Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-10
OLD MAN DRAYT0N AND CUPID

would hasten things along DIX
Things were dragging; they lacked the
snap that he demanded in all his
transactions. so he took walk out
into the yard and held deep converse
with one of the workmen. At inter-
walls, that person would laugh loudly
and slap his thighs AT last. he slap
ped Drayton heavily upon the should
ers and assured him that 1t was
"darued good" They went into more
Intimate details. as could be Judged
from the movement of head and lips
and. at the conclusion. slapped each
other heavily on their respective
backs. In fact. their actions plainly
the concoction of some practical joke
that would have a point impaled in
some third party.
Janet continued her work among
the workingmen, but, moro than all,
among the wives and the families.
temporary organization. as she had
explained to those who became inter
ested. but one that would do great
good. With money that had been
largely advanced by Drayton, and with
his full knowledge of It's ultimate
hall. This she had equipped with
many tables. chairs. easy and other
wise, two pool tables and various
games. During certain nights of each
week a moving picture machine and
operator were employed. and. every
night the hall was filled-not by men.
alone. but by the wives. mothers,
children. and the sweethearts of those
unmarried 1t became Il great ueiCh-
borhood club. 1t fulfilled its duty as
gathering place OF the Clan-and
clean gathering place that the women
knew and entered. More than all else
it kept dollars in the pockets of those
who came.
While the work was hard and. of
necessity, a labor of the night time
after her work at the office was An
ished. II had its many rewards. And,
too, some ffzzles. AS, witness the fail .
ure of trying to instil liking for
bridge among the women OF the
Brotherhood. Some were very amen
able to this very complicated game.
but Mrs. Shalinsky. a pinochle shark.
and Mrs. Rafferty,, the setback fiend,
were the weak links that spoiled the
chain. They could not establish the
lines that marked this game from
those they knew and reverenced.
Janet gave It up. at last. and allowed
them to play, as II were, their folk
games" In this she was wise.
Andrew Drayton. with many mis-
riving.. had attended with her one
night. but after the evening had pass
ed. was forced to admit that the mis-
glvings had been without basis or
foundation. He found crowd that
welcomed him, after the first stiffness
had worn off and found some of his
d-time poker friends whose existence
he had forgotten. He had, during the
evening. the intense satisfaction bn
pulling in seventy-one chips Of var,
ious coIors on hand that consisted
of pair of fives. held pat. against
three tens that went into the discard
after a mental struggle on the part
OF their possessor. The chips were OF
no value-"mind bets" Drayton cali
cd ,hem-but the action was all pres
ent.
And. aside from tho action and
thrills he had obtained in his vapor-
GUS winnings that night. he acquired
another element that made for salts
fnction. he could discern new
warmth in tho eyes Of the strikers
when they met him. He was. almost
ms being almost human. As for him.
self, he went over his end of the con-
troversy and knocked off some rough
corners that had projected Themselves
into the body OF men. The end was
measurably nearer.
Drayton was thinking of all this.
after his talk with tho balck-slappins
comrades. and 1t furnished a definite
idea. He called Sid.
Janet" he said. goes down to that
brotherhood or hers nearly every
night Sometimes. she goes alone;
once or twice. that fella Hardwick has
zone with her, and I went once.
They're good folks. but don't much
like the idea OF her going UP them
dark streets by herself Harry is off,
tonight. I've got n meeting and Jus
wanted to ask II you could go with her
in tn car? JUS sorta look after her,
YOU know OF course he added
craft!iy. III you have anything else"
why. no. Mr.. Drayton. I have
nothing TO do. I'll be glad to look
after her. Shall tell her. or will
you?''
Guess better tell her......Thank
YOU. Sid" Then prayton leaned back
in his chair and unused.
III that don't fetch 'em. with tn
sprinEtime. I'm beat he said.
II was well after dark when Janet
stopped tho roadster on n gloomy cor
ner. Tho street leading to the hall