The Washington times., 1932-03-14

II which he was so PROUD.
following day-and at a far
smaller figure than he had in
timated to his family. Some
five days later he returned
home from Pittsburgh with the
news that he had found exactly
the position for which he had
been looking. He was rather
vague about the nature Of the
job. But his family knew him
well enough not to press him
when he failed to explain.
TITS a sort of sales job," he
asserted, "and it will be neces-
Sary for me to be away from
home quite frequently. Our
routine will not be as pleasant
as it was in the past, but the
money will permit our home to
continue. And that's the most
important thing"
He must be nice guy, that
Bill. =.
Running , OpeakeaSy
Within a year, a great sad
ness came into Bills life. His
wife died-and his last words
to her we're that he would
continue to watch and proect
the children. She still didn't
know his exact business, and
she didn't ask him then. All
she knew was that he had been
very sweet to her, and that she
wanted him to continue so
with her children.
Bill, as you have probably
guessed, was, running a speak
easy. A speakeasy when the
beer was good and the slot
machines rang merrily through
the night. He had no more
right in the liquor business
than half the congressman
have to be in Congress. Yet,
like the congressman, there he
was.
The secret was released one
night when an old friend of
his from the home town walked
into the Speakeasy with another
man. Bill looked at his pal
and asked him, as a man, not
to reveal this thing that he
had learned. The friend
promised.
Comes the Raid
After that, Bill loosened up.
He showed his old pal a little
cot under the bar and said
that he slept there after the
crowd had cleared out. He
talked proudly of the fact that
his Johnny had passed another
examination and that Mary
would soon be graduating.
Smart girl. Mary. Just like
her mother had been. Too bad
her mother couldn't be there
for the graduation. And so on.
Oh, we'll
II suppose you're wondering
how could have changed so,
Joe," Bill said. well, don't
blame you. But it's all very
simple. knew Of nothing else
to do-and I wanted my chill
dren to be happy. AS long as
they never know, there has
been no harm done. I don't
matter.
What I look forward to
now is Mary's graduation exer-
cises. I'll be there to celebrate
the passing of another mile
stone. And that means a great
deal to me, Joe. A very great
deal"
Just two days later, on his
way to his office, the friend
was startled by a notice in the
morning paper. Bills speakeasy
had been raided in the new
police drive and the proprietor
had been held. Bill had used
a fictitious name, of course,
but there could be no doubt
that it was he.
Sends Them Letter
The friend raced to the jail
ana using a bit Of pull, man.
aged to see Bill. The latter
man said he wasn't going to
fight the case. He was going
to plead guilty so that there
would be no chance of pub
licity.
Don't let's talk too much"
said Bill tiredly. "All I ask is
one favor. Will you take a let.
ter for me and send it out?"
The friend said he would.
And Bill dictated.
Dearest Mary" he said.
"The company is sending me
on an extended trip abroad.
But I don't want you to worry
because Mr.. s., Of the
B bank, will give you
your allowance on the first Of
every month. Please inform
Johnny and Louise to this
effect.
II regret sincerely that I
will not be able to attend your
graduation exercises. But that,
my child, is the penalty of big
business, God bless YOU"
Yes, sir. That Bill must be
a pretty nice guy.