The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-05-15
MILLER
Metamorphosis of a Babbitt
BY DON RYAN


II The detective sergeant erked mis- thumb towards a
table We We're in the main room OF the police identtca-
tion bureau Beside the table stood snubnosed man IN
very neat gray suit and rainbow tie His gray hat was
settled evenly over his low brow.
The manipulating ink roller Row he
The man In tho tolls Of police Joseph Becker
he had shot and SHed Jane n ksIs The sunan he had been
engaged to She o.. clerk In the po.ofiee
killed sitting ElysAn Then
no police ambusne the with her bod,
under the circumstance in which Becker found himself
There real estate daers in los Angrcnai over
the role murderer something worth
seeing SO sought Becker at tho police station
TIE seemed to be taking calmly enough Acting about
you would expect George Babbtt to act obeying
the directions Of the man in shirtseeves TO the letter.
Washing his hands ut the sink Wipng them the towel
provided Exchanging few words with the other prisoners
who being chared at the time Smiling occasion
ally when remark of his custodian seemed TO demand
with smile that might easily broaden into frstclass
selling smile.
watched him they snapped cuff his wrist occurring him
thar morning To bs marched to their cells
police standing right front Of him.
the tho in shlrisleevsA Ills In
his case comes up today sleeves
snapped the bracelet Beckrs wrist What they trying 10 d'
YES, they'll sure hang him all right"
George nabbu displaying .stconoL sh,lss,os gave
word Of command and the chain marched of tho
they were preparing to take Becker up to the elevator
prise he burst out with bitter denuncaon of newspapers
reporters and the whole human His snub face flushed
red the words of denuncaton rolled out in thick Ger
man accent My illusion of George Babbitt shattered
Here Babbitt but rather wild Uhlan gone berserk
on Schopenhauer.
all thieves nars he cried Everybody The
thing that interests them h The dollar. BAH
This certainly not George Bihbitt speaking
Gems up on the elevator tho other prisoners eahu removed their
riding
kept q al denantly a young woman.
IAN right III talk TO you exclaimed Becker. when arrived
the
Facing up he told me the story
Of tho murderths already told tho
matlerotct recital Becker spoks OF the killing rather
smiling
dealing with George Babbnt at ALL
sT STARTED to go several tines said Becker land she
would always call me back. Our hats lying there
on bank-like of flowers. mad. | walking up
and down-up and down-like this
-she picked her hat Like she going know
prctense Like before. You know how II Is ! didn't
believe her another fellow back ome.
She wouldn't You know how !"
lie left visualize
she was getting up from the bench. The death
Tn yet told him. not
Becker stopped h
Again he burst out into that bitter nrragnment
"Moneydolar-aii they for Ia tho damned doiarTr
~Bni how did
money you
Nor he shouted NO! But us all
people such liars and thieves and crooks and dyca
monyaf around the damned
shaking
II know locks awful small a man To do
that to woman kul her but but
Brupphhhhh"
A Of In mydi direction
yanked neatly folded handkerchief spread
chief his face and stumbled into his cell. sobbg