The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-01-28
In the Making
D. FRANK CONDOR
tCopyrnh,.y

curious about C~assOpOlis.
CassOpolis is a small own % these
lines are being written.
He came to the city on the Cannon
ball Accommodation, leaving CaHsopO-
lis daily. except Sunday. His name
was Hector Moe.
In the smoking car Of the accommo-
dalton an underwear salesman gazed
~interestedly upon Hector Moe and en-
gagged him in conversation.
II am going to New York to make
my fortune" Hector admitted. II
have always lived in CassOpOlis, but
my talents 1T me for an enlarged
sphere. / will admit that my appear
ance ID that of q jay. And l have in
my pOcketbook two hundred dollars"
"You want to he careful when you
get to New York." the underwear
salesman advised.
II shall take care OF myself, never
fear, replied Hector confidently.
Mr.. Moe was young. In a week he
had cast aside many Of the rural gar
ments. He began To look upon the
twenty-five years he had lived In Cas-
sopolis as a misepent youth.
The hour was eight Of a summer
evening. Standing on the corner with
n rapt look in his eyes, Hector oh
served a stranger.
This is surely y wonderful city"
the, unknown bega,. nodding toward
the crowded streets. You are IA
stranger here?"
II have been here for some time"
Hector answered IN a dignifed tone.
Sometimes Continued the .stran-
ger, Il find 1t difficult to select amuse-
ments. Don't you find it that way?'
Hector smiled and nodded.
Tonight said the man. becoming
more confidential. 81 have felt the
stirring Of an old spirit in my veins.
For some strange reason. / feel inn
PEELED tonight TO daily with the white
ball. DO you happen to know any
place that is open?
NO Hector answered. Il know
very little Of gambling"
There was a famous old room rot
far from here" the man said thought
fully. Il wonder if 1t might be open
tonight. DO you i do anything in
that line?"
II might do a little in that lfne,'
Hector answered.
LET us 60 down the street and see
IL we can break into this place." said
the man joyially.
Fortunately enough, the distant
gambling-hOuse door opened at tie
name Of the stranger.
MIR. Briggs? Certainly you can
come in.'
The gambling-house proprietor took
Hector by the arm like one who had
known him for years. Champagne,
cigarss and dainty salads were served.
The rpoms were gorgeous in velvets
and sfks. Some time during the eve
ming Mr.. Briggs disappeared.
The gambling-h house men now pos
sessed the two hundred that had
come triumphantly from Cassopolis.
Stunned. and with hisxerain totally
paralyzed by the calamity. Hector
stumbled from the brightly lighted
rOom.
OH he mOaned aloud. what
shall ! do" He turned and stared about
dumbly. Hector wished he was back
in C~assopolis.
From the depths, far below. came a
rearing sound. followed by the crash
Of falling glass. the 0%verturning OF
tables and the banging OF iron doors.
From the door below the spot where
Hector Moe sat mourning a thin
stream Of highly excited citizens
poured into the hall and ran madly ND
the stairway. and before the surprised
young man could remove himself from
their path a fat. hard-breathing per-
son had dropped on his knees before
him.
"Lemme oat Of this /" he ,whimpered.
The fat one thrust d handful Of
bills toward Hector. Surprised beyond
measure, Hector took the bills The
fat citizen ran lightly up the iron lad
der. pushed open the scuttle, and
crawled to the roof.
Still another man paused before him.
placed money In his hands, and as
cended to safety.
The last man In line was whimper-
ing outright. ,
oh" he said. "Oh! oficer -
please !"
Then Hector looked at him closely
and saw-Brigham p. Featherbone, the
owner OF the f1Our-and-feed store.
Hector Moe" muttered Mr.. Feath-
erbone. For the sake OF old ~acquaint-
ance back in C~assopolis," begged the
culprit, ''let me out OF this! Take
this"
He thrust another roll of bills to-
ward Mr.. Moe. but Hector scorned II
with a way of his hand.
NO" he answered sternly, II will
take no money from you. l will pcr.
nit you to escape. and l will aid ycu.
Follow me up this ladder"