The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-06

SHORT STORY ].
Me GIN Bootlegger
BY FRANK II. WILLIAMS.

y fAyitAFNtNNN I've WV q.
7THE sitl's name was Agnes Gun.
bingham. She was young, pref!
~ and alert In the khald
suit with regulation army trousers
which abe wore, she looked more
ING a hoyathan q girl
Now she was seated In her small
touring car beating II rapidly over
g stone road from Detroit to- In.
diana, The space just In front Of
tho rear seat OF the car was piled
with six cases OF whlskey which
had been brought from Canada the
night before. over-this was a worn
carpet.
y lrlSthe Indiana city to which the
girl was bound, her partner was
waiting for her. He was the actual
4 sales agent.-the man who disposed
OF the wet goods OF prices running
mp to SIS quart to the leading
business men Of the city, Sinrs
Agnes had gone into partnership
with him In this boopegging deaf
they had cleaned up over $4,000
and the start OF their partnership
y crime was only three months
paat. =,
But as Agnes drove swiftly and
and eiously, her pretty face looked
ttSpbled. She wasn't happy at all.
sIAo things were worrying her
ldetply. One Of these was the fact
that IL was against her better ma.
tnfesS No be a bootlegger, and the 9th.
helswa that her 6id.time sweetheart,
Tom More, whom she hadn't seen
FOR yeifIN, had turned up in Detroit
liust beige she had started on this
"trip 20 It%iana and had made vio
lent love TO her again.
Agnes had thought that all her
FORMER sentiment for Tom had left
kher, She had thought that her af.
ffecttons were entirely conferred on
Holm Greenleaf, her Bookkeeping
kpartner. But now she wasn't 80
sure about It.
Though Agnes didn't fully realize
~ the conflict which was now 60.
Hing on IN her heart was really a
conflict between right and wrong.
Before going into partnership with
Gfeenleaf she had been as poor as
In church mouse but had led an
lirreproaehahle life. Now she had
Imure money than she had ever had
before and her conscience was hurt.
eslg her.
Toms arrival had brought at.
fairs 70 a crisis, for Tom was un.
dsriabEy good. undeniably square
and honest.
What was to be the outcome?
would she continue TO make money
kbootIegging? Or would she give
sased stn Toms ayowals Of love and
Earn around and be the sort OF
woman he would like her'to be?
Mwas while Agnes, unhappy and
Edtscontented, was llurrying along
the Indiana highway, that she be-
Ecame suspicious OF car some dis
tance behind her. It was her habit
while running a cargo OF liquor
through to keep wary eye for sus.
picious cars and now she realized
that the car, behind her had been
following her for some time. Was
II the car OF a prohibition officer?
4; This thought troubled Agnes
more than ever, now that her con.
>k.sscience was awake and active, and,
consequently, she put on more
speed than ever, hoping quickly to
leave the car behind.
But the car kept coming right
along, More than,that, 1t kept gain.
ing on her.
Soon It was abreast OF her.
Then Agnes gasped. The driver
OF the car was Tom. Moore!
Quite astonished at Toms unex.
pected appearance beside her, Ag.
ines brought her own machine TO a
quick stop. Tom did likewise, Ag.
ines got out of her car and rushed
tup 70 Tom.
etswhy. Toni" she cried, what
ale you doing here? I thought you
Fere back in Detroit"
u seemed to Agnes that Tom
glooked evasiye.
1--WE got a job" said Tom brief.
what dotng?"> queried Agnes.
Tom hesitated. He looked at her
ef brief moment, then looked
well, you know" said Tom,
2on always said ] didn't get ahead
or make any money because I was
too righteous and honest"
HIS handsome young eyes were
deep and inscrutable as he looked
~ Agnes upon saying this.
'Yes,r said Agnes.
Well, went on Tom, "l've about
come TO the conclusion that you're
rigbt about It. A fellows got to be
h little crooked to get ahead now
adays. guess I'm no better than
any one else. guess It's UP to me
70 quit being so sanctlmontous,"
Agnes heard him almost unbeIiev.
ingiy Bot there could be no doubt
about what he was saying. And as
the real meaning Of what Tom was
saSing sank into Agnes conscious
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