The Washington times., 1919-12-07
II meant no harm to herI
love her too much| am ready
to die for her."
sy GROVER CLEVELAND GORDON

By GROVER CLEVELAND GORDON.
Flossie called me Daddy, and her
baby. Geraldine Dad. The child
knew no better HE thought I was
her father. But 1 was not, although
1t was with money that provided for
expenses ths: the child came into this
world Mrs. Robinson's husband was
Il worthless sort. He did NOE lovs his
wife. He treated her brutally.
I realised the unhappiness OF the
couple. The husband wouldn't work.
He half-starved his wife, who was
about to become a mother. / stepped
in and offered her funds. She accept
ed IL.
1 loved F1ossie and she loved me.
until q printer from the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing entered her
life. She had told me we could get
married after she and her husband
had been divorced. We arranged just
before Thanksgiving Day to play al,
our money on the races at Bowie. be-
lieving that we could win enough to
pay for the divorce and then we
would get out of Washington. This
always has been q Jonah town" for
me.
1 lost all my money at the race
track. and then I began to drink.
When I shot and injured F1ossie /
was out Of my mind-I must have
been crazed from whiskey and jeal-
ousy.
Flossie. l was jealous of the atten-
tion she was paying to a printer.
Probably my suspicious were un-
founded. But 1 don't remember a
thing of the shooting.
Received Salary Of
500 q Month.
I am only twenty-five years old.
My father and mother live at Wheel
ing, w. Va. I came to Washington
to get employment. After a while l
went for the Washington Terminal
Company as a window washer. i was
gradually promoted to assistant fore
man of the shops, receiving salary
of 5000 a month.
Over two years ago, while I was
living on Indiana avenue. / ate my
meals at a lunch room on Pennsyl-
vania avenue. 1t was here that / met
Mr.. and Mrs. Robinson. l loaned
money to Robinson at frequent inter
walls. which he never paid back, and
he urged his wife's attention to me.
I was a brother to her. She was
being ill-treated. and she told me OF
he treatment OF her husband, OF the
life Of poverty she had to live, and of
he coming of the baby.
On pay days ! gave her money from
my salary-that is, IL she needed 1t,
md she always needed II, because her
husband gave her but little funds. We
moved from one place to another. hav-
ing on several occasions been order
ed to move because Of suspicious
BOARDING and rooming house proprie-
.ors A soldier was the cause or
request being given us to leave one
house.
Husband Never
Took His Wife Out.
But her husband would never take
Flossie out When she expressed
desire to go for a walk, to the movies
or any place, he would suggest to her
that 1 go along. And we went out
together.
We talked about her husbands
treatment. Of his refusal to work
steadily and provide her with money.
Soon the baby was born. I helped
the best I could for the comfort of
both. Finally we decided to start
light housekeeping. and bought the
furniture We lived in the same
apartment, / as Mrs. Robinson's
brother. A fellow upstairs made a
remark that we should be put out
because Of our conduct.
seized the fellow by the neck.
gave him a good beating. and threw
him over the fence. Robinson also
resented the reflection on his wife's
character and he. tno, gave the fell
ow thrashing.
We were both arrested, and l was
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