The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-29
CHAPTER XII. s,
Sledge's Roses Are Wrong

SIedge's Roses Are Wrong
Both Phil and Blondy wore
mournful faces when Sledge walk
ed through the back room the
next day.
He's game, all right" COM
mented Phil.
You couldn't make him boiler
If you cut his head off," replied
Blondy. Il wonder how Bob is
this mornign."
Must be dead from what the
papers said," judged Phil.
That King Pin must be some
dog"
Hes younger, that's ALL" i'm
mediately explained Blondy./
| Bob ought've been retired !"
criticised Phil. st wasn't fair to
hand him his first lickin' when
he's old like this. The Big Boys
late this morning. He's been
coming around at o'clock, and
now it's -"
| "Bob's either dead or better,
or he wouldn't be here at all,
asserted Blondy. you know.
like that big slob."
That's easy" carelessly COM
mented Phil. There goes his
bell"
| Sledge sat in his accustomed
seat. For the first time in all
their acquaintance, Phil saw the
chief with his head sunk on his
collar.
"How's Bob this morning." he
asked.
The mighty breast of Sledge
heaved with long full sigh.
| He's all right" he grumbled.
Not a whimper out of him.
And another sigh, which was al
most like a sob, impeded his ut
terance.
by the way" Phil informed
him. Sunny Jim Keller is
dead"
Gee, the boss is cut up about
Bob" Phil reported to Blondy.
Il told him about Sunny Jim, and
he never even grunted. That
means the whole Third ward S
done"
| Sledge was not so unimpressed
as he seemed to. be, however, for
presently he sent for Phil, and in
structed that big floral piece
be sent, and that the widows af-
fairs be looked into.
Bendix came in by and by,
looking very much worried, and
sat down heavily. ..t.
did you hear that Sunny Jim
Keller is dead?" he inquired.
Sledge nodded.
There amt a man up there
could take the leadership of that
ward went on Bendix, much dis
couraged. Its the Third that
has always lapsed. STA s
II looked up Marley's Ridge
wood avenue franchise" resumed
Bendix. Its good, all right.
Yesterdays meeting was a bright
one for him. A few shares of
traction stock traded hands on
the board today. Bert Glider is
floating his amusement park.
He's made a dicker with the COM
pany already formed, to abandon
the Lincoln Road park, and
they're to take over the Person
tract. The Lincoln Road proper
ty is to be used for car barns, ac-
cording to the latest dope from
Marley, and Glider gets fifty
thousand in stock and manage
ment of the park. 1t looks like
a cinch for Bert"
Sledge raised his chin a half
inch, and dropped it again.
II saw Bozzam," Bendix went
on with his report. "He claims
that, while you own seventy-five
per cent of the stock of the new
traction company, and could
swing everything in a vote, he is
the duly authorized agent of the
company, and has the right to
sell its franchises at the best
price he can get: so he's going
to close with Marley for fifty
thousand"
HUH" grunted Sledge.
Waiver has decided not to sell
his house. He'll go to Switzer-
land, all right. but he prefers to
keep his residence here"
Sledge smiled. 1t was like the
grimace of man in the electric
chair.
"But the worst is yet to come, -
persisted Bendix. "Schwarzman
tells me that Judge Lansdale pos
itively refuses that appointment
as attorney for the anti-dry move
ment. If he stays on the bench,
Sledge, nothing on earth will
make you right"
Sledge's chin sank a little low
er on his collar. Adolph brought
In a letter, a square white en-
velope which looked strangely
out of place on the edge of beer
tray.
Sledge opened 1t mechanically,
and drew out neatly engraved
card, which read as follows:
Mr.. B. Franklin Marley
/ begs to announce the
/ engagement of his daughter
| Ethelyn
| To Mr.. Albert T. Glider
Sledge slipped that announce
ment calmly in his pocket and