Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-16
The Gift
Supreme
BY
George Allan England
Author of
Darkness and Dawn"
1.-THE Alibi." etc.

Tressor covered his drawn face
with both hands and stood there
leaning against the door, shaking and
agonized.
$50 you signed and gave them?"
Yes. l couldn't stand exposure,
Couldn't take my medicine. l, all
my life a deadly enemy OF the NOR
phine habit, an author of articles in
medical magazines on it's treatment
and cure, a man looked ur to every
where as one of the leaders of the
campaign against druss-l have I'M
loaded more anguish on the world
than-than l can ever hope
Bradford, his face study Of
amazement, sat down heavily on the
edge of the bed and peered at Tres
sor. Mugs, his heavy jaw a-gape--
the jaw that still showed the bruise
from Bradford's fist-stared blank
ly OF a sudden the doctor advanced
toward Bradford, with outstretched
hands of appeal.
II don't know who you are" he
stammered, "or how you got those
blanks. I don't know why you're
mixed up with this, affair ct ALL But
you are in it, and you seem to have
soul. You've said you We're trying
to sweep down this web OF vice and
misery. Will you--will you let me
try to make restitution by joining
with you in this war on morphine
VIII YOU join me in fighting off and
crushing down the devil that's been
10, 40 0cr7
Bradford uttered a strange. chok-
ing cry. :
"Stagg?" gasped he. whats that
you say? irwin Stagg?"
WHAT" cried the doctor, amazed.
You know him, too?"
Know him." And Bradford broke
into iangling laugh. do I know
the power of evil, itself, that I'm
trying to overthrow? Here-shake,"
His hand went out to Tressor.
you've said enoussh!"
Muggs, blank with astonishment,
stared while the meh's hands gripped
each other in q grasp of sudden CO.
operation. Amazed that such things
could be, he saw tears gleam in the
doctors eyes, hot tears and from the
heart. Then, as with strong resolve
and fresh hope the blackmail-vic-
TINS shoulders Strengthened in new
manhood, the ex-champeen burst
out:
Say! You ginks amt w:lllopin' de
heavyweight, at all. You's nailin' de
understudy,"
Whats that?"' Bradford flung at
him What do you know about it,
anyhow"
"Plenty! Stage amt de rain guy.
he's only de side show in lis tree
he's only de side show i'm ris tree
ringer. Meiny-he's de main works.
see?"
Who's Meiny!" calculated the
physician. staring.
|. Bradford seized Mugs by the huge
shoulder and violently shook him, as
he cried:
You mean that punk fac ed rum
my frisked the papers Off of, last
night, is really the ringleader? /
thought he was only Stages run
ner!"
Runner, He'll! Amt been stick
III ROUND MIN, Ter years! Don't
know his whole book, from A to q?
Meiny's old man amt ace high be-
side him. He's like putty in his
hands-Meinys got SO many goods
on his old gent he's got him buffa-
loed. He could send him over for
life, il de old man didn't toe, de
scratch: an he'd do it, too, if he
could clean up more dat way dan he
can by lettin' him run wit string
on. A string, SO every time de old
tom cat grabs a rat, Meiny haufs in
de slack an glons it off hiln!"
"So?
Sure Mike! 1t amt ffty-fifty
between EN- no more-it's ninety
ten, wit Meiny on de ninety end
every time Saw Didn't de old gink