman. Become absorbed in
watching a bunch of thieves always
at work? Would you like to spend
your declining years in sitting idly by
and watching your employer and bene-
factor robbed?"
"Why do this?" said Gard. "Why
not lay the whole thing before the
right authority and do a worthwhile