Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-04

| We'll, there are beds I'D stairs at
ten. fifteen and twenty-doss- house
prices. but not doss- house accommo-
dations. There's a shower bath. It's
used, too, or we're a ledger shy. Bus
mess is cash and time is money here.
| guess you've had an earful now.
Everything l have is invested here,
and it's got to pay expenses o. bust.
don't intend to risk injuring bust
ness by having you about the prem
ises. You know the way out Good
night
He turned away to take the order
OF a newcomer. who had just en-
tered. and who now stood at the
counter. shuffling his feet in the
! sawdust "a peck marked gray
bearded old fellow, minus part of the
lobe of his left ear, probably a sail
! or. to Judge by the cables and anch-
ors tattooed on his hands and wrists.
well, mate, whatll 1t be?" he
que1ied. and stood waiting while the
man studied the bill of fare painted
| on broadside of cardboard and
tackled behind the counter.
him with narrowing eyes of hatred
and contempt. Now that he had ac-
CURED all the Information that
seemed to be Forthcoming, his nat
ural venom stewed to the surface.
Damn white-livered pup" he
nuttered. "I'n cert'nly get Mugs
rafferty, to blow in here tomorrow
an wailop the map off him."
Hey, Meiny." whispered Dan.
pulling at his patrons sleeve again
Fer Gods sake. listen"
'Huh?" growled Meiny angrily.
What you want now?'
''Pssst! Slide me a couple of pills,
will you,, Ell? must ha' lost mine
somehow. an I'm all in"
The pallor of Dams sunken, parch-
ment-like face. the twitching of his
fingers. the blinking of his eyes be-
trayed the terrible intensity of the
craving that consumed him
Meiny nodded comprehension. slid
hand into the pocket of his loud
checked coat, and produced a small
box of round white tablets-half
grain morphine pills. With pitiabie
easerness the dope fiend snatched 1t,
twitched off the cover. and shook
two tablets into his emaciated palm
These he was just about to pop into
his mouth, when a powerful hand
smashed the box to the floor and
sent the pellets spinning into the
sawdust.
None O that in here!" cried Brad
ford. his face thundercloud of
anger. mo doping here! Get OUT.
You son of "a lsnarled Meiny,
showing his fangs like a wolf. ~.
The phrase Was never finished
One swift leap. with hands on tho
counter, and Bradford was over
over and clutching for Meiny's coat
collar.
It must have been that Meiny lost
his head completely. How else would
he have dashed out with his soft fist
at the white-starched bulk in front
of him? The blow glanced harm
lessly.
Smash! Meiny reeled downward,
his ears ringing with echoes of Brad
ford's clean drive to his jaw His
head crashed, against a table, he
rolled groveling in the sawdust and
called blasphemously upon his Maker
to inflict eternal torment on Brad
ford.
Chairs scraped: some clattered
backward as men started up. Dan.
nnmindful of his chiefs downfall,
his ratlike soul fixed only on the in
nj I,l
on hands and knees to rescue two or
threat all hazards, to salvage a
little Of the supremacy necessary
drug. A powerful hand jerked him
back, raised him, and threw him into
the arms of the sailor looking fell
low.
Here, hold this one till 1 get rid
of the other." commanded Vinton.
"He doper--don't let him get at
those pills on the floor"
AYE, aye. sir" exclaimed the sail
or II never seen a handler fist than
what you got"
Unmindful of this sincere praise,
Vinton bent over Meiny, who was
foaming out curses as an ang"y lob
ster bubbles froth. Him he seized by
the scruff, in a grip of steel.
There's another class of unde-
sirables not allowed<round here, tho
I didn't mention them" he exclaimed.
II mean the dope dispensers!"
'I'll get you for this!" snarled
Meiny, trying to worm out Of the
clltching fingers. I'LL"
You'll do nothing but clea" out of
here!" calculated Bradford, shaking
him rat-and terrier fashion.
From Meiny's inner pocket flirted
a little sheaf of papers. At sight of
them Dan set up .horrid outcry of
rage and grief. Meiny mouthed an
obscenity, and his notified hand
grabbed for the sheaf; but Vinton
was too quick fo- him.
Prescription blanks! Signed" he
cried, peering at them. "Ah, now /
get your game!"
Meiny, twisting round, strove to
sink his yellow teeth in Bradford's
leg, but caught only cloth. Bradford
shook him again. till every bone
quivered in that PUPPY body; then, as
if the fellow had been bag of junk,
dragged him thru the door, thru the
living room, and toward the exit. His
imitation Panama fell off and was
kicked aside. A long, bare trail,
swept clean Of sawdust by the claw
ing, cursing parasite, marked his
passage.
Excited men and boys pressed
round the edifying spectacle, and
conflicting voices rose to Babel pitch.
Came a tap ap-tap of crutches, and
a boys trembling pipe shrilled thru
the tumult:
"Mr. Brown! Mr.. Brown. He
amt hurt you, has he?"
The crippled newsboy. his sunken
eyes blazing with excitement, tried
yainly-So DresS thru befweep tho