Phillips County herald., 1923-07-19
Each Other
Fooled
BY ANTHONY REIMERT
%. is2s. western Newspaper Union,

TT WAS because three men had al
L ready plunged to death Off the new
bridge that swung dizzily' above the
river that Leach Qnickened his steps
US he saw the prowling figure ahead of
him looking down into the water.
Nobody else was en- the bridge at
that hour Of the night-nobody but
Leach and the unknown. And, after
all, why should Leach take it upon
himself to stop the fellow? Life was
miserable enough. Why not let him
seek that oblivion that he sought?
1t was only an undetinable instinct
that Quickened Leachs footsteps as the
intentions of the man in front Of him
began to be clear beyond doubt.
Suddenly the man threw Off his coat
and began to Chamber out upon the
Orders.
At the same moment Leach grabbed
him. The man began struggling vio-
lently. Leach held on like grim death.
For minute or two the other fought
with such frenzied strength that 1t
was all Leach could do to hold him
But at last he had him subdued. He
was Il weakling after all, one of those
anemic, undeveloped, unlerslzed runts
that haunt the slums of the cities.
There was the stamp of the slum rat
on the wizened features.
Jaw, what you want with me? l
amt done nothingw
you were just going to jump Off the
bridge"
"Well, supposing l was? That amt
no business Of yours, is it?"
"Weli.I guess it is" answered Leach.
mo man has the right to make away
with himself"
mo right. Ell? Say, If you was up
against what l am you'd feel different
about it, guess"
Tell me your troubles"
'You can't do nothing to help me.
Why, you look down and out yourseifi'
said the other. inspecting Leach's
ragged clothes for the first time. "What
you doing here anywayT
Don't worry about me-" answered
Leach. "Iust worry about yourself.
Let's put our heads together and see
IL we can't hit on u better plan for you
than jumping or the bridge. First
thing that strikes me is. you look as IL
you're hungry"
Hungry" shouted the other.
Say"
There's lunch wagon at the end
Of the bridge. Suppose We go and have
some coffee and an egg sandwich. aud
then IL you want TO take the leap. why
l guess won't want to stop you." n,''
Grumbling. the would-be suicide
yielded He put on his coat and &C
companied Leach to the coffee wagon
"Ya see" he explained. ~ been eat
OF work for weeks. and my wife's sick.
and there's a kid. and there amt no
hre, and then my mother lnlaw, who
brings us food. why. she's always Oh ut
me for a wastrel. and-oh, It's hope
less, boss. that's what II is"
"rve been out of work. too" said
Leach. II haven't got wife aud Il
kid, hut IL l had II would take more
than mother-in-law TO make me take
that Jump. Pull. yourself together.
man, Go home and thank the Lord
you didn't jump. Where would your
wife and child be II you had done III"
That's true" muttered the other, as
he devoured his sandwich ravenously.
"There'll be plenty OF work In a
know how things are looking up. Why.
say. you were Just of your head.
weren't your"
II guess was" mumbled the other
sheepishly.
"why. once you get work--you'ye
got tsade. haven't your ca:sSnet-
maker2 Why. man. you'll be earning
tine wages. and then you'll begin put
ting u little aside against n rainy day,
and In short time you'll have "A swell
bank account. and maybs a car. And
you'll be able to tell your mother-in-
law where TO 60"
The other stared At him. "Sny. that's
the stun, Misterl" he answered.
You're dead right. No more OF the
morgue for mine I'm going straight
home. And dunno how to thank
you"
"oh. thnts nll right" Leach an.
sw.-ed. and he accompanied the man a
little distance and watched him sirid-
ing OF in the distance with n hopeful
stride.
He looked back whlmslcally Mt the
bridge. He felt the solitary nickel that
remained in his pocket.
Gee. that's good advice gave him"
he muttered. I'm glad thought of IT,
I'll get job myself now-better than
jumping on the bridge. M 1 wns In
tending