The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-12
rs it a political meeting?" she asked

party eltner, Tor all the gamblers and
barleepers of high class will be here.
Wish you could see them. May: some
swell-looking men, 1 tell you! But I'm
nervous about Vaughn: 'twould be
just like him to burst out of quaran-
tine at this critical moment and spoil
everything. If he'll only stay on the
Rosy Belle - hours longer, We'll cinch
the deciding vote for him.
"Canter is getting weak on the quar-
antine,' the boys say; thinks it's react
ing against him; but the Clarion keeps
him from backing down; they know If
Lyn were out and running things
there'd be no use in crying bribery
and corruption any longer. Every
body knows Lyn would never stand for
that kind of thing"
All this was startling to Miss Roth
ven. Not that she was in the least
distressed at her brother-in-law's
seeming slackness of morals She knew
that he was one of the politicians that
handle pitch with gloves on, and that
he was like to escape any personal
smudge therefrom. But she foresaw
serious complications for Lyndall
Vaughn, and, as his friend-his very
warm and appreciative FRIENDSHIP felt
an obligation to protect him against
these men who were so ruthlessly risk
ing honor to secure their own ends
For she was convinced that he would
never consent to the sort of deal likely
to be made tonight between his
friends and Dicks guests.
Sitting alone to the parlor at mid
night she listened in agonizing activity
of thought to stealthy footsteps and
subdued voices.
IF only there were some one in
there who understands Lyn, who would
speak out for his well-known princi-
pies, they would not dare to throw his
reputation into a deal like that! l wish
l were a man-and his dearest friend"
and then she looked truth in the face
and blushed a denial mo, l don't!
But if 1 had said yes to him l could
help him now, for l should have had
the right"
Dick came in for a moment You
can go to bed now at any time, May.
They're all here, and l will carry in
the lunch" But here were dishes in
Volving number of absences from in
teresting conversation, and Mabel was
startled to find he had wholly forgot
ten the cheese. She stood with the dish
in her hand painting, and yet not hest
tating. She would make a plea for
Lyn's honor.
She was one of those women who
pray over the slightest trial and have
courage for the greatest. When she
was saying:
We've got to have it in black and
white! No early closing, no high
license, no interference with bus
mess! We want a wide open
town" He faced the door and
was the first to see Mabel come in
but was too much in earnest to be in
terrupted by her. AS all were now
aware of her presence no one answered
h1If 1f,-ir
TALL fair, gentle-looking girl. She did
not blush nor shrink. She was sim
pie, pure-minded, tender and brave,
and every man in the room, even the
vilest, recognized in her the universal
ideal of the highest womanhood. She
greeted those members of the COM
mittee whom she knew; then realizing
that they awaited her withdrawal. she
spoke, tremblingly at first, but with
increasing courage.
Gentlemen, l am much interested in
this campaign. Will you permit me
to hear how you will answer this gen.
tleman's questions?'
Dick Thompson spoke sharply: Ma
bel, l am afraid you do not understand;
we are all men and
II ask it because 1 believe you are
all gentlemen, Dick and will not mis-
understand me" She blushed at her
own artfulneSs. A keen-eyed gambler
arose and offered her his chair, and the
big man kindly invited her to stay. II
was telling Mr.. Vaughn's friends Just
what he will have to agree to before
we will support him for mayor" he
explained.
II heard your proposition, but-will
you mind telling me what you repre-
sent to"
The big man smiled. ''It will be a
little hard on us, madam, for it's likely
you will think us a bad lot We are
the keepers of pool rooms and wine
rooms, the committee from the Saloon
ISOLATION. 1 represent a class made up
of various professions, all included in
the word gambler.
Mabel listened quietly. Her own in
nocence and observation-disclosures saved
her, and she went on quietly:
II can't understand how a mayor
could keep the promise you are ask
ing. Isn't there an early closing law,
and isn't the license fixed by law p?
Has any mayor ever kept a promise
like that?"
mo, miss the big man answered,
and his colleagues smiled. But the
mayor could allow the laws which
trouble us to remain dead letter by
not requiring the police to see and re-
port infringements. Then he can be
deaf to the clamor of preachers and
temperance societies."
'tDo you not have to spend money
in the other way, l mean in bribing?''
she asked. No one resented the ugly
word; all seemed to respect her evident
sincerity.
= Yes" was the answer. 1--WE spend
an immense amount in that way. For
instance, we pay the police not to see
any infringement of the laws. We pay
the officers for allowing us to pay the
men. and we pay the board for the
privilege of paying the officers. o.
yes we pay all right! If we win in
n game with a greenhorn we pay to
escape prosecution AMI to be allowed
to continue business. If there's a
street fair or an encampment we pay
for concessions, bride the officials to
let us pay. and bride lot of fellows
to keep the secret. Then, usually we
have to pay all around again to keep
out the foreign gamblers. There's no
business in the world where the profit
belongs to so many people as in gam
bling"
Il think it's a shamei" and this
sweet daughter of strictest Presbyte-
rian stock flushed with sympathy al
the hardships of the gambling profess