The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-28


pany, New York City,
1t was registration in December, 1863.
The vote of the city-the local elections
were then held late in December-was
making that preliminary answer to its
name required Of the law The ring, set
to the defeat Of Florence Scannell by all
foul methods, since it might not be fair
" brought about, was with the use Of re-
peaters falsely swelling the registration
wherein to lay foundation for the final
steal Florence Scannell, together with
Iohn Scanned, was buslly about in ef-
fCrts to prevent these wrongs of the
ring.
There was one, Donahue, who Kept a
drinking place at Twenty third street
and Second avenue. This Donahue was
himself Of the ring Danites. He had
Killed his man and nearly slain his Sec
ond. His drinking den was harbor for
ring Grim nails
Donahue had office ambitions. He ar
gued with dark sagacity that were he
to remove" Florence Scannell, the ring
would not only protect him from the law
which in that day was the rings will
but prefer him to some coign of party
height and fairness.
On registration day Donahue's resort
was made headquarters for those i'm
ported ''rereaters" who were to be used
in that ward. There were four score or
more of these rufians in the room to the
rear of Donahue's bar. Florence Scan
neil, accompanied by john Scannell on
the scent Of fraud, came into Donahue's.
Florence ScanneII, aware of the where
abOuts Of the "repeaters," walked to the
door of the rear room and sought to en-
ter The door was locked. Donahue stood
behind the bar.
Don't go In therew cried Donahue to
Florence Scannell, as the latter tried the
door.
There was murder in Donahues heart
1t glowed duly in his bleary eye, and
had the Scannells been whit less brave,
and therefore a bit more cautious, they
might have noted 1t.
Don't go in there" said Donahue.
Florence Scannell, bafied by the locked
door turned and stood against the bar.
His elbows rested on it, his back was to
the lar and to DOnahue. One in the
room with the ''repeaters' unlocked the
door. John Scannell pushed it open and
entered among them. About 100 men
We're therein gathered. The entrance Of
John Scanneu fell like fear upon these
lawbreakers. They deemed him the add
vance of justice in pursuit of them. With
that, many sought to be rid of the place.
There was a deal of connection; the door
through which John Scannell had entered
was closed in the stampede
At the top Of the hubbub shot rang
forth in the barroom. John Scannen,
closed in the rear room, couldn't see
and could only guess the reason of that
TrlnS. Donahue, seizing the safe advan-
tage Of Florence Scannelrs position and
John ScannelIs absence from the scene,
had shot the younger Scannell in the
back There was no word of warning;
between them passed no looks of differ
ence; murder, cold and safe and cow
ardly 1t was, and the victim first toucru
or his peril was bullet in his back. TIE
effect was to paralyze; Florence Scanneu
slipped to the floor without railing, and
as John SeanneH rushed in his eyes rest
Cd hrst on his brother half lying against
the base Of the bar. In front of him
stood lesser thug of the ring.
John ScannelIs HAND sought his pistol
q H-cAl-her Colts. There was a fash
and crash; the Ring thug fell, shot
through the neck.
John, 1t was Donahue," whispered
Florence SCannelL
John Scannen spraHg tc the front door.
bonahue, fear-spurred was a block
away pistol in hand, running with all
speed.
To see was to act; an instant and John
Scannel was in pursuit. The glance he
gave MS brother as he passed told him
that the lattsr was wounded to the
oeath.N W hereupon a great hunger eff re-
Venge seized MIN and swallowed HIM up.
Donahue made what speed he might
but vicious life was clogging him. His
pursuer, perfect of habit, was hate
winged with the one vast thought Of
ScannelI was overwhelming the muir
derer.
Donahue, whose frightened eye each
moment swept his shoulder beheld his
fate as 1t was descending upon him. De-
spair had almost claimed him There was
a police station near at hand If Dona-
hue could but win to that, he would
be safe; the police-the Ring polce-would
protect him. They were allies as we'll as
ofacers This thought upheld the MUIR
derer He begged of all his energies;
they granted strength; he painted to the
door. Scannelrs p stOl cracked, and
Donahue fell in among the police. The
Scanne1 bullet had shattered an arm
1t was long shot; still hate and re.
venge have eyes of hawks; the bullet
reached, though # only wounded.
John SCannell, heavy of heart, carried
his brother to the hospital Then he
gave bail on charges of shooting both
the Ring ruffian, Whom he mistook for
the murderer, and Donahue, wounded in
the door Of the police. Donahue, the as
sassin of Florence ScannelI, was not ar
rested. Such was the hardihood, not to
say the power, Of the Ring.
Florence ScanneH lived eight months
and was dying every moment. Par
alyzel-for the bullet had struck his spine
-he repose1 on a cot without motion
and while life wasted away
Florence Scannell was powerless to
move, but he could talk And each day
he besoug'ht John Scannell, who hung
over him, to cry off that vendetta which
he had sworn against Donahue.
IF you die" said John Scannell, land
the law doesn't punish Donahue, I Shall
have his life If the law fails, I will my
self take that justice which Is mine. -
For eight months the dying Florence
wrestled with his brother for the life of
him who was his murderer. But his
striVings were of no avail. The resolves
of John Scannell had set as relestiessiy
as water-chilled steel. He would have
life for life; an eye for an eye and A
tooth for a tooth. There was something
ethnic in the grim resolve of John Scan
nell. and his gray eyes. soft enough with
sympathy as he bent above his brother
turned agate-hard with the first naming
of DOnahue.
While Florence Scannell. bound to his
cot was dying, the election took place.
in the teeth Of the ring he was SUCCESS
full But the ring promised to rectify
that error" On the official count
Florence Scannell would be defeated
John ScannelI heard this crooked news.
There was one who stood for the WIS
dom of Tweed. He win not here te
named. Suffice it that he was the Tweed
int lligence; the potent one behind the
throne of the ring.
This wise one, and potential, was alone
at MS desk. 1t was the scant, gray aft
ern1on of the December soIstice The
door opened and John Scanned stood be-
fore HIM. He wore the tranquil air that
was common with him.