The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-10-29

just couldn't. His job was really
public JOB. paid for with public
money. Somehow II didn't seem
quite right that he should have 10
give II up because he couldn't com.
mit perjury In murder cnsc. SIT.
ting In the park no had, at times.
thought about that. with some hope.
full little yearninga. In the evening
he went 10 lay IL before Whelpley,
who quickly undcceiyed him.
For once. indeed, sunny Gus was
quito gloomy. You've played hell.
Gene" he said. as reproaehfully ms
II was In his nature TO be friend.
You see. Andy gave himself up
after the old man talked to you.
Andy and his friends arc crazy now
swear the old man double.crosscd
'em. You can't blame the old man
for being sore as crab" Regard.
Ing Donayan with brooding eye,
he added. you did throw him down.
Bome Of Andy's friends may get
reckless and bump him off. Way
he looks at II. you treated him like
dog"
II was hopelessly confusing bus.
mess, Donavan felt regret and even
a Kind OF remorse. Uncle Frank
had been good 10 him and now,
through him. Uncle Frank was In
danger Of being bumped off" No
sensible person could take those
words as an Idle threat when no
constant thud Of the footpad's black
jack, the crack OF the murderer's
pistol and the roar Of the IA wed off
shotgun proclaimed the pitifnl impo.
tence OF the formal law and formal
government which Donayan Ind
considered himself bound to respect.
The public don't care n
damn" Uncle Frank had said.
There was this strange paradox. A
public. mostly honest, with indiyia.
laI consciences and souIs. elected n
formal government and, right along
with IL, An informal government
Which had no respect for ANYTHING.
no conscious and no soul.
A terribly muddled, confusing busi.
ness. And when Donayan ayerred.
IN simple minded candor. that he
couldn't swear to the lie on the
witness stand, he perceived that
practical Gus Whelpley was unable
70 understand him. confus.
ing. But. obviously. he mus.
give up his job Of payrnaster.
The little famiiy's slender cash rc.
sources disappeared. 1t waa suh.
sisting on credit at an indp,pen+
grocer's while Donayan tramnod tna
streets, teieDhoncd, and wrote let.
ters IN search OF any sort OF n toh
lhen he found a job OF a sort IN
nnn and. cavernous warebouse
mat Thanked the river, hfs lob heine
10 stand on platform, exposea N
,he weather. and check bales, boxes
ana bundles Of merchandise which
lIoWed across the platform all dav
ne performed the duties of the no.
sition faithfully, but with no mar.
ucuiar distinction. 1t had been
said OF him that hi had no talent
IN any respect. but was Just good.
e"ady, stickinthe.mud plodder.
Meanwhile Handy. Andy Hatch
lay In jail. lie had an aItbi. bpt bis
astute counsel was In no hurry 10
oppose that alibi to blockheaded
young Donavan's positive jdenti.
lication, which had such IN incon.
veniently veracious air.
Two months passed. Winter
came, Dnavan wore an oyercoat as
ne stood on his platform. checking
bundles. Sometimes snow fell on
h's Pad OF paper. snearing the fig
nres, The days grew short, but the
hours at the warehouse were long
Tor Dill clerks. Often the last two
hours OF his days labor were per
formed under electric light. Then
ne trudged along a mean. badly
paved. poorly lighted street TO the
trolley track. where he damned
himself into a packed car and rode
nome. OF course II was good homo
warm with love there. Yet the
FAMILY was tight pinched to get
through the weeks on ss5 each
Tuesday. and Il at distressed him.
IL was going to e lean Christmas.
Once. homeward bound, Donayan
approached three men on a shabby
street corner. They were not men
whose appearance invited conf.
denee. and Donavan felt tighten.
Ing of the nerves. as when the
-
hairs ON dogs hack stlffen. II
came To him. wortlessiy that there
was trouble at hand The men
were look ng nj him--two al ons
slde OF the walk, one at the other,
50 Thar he would have "a pass he.
tween them. or leave the sidewalk,
or relrrai His Inns iArnaanlI tn..afN