Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-07-13
CHAPTER a.

the printer, felt that moment was
worth all the risk. He gloated as
he stared down the barrel Of his
revolver at the two executives, now
cringing in one corner Of their
elaborate Office. For once Abe had
nothing to say, fear silencing his
tongue. Walt, on the contrary,
was cursing his partner roundly
for involving him in such a scrape.
"Dunderhead," he Kissed be-
tween clenched teeth, II should
have known better than to let you
get your grabby hands on a deal
like this"
Igor's voice cracked as he told
the partners in no uncertain terms
what he thought of their unfair
practices. "You deserve all we're
going to give you," he yelled. Its
your kind that spoils a business
for decent men. Never satisfied,
that's what you amt. Can't let a
little fellow make a honest living.
Nav, you have to take it all! Well,
let's see if you can take this!"
Igor obviously gathered all his
nerve to fire the gun, but as the
men raised their voices in terrified
protest, he suddenly lost his cour-
age. With this momentary indie
cisioR, he seemed to debate before
their eyes. Then with sullen
gesture, he lowered the gun and re-
sentfully fired one, two, three shots
into the floor and cast the weapon
from him in disgust.
:. Maize, who had fled the Office at
the first loud sounds from Abe's
office, was shouting Historically up
and down the halls. Help!
Fight" she called.
l.. what is this, a recrootin'
Officer" one fat passerby grinned,
then joyfully realizing from the
racket that it was indeed a battle,
he pushed by her. Gosh, a fight.
What a breakw
=. It took only a second for an ex-
cited crowd to gather, and as Igor
reached the tragic anti-climax of
his little act, he turned around to
face motley group of spectators.
Come in, gentlemen" he said,
suddenly seeming to regain his
reason. I'm sorry to admit it,
but couldn't shoot these vultures.
Shooting is too good for them.
Why, do you know what they
done?"
+. Abe and Walt were forcibly try
ing to eject both Igor and the
threatening crowd, but Igor shook
free of them. With growing elo-
squence he pleaded the cause of I'M
iderdogs like himself, who had been
crushed by the growing ambition
iof Acme. 1.-THE business that
love, they make it a tool to get
what they want. To get money,
pah! thought I could put them
where they wouldn't bother such
as me again, but II haven't got
the nerve" Weakly, he sat down
ON a chair, brushing tears of
Illustration from his bloodshot
eyes.
Into the crowd pushed a rather
slight man with a brief case under
his arm. He adjusted the gold
framed glasses on his aristocratic
nose, took off his fraying fedora,
and addressed the crestfallen Igor.
Il would like to pay my respects
to q great man." he shouted above
the hubbub, as Abe and Walt re-
newed their efforts to eject the
crowd out. II have long resented
the grubby Mr.. Zimmerman and
his distasteful partner, Hartley.
You are brave man, a hero. I
am publicity director for the great
Maestro Donevski, but I could
write q poem on your bravery
'Sacre! Of course, this is my
'chancew
: Suddenly the stranger cast off
his fancy manners as an overpow-
cring idea took hold of him. Too
often he had wished the placid cur
rent Of his life could carry him
into exciting depths, that he could
write Of thrilling bloodthirsty
events in the world Of men. In
Igor he saw the subject fora dra-
matte story, and his, nose itchetl
with the unaocustomed smell OF
real news. 4 s}
With an almost fanatical CLEAN
in his eyes, he grabbed the now
slllen Igor by the arm and forced
him through the grumbling crowds.
Luckily for Igor, the police didn't
arrive until he had been safe!y