Evening star., 1918-04-14
BY SEWELL FORD.


Course. it's all right. I amt beefn'.
But it was pIayin' it kind of low down
on a perfectly good private sec. Old
Hickory don't even flicker an eye as
he hands me this slip Of paper with a
name and address on it.
''Torchy." says he, "just look up this
Mr. z. K Barker. will you, and get his
subscription to the third loan?'
YES, sir" says l. maxim noise like
brisk business. Got him down for
anything special?"
Lets see," says Mr.. Ellins. con-
cultin a list "Oh, say about five thou
sand"
Five. right" says 1. salutin'
snappy And I breezes down toward
the Produce Exchange hummin'
merry air. That is. I meant it merry.
All I'd stopped for was to look up
Barker's ratin Good? Wish I had one
like it, Cotton broker. And you know
how those boys have been coinin It
the last year or so. Ta-ta-ta-a-a,
te-dee-da- da-a.
And then 1 runs up against this peev-
ish gink guardin' tho inner door.
"Mr Barker is very busy. ver-ruh
busy" says he. scowlin' hostile.
"Ah, save that olu stuH 70 crush
some agent with" says I. Hell be
buster yet when he finds I'm here.
Rush in the card, Harold. so he won't
be wonderin' what delayed me-"
What do you wish to see him
about?" demands the Neeved One.
About three minutes" says l And
you might add, if your tongue amt
Corrugated Trust on a little govern
ment deal that runs into big figures"
"That Fetches Him."
Uh-huh! That fetches him. A few
more ticks of the clock and I'm in
leanin' against the big mahogany desk
gettin' a closeup of q. K. But say. II
It hadn't been for Old Hickory him
self givin' me this steer. and him chair
man Of the subcommittee. might have
thought there'd been some mistake.
This Barker party don't look IKE
ready loosener. Hardly. NarroW-set
eyes, mouth like q crack in the pave
ment and signs Of a bristly disposition
all over his map.
weir he demands. What sort Of
government contract is this?
Export" says I. "Sendin' shoppers
for Bill the brute"
.eWha-a-atT' he growls. 'Whad-
soh, the ono we're all in." says I.
You know-liberty bond stuff. You
This time 1t wasn't even even /. .,Ec s.ow, VI
like a turkeys. "Gr-r-r-rl' says he.
Get out! Take It away"
ker." says l. Its Just an application
T don't want any fool liberty bonds"
he snarls. assauitin' the desk blotter
tsaa Sa.a hls dozen a'' times Now. s.e Wy
.sThat's Just It," I butts in. Yes.
probably that's why Tn here. Odd.
amt IT."
"Blankety-Blanked" Outrage.
.Its a blinkety-blanked outrage.
that's what it Isl" he shouts. Am
my own mind? don't believe in war.
anyway. I'm not going to help finance
one. either. Not me. Why should ]
INV cue" says I. Thanks. I got
more answers to that than there are
hairs on a dogs tail With your kind
permission Til shoot q few. How much
would your business be worth II you
didn't have Uncle Sam back Of Il, or Or the the
would 1t be now II the U-boats wasn't
bein' hunted 30 hardf You know. You'd
be beggin' the middle west farmers to
buy Scent ,sn eSston @ ,ht to hsa down dow, their
''Humph!" says Barker. regfsterin'
scorn- That's what our governments
for. to protect commerce. pay my
"Yes." says /, "and maybe some of It
goes toward payin' the police. But if
strong-arm gang should raid your
block some night. sew the cop in \
sack, break in next door. and begin
Robin and murderin' your neiEhbors.
shut down your windows and gaSe
calm at your last years tax receipt7
No. You'd grab your automatic. or the
fire tongs. 4 al and wade right into ths
done. And by spring there1l be . mil
one Of EN- somebody's 6oy-over there
takin = chance at being plugged; while
TN beyond the age limit" puts in
Barker.
'Your dollars asn.t,~ says I -And
you're not even asked to risk then-
Sam. at good interest. so they can help
get out the iron ore and move the
crops and build ships"
Can Earn More Than $50 Monthly.
'I can get bigger returns on my
| money by using It in my business"
grumbles q X.
sns1s aEas aaa your to 1':R :Rs y'1s
steYin' at home. couldn't theyr asks.
That's their AFFAIR, not mine.S says
h aoo oos .Ss,sris,ns Ssss % ~ + e.
say. I It t sticks a out = q thos: iistis rss
sys, a...y o. yo1ss Ar; yo1 rcsa1r = dnne p%0a
tnyS ..ss. ss. yes ms s ss, xG sst 70 u:ssa ::s
iaimp-sDin.d dollar r-%sau.e.in' % halt broth