St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-08
LOCAL LACoNICs.

That's Weary-iO0k1ng half-eXp ectant
crowd that gathers daily in the little ante
room of the vault in the basement OF the city
hall where the recount OF the votes cast for
county auditor is being made. Curious
friends of either party to the contest drop in
and look on for few minutes, then silently
steal away. while the principals and the ref
erees grind away at the call of votes and the
tailying.
til
The scene yesterday afternoon was typical
of that to be viewed any day. AT the head
of the table sat genial Tom Mullane. his
good temper unruffied. monotonously calling
the vote. Keller. Burns Blank" mic
Manigal,' etc. The tally keepers follow the
call mechanically, occasionally varying the
numbers by Cheek at the same time heav
ing hopeful sigh.
t+I
At Mullane's right is James H. Burns. au-
ditor-elect. smoking and smiling, saying little.
and evidently caring less, of the Insignificant
errors discovered. Facing him, across the
table. sits Charles E. Keller, solemn and
watchful, betraying little emotion and less
hope as the precincts are passed one by one
without giving any encouraging increase in
his vote. While Burns looks aggravatlngly
confident and clipper, Keller chews the end
OF cigar and keeps the ballots in order.
TIT
Lined along the table are William Louis
Kelly Jr.. his Roscoe Conkling cowlicBs all
in picturesque confusion. taking an occa-
sional pull at espectable-looking cigar,
calling the count and keeping tab be-
tween smoke puffs Fronting Kelly sits
Harry Griswold. sometimes out of business,
but always in politics and ready to drop into
any SNAP" that offers Harry, like the ia
nous widow. is fat and forty" IN looks
at least and barring an occasional tumble OF
a low call from Mullane, he is doing quite
we'll as a scorekeeper. Unless the recount
gets move on itself. however, he can hardly
hope to draw much salary an examiner OF
the city treasurer's books.
TT
At one end of the table, leaning ON win
dow sill, is ex Custodian Pat Egan. looking
as much at home as if he were still master of
the building. Observing everything and say
ing nothing, the Fifth ward pioneer makes
good picture of the early-time hard worker
who is resting easy in the knowledge that
there is snug penny laid by for rainy day.
At the other end of the table, with natty
Derby shading his eyes, is William Egan, son
of the frst-named He is the third tallykeeper,
and while not seeming to be So is as alert as
a fox in hen yard frequently correctinga
break in the count as called, and again sub
siding into watchfulness.
TT
Sitting at Keller's right hand is the other
great defeated. FW. Zollman. While Burns
attorney has little time to attend to the de-
tails of the count, 'Zolly'' sits there all day
long, boDbing back and forth, with notebook
in hand, anxiously scanning each ballot,
never even taking time to SMILE Frank
Battley, big and serious-looking, is leaning
Oh Zollman's chair. Urbanely he bows to
acquaintances coming and going, and then
again he turns his eyes ON the passing ballots
with a steady gaze, interrupted only by the
soft-footed meandering of handsome Dan
Baker as he fits about the room to kill time
and encourage shoemaking.
++++
Back of the crowd around the table City
Clerk Prendergast occupies an armchair, re-
signedly waiting.
Like Patience on monument
Smiling at grief
YEARLY the hours go by, but occasionally
Mr. Prendergast is called upon to put away
finished precinct and produce a new box.
He does it methodically and smoothly. lay
ing the big bunch of blue ballots in handy
reach of the caller. This is one of the
boxes we put extra ballots in" says Burns
with quiet smile. Pat Egan winks the other
eye; Jim Dillon. who has drifted in. looks
out of his whiskers at Burns in holy horror
Zollman grins just trlfe, Kelly and Girls
void bump heads Billy Egan shifts the cock
of his bonnet more to leeward Keller ex-
pectorates and takes fresh hold, Battley
gives token of the joke by a huge chuckle.
Dan Baker does quiet shuttle, Tom Prem
dergast resumes his seat, the reporter goes
forth into the blizzard to hustle, and the
dfeary, hopeless. expensive recount goes on.