The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-06-14
BY
WILLIAM
C.ORCORAN
This Man W
.I0a Murray co
c,,v,;obt 1898, BY william Coreoran; NEA
NEA Service, Inc.

only talheu III II"
when Joe sprang to his feet, scat
tering lunch and box and all, ms
fist clenched for blow. He did
NOT deliver it because the fellow
apologized profusely and avowed
tho innocence of his disinterested
intentions. Joe looked at HIM a
moment with set face, and then
turned his back on him and picked
ND the fragments of his meal. The
fellow departed softly, and the IN
cident passed.
But that night after he had
washed and dressed and eaten
dinner and smoked a cigaret. Joe
told Terry ne was going out for a
while. Terry had been talking at
Great length uninterruptedly for
Some time, but at that she came
to him and placed herself firmly
on his lap.
What is it, Joe?" she asked
soberly. 81 could see it when you
came in. Tell me what it is"
Nothing" he said CURLY. I'm
lust going out for a while
please tell?"
He lifted her firmly to the floor
and stood up. His manner was
calm but determined. He got his
hat and made for the door.
Terry sprang at him. Are you
mad at me, darling? m
NO" he told her. I'll be
back"
Kiss me-"
He kissed her. He kissed her
tenderly, 50 that she knew 1t was
nothing she had done. Yet he was
hard. She could not deter HIM,
and ne went out.
He walked to the corner where
Papke's drug store was, ana ne
looked idly around the corner anu
into the store. A couple OF young
men lounging outside the door
gave him a casual greeting In
which there was the merest touch
of Difference.
Tommy Withers around to-
night" he asked them.
No one had seen Tommy to-
night, it developed.
Joe rocked little, one foot to
the other, looking thoughtful:
Tell him for me if you see him,
he said, that | heard he's been
doing some talking out Of turn.
Tell him | know where he got the
information, but it doesn't matter.
Tell him | won't clip his jaw this
time-Pll crack it! Do you get
that"
Il get it, joe" said one in a
slightly bated voice. I'll tell
him"
"All of you tell him" snarled
Joe. IL want him to know it. l
want you all to know it. If he
didn't get the information straight
from that lying punk Mallow. I'd
do more. He's talking about my
wife, and / can kill the guy who
does that. Do you get that too,
all of .you?"
They got it.
Joe stared at them moment,
somberly, and then turned on his
hee land walked away.
He went to the Mallow home.
He knocked on the rear door lead
ing off the stairway landing. The
door opened slightly and Terry's
father peered inquiringly forth.
Joe showed the door wide open,
hard, pushing Mallow out of the
way. He walked into the room.
1t was the dining room, and a
veal was under way; Old Mallow
glowered from his place and Mrs.
Mallow, sharp and ferret-eyed
and skinny and grim, glared at
the intrusion from the place OPP
posite.
"I'm just giving my in-laws a
CALL" said Joe, directly to the
point. 81 wouldn't, only I've got
to. I've got to correct some mis-
information you gathered. And
been spreading. just came to tell
you that Terry and | got mar
ried because we felt like it and
no other damned reason, and I'll
raise a little hell here if anything
to the contrary is ever repeated
while Pm alive"
They started, stiffly. Then Ter
RVS father clustered. "Who said
anything TO the contrary"
You did, you stuffed tomato"
Joe advanced close to Mallow.
You talked to Tommy Withers
on the street and said thing like
that about your own daughter.
It's been repeated, At least it was
till | got wind of it. It's going to
die sudden death tonight"
The old woman struck the table
with her knuckles, trembling with