The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-09-20

THE CREED OF
THE CLAN
BY MARY RIDER MEcHToLo
Copyright
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
CONTINUED FROM 5 PAGE

of the biggest guns In the country
asserted his follower.
Jim sank into big chair and chew
ed on his unlighted cigar stump.
"I've picked my successor" 9 said
slowly; "it's you kid. Since | took
hold Of you a year ago, you've more
than made good with me. You've done
everything pve asked without whim'
pering some of the tricks you
pulled off were pretty raw and dirty,
mo one can bluff you," Jim went
on, "and the devil himself couldn't
scare you. If I'd had son, I'd 9
wanted him just like you"
81 was brought up on the streets, ,
Sandy remarked caustically; ''it was
I'D to me to beat the game. or get
kicked in the gutter"
"You did big thing for me when
you bobbed up on the witness stand
without anyone asking you, and
proved an alibi for me in that Sheep
Laughlin shooting mess. You never
would talk to me about it-but I'd like
to know, kid, why you did for me?'
"Ain't it the creed OF the clan tc
stick up for the under dog?' asked
Sandy
There was something more than
that back of your lying for me" said
f; Jim shrewdly:
.Yes," at last admitted Sandy,
there was. Once O'Connel pointed
you out to me as the man who'd rails
ed fund to bury my mother and faith
err"
For moment there was deep ST.
lence.
tits queer what feelings will get
hold on us tough ones,' said Jim.
Now, it's on Kitty's account that
what you did meant so much to me.
She thinks Pm just perfect: II any,
thing'ud ever happen to me, / think
it'ud kill her"
Then Jim's manner changed; he
looked keenly at O'Connel
with every one crying to down
me, you saved me. OF course, you
knew wasn't guilty?''
"Of course" said Sandy quickly.
mix on any more of this spiel, Boss. "
well, you understand how feel
toward you," said Jim, "any anything
you ever ask me you'll get when you
name it"
"Jim," Sandy said, suddenly lean
ing across the table. 'T'm a man and
I'm rich. I came out of the gutter.
The ways by which I've raken in my
coins 'ud make saint die of apoplexy.
"But I've sold out my pool room
joints-and my interests in those
saloons. Now I'm going to couple up
with you. as you asked me. and make
n name for myself that my children
neean't be ashamed Of"
"You can do it, said Jim. When
VIC need any shady politics played
ven get the other fellows to do the
sweating. From now on you can live
50 therc'H be no come backs"
Eat do you think, Boss. l can get
dway with it? After a while ioin good
clubs and be a gentleman"
Lord, yes; With your smooth ways
/ and good Ioclis-why," with bang
Jim's hand came down on the table,
"any club you want to join, you jus,
tell me, and if they don't open their
doors to you. I'll smash them open!"
"ATr Bradley, sir" at last stammer
ed Sandy, standing and facing him,
81 know I'm not fit yet, but in time.
If l can learn to be gentleman, can
/ marry your daughter?"
'Why, you nutty guy!" cried Jim
aghast. You amt in her class! ]
tell you I'm going to make her a
princessi"
"she's princess already" replied
Sandy O'Connel.
Have you been sneaking around
making love to her?' Jim demanded
fiercely.
NO." Sandy answered with dignity
"Just the same, Jim Bradley. I know
your daughter more than likes me-"
why, you-you amt fit to breathe
the same air she breathes."
81 know that, Boss-still, if she
loves met" questioned his lieuten-
ant sharply.
'I1l send her abroad till she forgets
you,p yelled jim
"Then you don't care for her hap
piness?" insisted Sandy. "All you
want is for her to marry so as to bring
you glory?"
II took you into my business" an
swered Jim, mot into my family
catch the difference? l let you into
this library, it's my side of the house;
the rest is hers-and don't you ever
again cross the dead linev
Sandy O'Connel, the former cham
pion East Side bouncer, felt his iror
muscles contracting. He tried to keer
calm, in spite of the boiling within
him.
u know I'm not in her class, any
more than you're in her class, you
yellow-streaked crook" Sandy bIazeC
back. but / got good blood in mi
veins, they tell me. and that's more
than you got-and I'll lift myself vi
horBS