New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-03-31

Il ''iPi' =. It''lt' now - WI riti7
innucnIo stuif-gct down TO brass
tacks! What is it y're tryin' to
say"
John Walden had lodged. actu-
ally duckel his head at Pops sud
den move with its tentative threat.
But he recovered his nerve as h.
realized the others fcroci'y was
rot going to include body chas-
tisement.
"Why--cr--you know. of course,
Brooks. that you've got y'self in
bad with certain dangerous men,
replied the junior member of the
Walden. Higgins firm. Il sly sug-
sestiveness in both his manner
and the tone OF his voice. No
body'd be sprised to hear You was
bumped off most any old time,"
The big frame in the revolving
chair stiffened
You're a liar. Walden"
The assertion was made coldly,
matter Of facily.
You're a liar" Pop repeated in
the same calm tone, his gray eyes
fixed steadily on his visitors face,
"and you oughtta know damn well
that ! know it, TOO. Your dirty
gangu never get tn word to
bump me off" as long as I control
the Times. And it so happens, by
God, that I'm still in control here,
despite tn strenuous efforts tn
Ring has made to hog tn works."
The man he addressed ignored
Pops plain assertion that he was
4 liar, but took immediate umbrage
to the dirty gang" allegation.
You got no right to speak that
way. Brooks" he came back with
an injured air that was pathetic
under the circumstances. Pm not
0 member of tn Ring. You can't
show that ] am. Neither is my old
man. Why do you say your dirty
gang TO me?'
Roger Brooks laughed loud
raucous laugh.
Il take it back he said, and
spat contemptuously in the big
brass cuspidor standing close by.
The very act in Itself was an n
suit. 1t implied nasty taste IN
his mouth. lie turned back to the
man he had tried 10 insult and
failed.
Il take It back" he repeated. Il
should have said your old mans
dirty gang And | say again-my
-. ~, int = a, ~
from your old mans cnt-throats.
You cant stick me up right now
on any such bluff. And you can
tell your old man for me that he
has shaken down Roger Brooks
for tn last dollar he'll ever get
Tell him, also, that I'm out to lick
him to a fragile in this stock
grabbin deal. When tn battles
over an III smoke clears away it'N
be Old Pop Brooks that's still at tn
tiler Of tn Times craft. You tell
your old man I said it,
But John Walden. Jr, refused 70
be int;nidated and couldn't be in
suited.
"Of course, you know, Brooks.
your way off tn track bout us
my old man an me-" he stated
ponderouslv. But there's some
thing else I want to say" he added
hurriedly. 1T is this. When tn
dam breaks and you find yourself
engulled. helpless, remember John
Walden. He may be able to pull
you outta your trouble. You think
you're safe--protected. Eut-you
wait. You haven't gotta chance In
tn world to
II guess thatll be about all I'm
you. fellow" broke in the boom
ing voice of Pop Brooks. And
now" he whlrled in his chair and
picked up some papcrs-"be care
full you don't stub your toe on "
way OUT"
The fight for decency, and better
social conditions in Catawba City
instituted more than a year before
by the Times had now become,
ostensbly, a personal fight or feud
between the publisher and the Tn
derworld. In reality it was a bat
tic iCl SUPP cliidcy b'tHftI tIlt
powerful clique know as the Ring
and Roger Brooks.
Catawba City was and for years
had been bOss-ridden. The actual
identity of the boss was n secret
known to only privileged few.
Every deal was engineered by a
manager. Until Larry Coplcy's
confession to Pop Brooks and Bill
Garfield revealed the truth they
had not known for a certainty the
identity of this manager, Now
they knew.
But the publisher Of the Times
had no intention of letting this in
formation reach the public-not as
yet, by any means
But that doesn't mean any let
up on tn Times policy" cautioned
Pop during a talk with the city
editor and in the presence of Don
kcene, Dinny Morrison and Teddy
! Farrell Matters pertaining to the
Ring had. in fact. become a stand
ing assignment for the two report
ers, man and girl. On two occa-
sions during the week just past,
Teddy had dug up front page Stor-
les from activities of this inner
clique.
one OF these stories had dealt