The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-18

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ming up the steps the paper, folded
in square, was lying on the stone
floor Of the porch. It was IN un.
spoken law Of the house that Uncle
Worthy Broderick, who paid for it,
should see it before anyone else in
the family, and 50 Susan, who usu-
ally brought it in, had fallen into
the habit Of glancing at the head
lines on her way to Uncle Worthy
with it.
But tonight, as she let herself
into the vestibule, he was coming
out Of the room at the end of the
hall, the room that he called his
Office. Behind him she could see the
roll top desk where he kept the tax
receipts and rent books for the
Broderick Arms, the rather run
down apartment house that the
family owned. He had acted as
agent Of the estate ever since
Grandfather Broderick's death in
1900.
As he came through the hall his
hand was outstretched for the
paper. "Thank you, Susan" he said
in Z voice that was surprisingly
strong and deep for 50 small . man
as he was, and he took it from her.
Then, instead Of going back into his
Office with it Is he usually did, he
spread it out on the hall table and
began to 60 quickly through its
pages Is it he were looking for some
particular thing in it..
His hands, busy with the printed
sheets, were short and broad just as
he was. The thick fingers were
square 1t the end, and the knuckles
were large like the knuckles Of .
man who earns his living with his
hands. But the skin was soft and
the nails were well cared for. He
never lifted any tool heavier than
. pencil in his life and he was proud
Of it. He often said so: IF there is
any aristocracy in America, the
Brodericks certainly belong to it!
All Of US have been professional
men gentlemen-for generations.
All Of Us have read for the law since
my grandfather's time!" Susan
often wondered whether he gave his
occupation - gentleman" in the
city directory.
She wondered too, sometimes,
what he did with al Of the time that
was on his hands every day. Ger
tainly the renting and managing Of
The Broderick Arms. which was
practically all that was left Of the
estate, could not keep him very
busy. He always had the new mag
azines in his Office, he smoked .
great many cigars, took . glass Of
what he called his "bitters" every
day after lunch and then lay down
to have . long afternoon nap. He
and Aunt Edna played Russian
Bank Z good deal, and every now
and then he wrote . letter to the
Newspaper on some current topic or
other - racketeering, lipstick and
bodied hair, the depression. COM
munism. Twenty-three Of them had
been published under the heading
Letters From Our Readers" and
he had clipped them out Of the paper
and fastened them to the wall above
his desk with glass tacks.
"What have you been doing
writing another letter to the
paper :" Susan asked him as she
slipped out Of her coat and began ia
take OF her hat before the hall mir
ror. Her hair, pressed close to her
head BY the hat, lay in wide shining
ripples like brown-gold sand when
waves have crinkled it. There was
not . hint Of blue in the clear gray
Of her black-lashed eyes. Her eye
brows were Is dark as her lashes,
and her nose was straight and short
For the rest she had creamy skin
with . great deal Of color in the
cheeks and Q fine sensitive mouth
whose upper lip curved like . bow,
"Why; yes, ! have been writing "a
the paper" her uncle answered hel
without lifting his head "But I'd
hardly call what I've written, Z
letter to- the editor. I've been try.
ing my hand at something else FOL
10 change" He never answered
plain Yes or No to any question. and
be Was always very mysteriou.
|a5out his simplest doingsH"full 81
Big Business" . John Broderick
Susan's brother. expressed it.
/ Without telling her what it Va.
that he had written, he turned sud
denly and marched down the hall Il
the closed door Of the back parlor