Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-10-16


During the whole month of Jan.
| uary Mr.. Poole did not draw Inc.
He came to the office and sat there.
but VIII could not rel him 10 work,
and found himself Incapable Of much
arguing.
Early III February he said to VIII
one day, This is my birthday"
ut Isl"
sYes-Im siyty-fve-but feel
nlnety-iive VIII, I'm through"
You're throughs'
Yes; III never draw another line.
can't work any more"
There was no questioning the sin.
certify Of his tone viii found himself
accepting this statement as true. Mr..
Poole was through. 1t would he idle
to argue or to cajele him.
Well" he said after little, this
Is the end of Poole and Todd, then"
"Yes." answered Ills partner heavily.
tits the end
After few minutes of silence. Will
got up and began TO pack away the
drawing boards, to sort out pencils.
rack up the stIfr cardboard sketches
and set the office In order.
I'D like to so to Florida where
it's warm" said Poole dreamily. i've
been cold for months
VIII looked at him queerIy. He felt
sad. The old man WAS. In his own
eyes, a failure. He did not feel nor
was be warmed by. the praise or the
recognition Of others. Long after
ward Will felt that In that moment
he had known the cold and clammy
breath OF death. The death OF activity,
OF hope; the yielding OF some long
loved and neyer-forgotten dream.
Lets have party at Pastano's to-
night Mostane's In town-and Nc.
Dermott would come. DO you think
Ernestine would be my guest-at Pas
tanos7"
II think so. John. She'd do most
anything for you"
'Ernestine' old man seemed to
wander-he paused long time. and
looked at VIII with faint shining OF
the old intelligence in his face. "Wiu,
put those id pastehoards down and
come here-I want to tell you some
thing. 1t was Loring Hamilton that
had you fired from the Sun. He had
Visions affairs Ia his hands-they
were thicker than anyone knew, and
Vision had reason to please Lorlng.
Wiston got tight one night and told II.
And lost his job for 1t. McDermott
will be friendly to you, II you take any
work to him.
Don't worry about me- John"
I'm not worrying, you young devil.
want to tell you, though. about Lor-
ing. Watch out for him. He's got
power now, In way. He's going to
London next year for Pastano. He's
The prince of the bootleggers now.
pastano Is using him recklessly He
doesn't give d--n for Loring-wIn
probably ruin him In the end. But
pastano does care about you-and
about Ernestine."
What Loring does Is nothing to me.
Like most mean things, 1t worked out
for the best mean--you can't do
a dirty trick as easily as you think.
I've come farther this way than Il
had stayed on the Sum-"
The old man left to 20 and make |
arrangements for his party, and VIII.
after brief telephone conversation
with Ernestine, pitched into the files.
It was late afternoon when he went |
home and as he went he was turning |
over In his mind the possibilities for
the future His enthusiasm had gripped |
a new idea. Ernestine would not like
this. But he could do we'll for him
self He couldl
After ALL he said to himself, |
swinging along among the small tidy !,
houses, "after all, was In danger Of
becoming copyist I've learned all
that Poole can teach me. It's time
Tor me to work alone-to develop my
own ideas"
Ernestine was dressing, and giving
Instructions to the neighbor girl who
was to stay with the children.
What do you think, WIFI Shall l
year my red dress? thought would
never 30 to Pastano's again. It's
7ears, though, since we went, and I
lon't mind going a bit WIN, you
trent listening to me. I've been so
'exed with Peter. Hes had two whip
)ings, and needed a third. He's get
ing too big for me to spank any more.
wish you'd take little paddle to
lim"
Will stood In Amusement In the mid
lie OF the bedroom. his tie In his
lands, looking back at the bright reel
i memory-himsef and Ernestine
Walking on Clark street In late snow
going into Pastano's. How bis heart
lad burned that night at Loring and
,illian-at all OF them stirring Ernes-
Inc against him Why had he cared7
lie didn't care now. He was singular
y unmoved by the pronouncement that
.oring had forced Visions hand, and
Vision had seized the first excuse to
Ismiss him He realized with shock