Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-24

reporter) was present in the office for
! purposes OF which he had already in
4 formed Mr.. Mckee, aud that the latter
no doubt would explain all thoroughly
to him.
The reporter returned to his table
where he sat writing for few minutes.
A conversation went on between the two
collectors, when MIR. Dougherty in visible
mental disturbance came ACROSS to the
reporter and said rs foIlowa:
II wish You to understand clearly that
l wont have this. This is private Office
paid for by Mckee and myself. It ia not
a public Office. What I understood your
I mission ia here will not be allowed or
tolerated. II you have any business here
| you ARE as welcome ss anyone else TO
come and do it. But / wont have you
or any other newspaper man make q
headquarters here to watch what is going
on in tnis Office"
The speaker was very much incensed
and his face pallid with anger. He was
almost breathless with effort to restrain
himself over what he considered IN in.
dignity placed upon him and Collector
Mckee
Turning around again to the reporter,
he added: II have no personal feelings
against you, but repeat you cannot
stay in this Office under the mission OF
watching everything that transpires here"
do understand, them" the reporter
added, "that you will foroibly eject mo
If insist on staying ?"
"Ihat's exactly 1t. You may put it in
what wovds you like, but that's fully
what mean. You cannot stay here
under the circumstances of your instruo-
tions from EVERY EVENING Office"
"Will YOU tell me exactly" said Col
lector Mckee, ''who sent you here 2"
"Certainly-the managing editor of the
paper"
After inQuiring second time of Col
lector Dougherty whether he intended
forcibls election Of tho reporter il the
latter remained taking notes, and being
again told that while he wished to treat
every one in gentlemanly manner, he
would certainly 10 what he said, the re-
porter replied that under threat OF
forcible election be would leave, which,
accordingly, ho did at 11.50 O'clock.
At FIVE minutes before O'Clock Tuesday
morning reporter called at the county
tax collectors Office to pay his respects
to the officials. The door was locked,
A lady appeared coming up the steps.
She had hardly time to eSclaim, "ORn't
you get in ?" when Collector Dougherly
appeared, unlocked the office door and
let the lady in. He turned again to the
reporter very oourteously, 'Wont you
come IN, Mr.. ---?' putting his hand on
the newspaper mans shoulder in o
friendly way. The invitation was ac-
cepted. The reporter looked around for
o moment, silently admired the office
boys industrious efforts to get the stove
up TO warming heat, remarked on the
sunshine and bright weather prospects, q
comment which the collector did not re-
Hpond to, as he appeared deep in chase
after some name in the thick tax book
volumes and then while the lady referred
to was transscting her tax business the
reporter turned TO leave the office. AT
that moment Collector Mckee appeared
in the doorway. He too had smile for
the newspaper visitor, who then tripped
downstairs, surer than before that he had
struck the right keynote in his general
reference to sunshine.
A city Official in light fall overeoat
sailed past the tax office stairway g danced
furtively up as he passed, smiled an I'M
translatable smile and then resumed his
urbane progress down town. He twisted
his cane vigorously, apparently to relieve
the over-perturbed mental condition
which had forced itself upon him as his
eyes settled on the dark stairway. A we'll.
known restaurateur passed also, gazed
curiously with an open.inouthed stare up
the passageway, looked as if he would
like to go up, turned hesitatingly away
and then suddenly shot away.
At 9.O9 the ggs company's wagon
stopped in front of the office. Somebody
jumped out aud went up stairs, probably
with yesterdays message of property tax
business.
At 8. IS decrepit old lady, with big
market basket, stopped in front of the
office looking inquiriugly up the stairway
and then in the faces of the paHser4 by.
At length she addressed one of them, who
ran quickly upstairs and was followed
down again by Collector Mckee, in his
shirt sleeves. After a shoit oolloquy
with the old lady, who was evidently tou
decrepit to climb the steps, the collector
went up again and after five minutes re.
appeared on the street with tax receipt
which he handed the lady. Sons money
was exchanged, and with a bow the two
parted, the lady apparently full of &C
acknowledgement for the collectors oour
tesy.
For the next half hour not more thar
three Or four citizens climbed the county
tax steps. For about an hour following
when any one glanced up ut the two
windows of the tax oilioe the white shir
sleeves OF the collectors like tine orr
/. famine, the white flag Of Henry o.
Navarro, were seen in the windows, tht
Fest Indication TO oil OF the presence o.
!, the officials in their office.
Between the hours OF 10 and II O'CLOCK
not more than two OF three people wen
MP the stairs. There certainly was nj
rush of taxpayers TO the office, aud hall
OF those who came may not have called
on tax business.
At 11.2O Messrs. Bach and MahaffJ
!, strolled past with linked arms aud sinil
, ing faces. They did not pay thei
friends, "the enemy" up btairs a visit
but Rlided along in the sunshine witt
elastic footsteps, whose dancing gal
5 showed pronounced evidence OF alternate
post office and tax Office triumphs. The,
! stopped suddenly few steps below th
tax office. They bad met man VIII
pulled piece of white paper ont of
= purse. The three were pleased at tn
: incident, separated, and walked away.
!. Two or three citizens, a lady included
went upstairs at successive intervals.
!; At 1l.35 Collector Mckee left the ofiic
walking up street with some official look
:. ing paper in his hands. Collecto
J Dougherty remained in the Office. Mr.
= : Mckee returned in few minutes.
!. The whole forenoon there were prot
y ably less than half-a dozen citizens Gale