Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-31
CHAPTER xxx

IN AloNeQ you pretty &oOo down
yonder, ! wondered what was brew
in. Seems like we amt had 6 good
heart-to-heart talk for q ~thunderin'
long time. Just sort Of wanted to
know how things stood"
-Tm here. Ask me-"
"We-e-ll, first OF ali-you don't
hate Peter Borden like you did"
The lads face purpled in the
darkness. His voice was quiet
ard convincing. Il loathe him. That
hatred is part Of me. ] don't think
Ill ever get over it,
Todd felt an ~exaltation. "Eut you
amt amin to do him no harm, are
you?p
What a ! de- I was willing to
steal from him-but what's the use,
VIXEN he'll give me anything I want?
II would be rotten 70 beat him up;
he's an old man, and Just fool enough
TO take IL without whining. And
then" Bob closed his lips sharply.
"Then-what2
Lois has been very nice to me.
I've got to consider her"
"Sure you do, Son. Sure you do.
That's what ! wanted to find out.
Point is, IL you had a good chance
to even things up with Borden,
would you do it-or would you let
your friendship for his daughter
prevent?
Bob did not Immediately answer.
He had threshed out the question q
thousand times, and never TO his own
satisfaction.
II think" he said slowly, shat Id
do II. I'D like to see that man suf-
fer. God knows | would. But there
isn't any way"
Reckon there amt. But let's talk
of something else. Golly, Boy It's
been a long time since We spilled
a real lot Of words to each other
How you gittin' along at the Of
flee? :"
Fine. All Gregory says I'm good
Wants me to start reading law"
why not?'
II think / shall. But l don't like
Gregory"
They say he'll be governor some
day"
II know. But he's crooked as q
snake. Just like a snake. Carmody
IS crooked, too; but everybody know,
it-and he laughs 'em down arc
dares 'em 70 come after him. al
Gregory Is mushy-mouthed and .scary
He won't take his chances in the
open. Between you and me. / think
a damned sight more of the veeV,
and stick-up men talk to every day
than do of that Rolden-haired. big.
voiced. cheap politician"
You'd rather see a man be an
honest crook, eh?"
YES. Do his stuff and take his
chances. But not hide behind some
one else
They talked Of things in general
Todd studiously avoiding any refer.
ence 10 Kathleen. He was afraid
that he might blunder.
IL was late when they separated
Iodd's brain was more active thar
" had been in years. He sensed
things that he had not yet analysed
and n of them was that if the da,
Of Bob's revenge on Peter Border
was delayed too lonR-it would never
come. Bob talked loudly Of hi
hatred, but be was undeniably soft
ening.
Todd shannon loved the boy. n,
loved Kathleen even more. And II
his simple. heavy way, he believed
that they would be happy with eacH
other.
1t behooved him, therefore. to d,
what he could to remove all posi-
biiity Of a marriage between TER,
and Lois Borden. And the suresi
method for achieving that emf
would be to help Bob crush Pete
Borden. Todd knew that Lois wouI,
never forgive.
The following morning he wa,
standing in the lobby Of the big Of
ice building when the immsculat,
little figure OF John Carmody shovel
through the door. Todd stepped for
ward.
Just " minute. Mr.. Carmody."
Yes, Shannon; what is it?"
waited down here for you-
didn't want Kathleen to see us talk.
IN. Might want to know whai
about He cleared his throat. ere,
member what We were discussin' the
other day.
Bob Terry and old mar Borden
~Oh, that? Yes, indeed"
- been doin' a heap Of thinkini
MI. Carmody. And I've kind OF de-
eided this anyway: II things slide
very long, Bob amt gonna want d
SLOUGH that bimbo. He's rittinr
soft. Dunno vhy-but there's Some
reason. Right now he's ready. II
seems like il You could thirt AZ
something, something that amt ron-
"a get Bob in no jam. You know
you're clever. Somethin' that1l make
old Borden squirm. You do that.
and III see 70 i that Bob does what
you advise. That Is. II il amt put
off too long. How about it?s
"We-ell-" Carmody. inwardIy ex-
ulted, seemed undecided. aIt sounds
like q good idea. You'll hear from re
perhaps"
And on the way up in the elevator,
Carrtody's thin lips expanded.
Things are d~ovetailine.' he told
himself. "A great deal better than
that monstFous idiot suspects
Bob Terry was dared. All evening
ne had chattcd with Lois Borden
about nothing IN particular. vet All
evening he had been conscious Of a
tense u~ndercurrent.
Lois Borden was in love with him.
Humble and modest as he was. there
was TO escaping that fact once hiz
ewes mad been opened TO the possi-
bility- And Bob was merely human.
a MAJ is in a difficult position
when he realizes that a girl-yarnr.
beautiful and possessed Of all that
makes life worth while-is IN love
with him. He is naturally flattereo
and instinctively responsive.
But Bob tried 10 Be loyal IL Kath-
leen in his thoughts. All evening
long he had been telling himself
dcgEedly that Kathleen was his tyre
and Lois was not He reminded him
self time and again that he was
pledged to Kathleen Yet every 40
often his eyes would wander 70 the
slim golden creature at his side and
his heart would quicken with the