The Green Forest tribune., 1916-09-22

they are arraid 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 "a 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 weiSher. 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. It was the end of&he second week, however, before the con- ditions developed that made just the opening that Gard wanted. The situa- tion 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- breltas.
 Some twenty enthusiastic fans held to their seats on the chance that the game would go on. Among these were OToole 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, "l believe you are a more enthusiastic fan than l am."
 They shouldn't have called the game for a few drops of water" com plained the saturated weigher. But let us go some place and get a drink.
 Whereupon the two dripping fans found their way to nearby barroom and talked of club standings and bat ting averages while they warmed up J-of ffc of rQd-nVp6 liquor
 Boy" said the weigher, after the fourth drink, have you got fam i1y?"
 No" answered Gard. q am not married"
 "Go get married" urged the older man. When you begin to get old and have only 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 fling. It also began to be evident that he was of the order of in- ebriates who indulge in a debauch of self a4-tacaa1 ', ipaapt to thair
 e .tl qy II IL tnh E4llllifiSS4e , liquor.
 'Tt always seemed to me- said the special agent, that a man could be- come so absorbed in his work that 1t would fill his whole life. Particularly should this be true when he has 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