The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-21
KIN CS ROW
CONTINUED From Page ssvenl
ey HENRY eEllAMAkN

Well Unless I'm nightly
mistaken the president Of the
Farmers Exchange has skipped
out-probahly vith everything
he could lsv his hands on.
The Farmers Exchange scan
dsl was the prevailing sensation
for month. There were all
sorts Of stories ana rumors The
bald fact remained. James Cuth-
bert Curley. president Of the
Farmers Exchange Bank. mad
stolen money and run away.
Presumably he had gone 10 Cen
trail or South America. Efforts
were being made 10 find him
but no one vas particularly
hopeful Of success. Certain bank
funds were missing Stockhold-
ers would not lose anything, but
the trust funds were gone Drake
MoHugh was pennileSs The
house on Union street vas his.
and Mr.. Wakefield arranged
mortgage so that Drake would
have some funds &c live on for a
while.
No one guessed how bewildered
Drake Was by this III fortune.
He had simply never thought
about money AZ all. He sold his
horse and buggy. and began TO
look for job. No one wanted
him.
Behind his back the talk went
on. There were those who were
not displeased to see Drake Nc
Hugh humbled a little He had
been altogether too earefree and
happy to suit those who felt that
life should not rest too easily on
one Maybe he'd stop flying
around at night.
Even the Monaghan girl would
be showing him the front gate.
Kings Row watched. Like any
pack of the wild they waited for
the victim TO falter. But they
were at least temporarily dissp-
pointed. Drake looked as usual.
He whistled as he walked. He
was persistent in his search for
work. He was offered a job at
the livery stable, but he hadn't
come to that yet. He stayed on
az the house on Union street.
Only when he was inside of IT
with the doors closed did ne show
his deep disquiet.
He made Randy promise not to
let Paris know. No use troubl-
in Paris. II never occurred to
him that Paris had money and
he didn't. II was simply that
he didn't want Paris bothered
about this. Then, of course, he'd
get it all fixed up someway
pretty soon.
But Drake did not fix things
up" The winter passed. and he
had no job He tired for any
thing he thought he might be
able to do. Everywhere the men
he talked to were good-humored
and jocular-sometimes a shade
contenptuous. BY spring he was
becoming sensitive He avoided
mention of job unless ne was
actually making application. He
was casual on the outside but
watchful and attentive inside.
He Immediately followed any
suggestion he heard of a possible
job.
Then he began to pretend he
wasn't looking for work.
He left the clearinghouse and
cooked his own meals. At first
he made frightfal mess of it,
but later he improved. When
Randy found out about IT she
came sometimes late in the eve
ming and helped MIN. She put
the rooms in order and taught
him something ABOUT helping
himself. BY the end OF the sum-
mer his cash was running alarm
ingly low. He supposed he'd
have to give a second mortgage
on the house. But he wouldn't
be able TO raise much.
Now he did his own washing,
and dried the clothes IN the
kitchen so no one would know.
People said Drake AcHugh
was drinking.
Yes, sir, l saw him stsgger-
ing out OF Fritz Bscnman's
lunchroom just last Saturday.
Drunk az fool"
Fritz Bschmsns lunehroom,
which was patronized BY rail-
road men, was also COM enient
blind tiger"
Somehow Drake found himself
going rather often TO Fritz Bach
mans place. Sleep came with
increasing difficulty. He had
made 1t habit To stop by the
smelly little lunchroom when he
left Randys house at night. II
was directly on the way home.
He exchanged few rough jokes
with Fritz. gulped glass Of
Whiskey, and went home. Randy