The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-03-02
THE LAST LAP
VIOLET OLIVE JOHNSON,
Portland, Oregon.


cub reporter, as a tall young fellow
strolled into the Idle Hour pool room
where they were playing a game OF
pea pool.
AS If he heard the words, the man
In question turned around. He was
rather good looking, and there was
a certain air of defiance in his lean
face, and in the set of his narrow
shoulders.
A strange expression flashed
across his face as he saw Mitchy
There was flicker of triumph in his
eye as he nodded, almost insolently
"D--n him" exploded that gen
tleman, returning the bow sullenly
HE stole my girl once! I'll bet he
pulled that Kiernan job the bulls
have been so bumfoozled over" he
finished vindictively after a pause
looking slyly at the cub.
That boys chubby visage was all
interest. His air of perpetual sur
prised enthusiasm deepened.
do you think so?" he gasped
his eyes like saucers, SIS that the guy
they suspect? Gee; That'd make
some story, wouldn't it? Can't they
get anything on him?"
"Pshaw;" snorted Mitchy, the
scorn Of the an-of-the-world for
the young and unsophisticated in his
voice; Don't you know nothing
Don't you know he's too slick for
'em? They'd give their eye teeth to
git somethin' on i'm. Now If it was
me-" he went on presently, warming
to his subject, "I'll bet l cd catch
i'm If was bull, but l amt, So"
"Oh, you do do your" inquired a
new voice behind him. Mitchy whirl-
ed to find the Captain of Detectives
regarding him out of amusedly skep-
tical eyes. He was startled. He had
thought himself on safe ground where
he could blow to impress his young
admirer. This was more than he had
bargained for, but there was some
thing in that smiling face that made
it impossible for him to back down.
He smiled back.
| Course | could" he said with an
assurance he was far from feeling,
now that he was, SO to speak, up
against it. To his mingled horror
and satisfaction, the captain actually
took him up.
"All right" that worthy grinned,
well give you chance Mitchy.
Well temporarily put you on the
force and try out your boast" There
was CLEAN of good natured malice
in the captains eye that fred his
pride. Outside of that, too, he was
only too glad to take a crack at Tug
Ever since that gentleman had mar
ried red haired Evelyn O'Hara from
right under his nose there had been
smouldering enmity between them
Now he looked up to find Tug regard
ing him with an expression of faint
derision. A flash of involuntary ha-
tired passed like an electric current
through his brain. 1t was not alone
the captain whom he would "show'
when the time came.
"Done!" he said savagely. "This'll
be gettin' even on him for several
things he's pulled on mel" The last
was an inaudible mutter.
"All right bo," said the captain
good naturedly. Come on an We'll
cook this thing up. I'm curious tc
know how you're agoin' to hang any.
thing onto him."
'I'll just watch i'm! That's all!
were the last words the still smiling
Tug heard as the three of them went
out of the door. After they had gone
however, his face sobered, and a
crafty look overspread it. $50 you
think you'll queer me, do your" he
muttered. "You yellow dog! Well
we'll see." He loitered a few min
utes to let them get out of sight, then
went out.
The shackly stairs of his apart
ment" out on Quimby street creaked
as he strobe up them, bringing a pret-
ty, red haired girl with a strained
look in her soft brown eyes, to the
/ dingy door. A fame of home bright
ened her face as she opened to him,
to die again at his half-shamed slump
into the nearest chair. The question
she asked was barely breath, but
! it was asked with an intensity that
betrayed its extreme Importance.
sits no use, Evelyn" he told her
dismally, "There ain't job to be
begged, bought or stolen. I'm agoin'
back TO-"
"Tug!" she implored, "Not that,
not that! You promised when /"
mo use, grille" he interrupted
bitterly, 81 promised to take care o
you too, an l amt agoin' ia see you
starve. What's the use o keepin'
straight anyhow? You an I've got
ia live Honey. You're so hungry now
that you amt hardly able to navi-
gate. Think l wanta lose you now
got your" Els face was fierce with
the instinct to protect, to cherish.
Just one more day, Tug" she
pleaded bravely. She was hungry,
Only she knew how hungry, but she
pulled herself resolutely together,
her own face glowing with fire that
made her very lovely. "Just one
more day, maybe something will
come up so you won't have TO-"