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Show 1 j I I : The Strong Arm M j j By ALVAH JORDAN GARTH i ! (Copyrtcht. 191. by th Western Newi-j Newi-j paper Union.) j To the stranger in Winton, a firi I view of the great brick structure de- voted to the principal Industry of the I town might have suggested the idea that the same was a school of pugilism. Upon the broad towering chimney there was the one sign of the place, a bared human arm with sinews ponderous, pon-derous, clenched fist and sledge hammer like, and the muscles of the arm above the elbow bulging and exaggerated. The big picture was a trademark familiar fa-miliar in trade circles for half a century. cen-tury. It was the brand, sign manual and coat of arms so to speak of Armstrong Arm-strong & Company. They were manufacturers manu-facturers of tools and every one of these was stamped with, or bore In bold relief that trademark, Its own advertisement ad-vertisement the world over. Levi Armstrong, the founder of the business, was proud of It. He was a man of muscle himself, but past his prime, and his favorite workmen were the huskiest and heaviest he could pick out. The general overseer and foctotum about the place was Dan Dempsey. He bad been so long with Armstrong & favorite, and spoiled. He was a model of what the Armstrong insignia stood for strength. In a city place or resort Dan would have been an ideal bouncer. People said that Levi Armstrong kept him around as a living example of strong arm excellency, and to suppress turbulence among the workers when the same seemed imminent. Levi Armstrong was a disappointed man. He had married at thirty-five, and his wife had died within the first year of their union. He had waited until un-til he had prospered to build the finest residence in the town, and he led a lonely life in the same after his bereavement. be-reavement. With neither chick nor child of his own, he adopted Lena Farrell, the orphan child of a half sister, had hired a nurse for her, and as she grew up, centered all his attention and Interest upon the little child. Lena was sixteen when Levi Armstrong Arm-strong brought home one day a shy, but well mannered lad of her own age. He introduced him as Gilbert Thome. I The closest friend of his own boyhood i had sent him the boy from a foreign country whither he had gone to live. Every other member of his family and himself had died of a pestilence. Here-called Here-called to Armstrong their youthful vows to stand by each other. Armstrong Arm-strong was nothing loth to have a second sec-ond object of Interest to fill his louely life. Gilbert stayed at his home for a month and he and Lena became constant con-stant companions. Then he was sent away to school and did not see Lena or his benefactor until four years later. Levi Armstrong wore an expression of utter disappointment upon his face as he sat with his lawyer In his private pri-vate office at the plant, a month after the graduation of Gilbert. The latter had been put at work as a timekeeper and, book In hand, was passing the window outside. Suddenly Gilbert was confronted by a great giant of flesh and muscle. "Just look at that, now I" exclaimed Levi Armstrong in a tone of mingled contempt and bitterness. Dan Dempsey had met young Thome. He was playfully overflowing with his usual full animal spirits. He had seized Gilbert as he would a child and lifting him in one hand held him out at arm's lengtn without enort. "You are expecting too much, Ami-strong." Ami-strong." spoke the lawyer, quickly analyzing ana-lyzing the emotions of his client. "The young fellow Is bright as a dollar." "It isn't that," responded Old Levi. "Look at him, tall. thin, almost sickly looking. Just fancy what It would mean to me to have a comfort In my old age in a strong, muscular lad who would fitly represent my strong arm ideal. I like Gilbert and so does Lena, but he will never be a practical worker, and as to Lena, of course she can have her pick of a husband among those of wealth and social position." "Armstrong." spoke the lawyer abruptly. ab-ruptly. "I plainly see that your hobby of muscular strength is working an injury in-jury for a capable, willing lad. You are right, he does not look strong, but what can you expect of a lad shut in to study of the hardest kind for four long years? Give me the boy for six months, let him live on my down country farm and note the change. Gilbert went to the farm. A week later Lawyer Sloan sent thither also a client awaiting trial named Reddy Walters, ex-pugilist. Six months later Levi Armstrong glanced from his office window, staring hard at a young man crossing the yard. It was Gilbert Thorne, but a new Gilbert Thome, robust, bronzed, straight as an arrow, bis entire pose suggesting a model of perfect manly strength. Dan Dempsey, coining Into view, hailed Gilbert. "Well 1 well 1 my little bantam, grown, haven't you?" There followed some mild badinage, a friendly challenge from Gilbert, and the next thing Levi Armstrong saw was the two engaging In a wrestling match. There was a severe tussle, skill against heculean welghtlness. a trick clutch the ex-pugilist had taught hij apt pupil, and for the first time In his life Dan Dempsey whs downed. "That clever young Thorne has won his spurs," said Lawyer Sloan to his wife that evening. "And a life business busi-ness ami a rich wife at the same time," he added, wiiii tout 'nil-fii""-a. |