Mower County transcript., 1903-07-01

looked straight into the older mans.
The service has all been arranged.
young man, {" Randall said finally a
sound Of shuf1ing steps was heard 81
!. the broken stairs and along the cor
lridor, and two men appeared with u
coffin. II I2< 5 i53sS s{
''Ah! There You are, Abrams! That's
managing stairs herey' he asked. and
Randall again made movement
which looked like a threat Of physical
violence. $5F< b e s3, s 5$.tj .s5s M.
1T is none Of your businessr' The
sentence came out with an explosion
Of profanity that delighted the crowd.
= am regularly appointed by5 the
board of health as legal officer. Do I
understand that you are an officer OF
the city? Do you ShaVesa legal, ,Soficial
authority In these premisesY' Gordon
asked calmly. The question was So
simply put that it's very simplicity
staggered Tommy Randall. He stared
and then broke into a coarse laugh
that was echoed by the women. .3 >. d.
Official duty be ------,.I q. run this ward.
I'm in charge here, and l warn YOU to
get out and leave this business to me-"
Do ! understand you to threaten an
officer with violence" Gordon asked,
looking him in the eye coldly. At the
same time he took out notebook,
while Randall eyed him in a rage that
he was trying evidently to choke down,
For the first time also a trace Of gun-
easiness mingled with his astonish-
ment at the unexpected boldness Of
the young man who had thrown down
the. gauntlet before the boss of Ward
Is. He was beginning to be in doubt
concerning the young mans political
pull. Nothing short of secret influ-
ence at the city hall could account for
his astounding attitude. 49,. r.
II warn you," Gordon talked as he
jotted down something in the book and
put it back into his pocket, "that am
acting fully within my authority as an
officer specially detailed for this duty.
understand you make no claim to
being an officer of the city. I shall
proceed to secure a minister and have
the services properly conducted. Mrs.
Caylor is willing to have it done.
Aren't you, Mrs. Caylor?',
II don't care! Louie was a good boy:
he was good boy?' she cried, throw
ing her apron over her head and rock
ing back and forth with great sobs.
During the talk she had been sitting
by the door, apparently oblivious to
everything. She now suddenly rose up
and staggered into the room, throwing
her arms over the coffin and shrieking
aloud: "'He was a good boy! Oh, God!
oh, Godw r...s ~ ~: l. =. 4,
Tommy Randall turned toward John
Gordon with a look that was simply
Satanic. z = e .@4s 9-:ssss ,-s49.. ~Ey5
IF you attempt to interfere or make
any unusual disturbance, MI RAN
dall," Gordon said again as he had
twice before. taking the initiative, Il.
shall report you to tie authorities. >i
Estts.The statement was so simply made,
It covered so much absolute authority,
that for moment Tommy Randall
stared in silence, too much astonished
to say word. Then, to Gordon's sur
prise and to the bewilderment of the
crowd, the older man put, out his hand
and said, with laugh: ! *~
you're good one! Report Tommy
Randall! Give me your hand on it,
young fellow! But you have the Say,
wouldn't he make team with another
one like him?' =" # ~ =;
Again the crowd laughed coarsely,
and Gordon, without seeming to notice
the outstretched hand, turned his back
on all of them and went into the ROOM
Randall watched him, with a snarl on
his face that prophesied any number
OF accounts &or the future. Them he
grew thoughtful, and before any one
could guess his next movement he fol-
lowed Gordon into the room. ,.,y
Gordon had even in that brief time
begun to soothe the distracted mother.
"Pll get my friend Mr. Falmouth to
come down. He will have a beautiful
service. He will''-- ..reerrs. ~.
Does Mr.. Randall
The words were spoken with a fright
ened air that Gordon saw at once had
some good reason. But before he could
answer Randall said good naturally: I.
II think we had better have the min
lister come down, Mrs. Caylor. That's
all right" i ss5;45.55;l .t*s@~ ts@z ,..$ S
;"1'll arrange it," Gordon said briefly,
as If Randall were not present He did
not care to puzzle himself at present
over the mans change of manner.
That it was apart Of his regular policy
to gain an end hes knew well enough,
but he was Indifferent to it. His very
indifference was SO complete that, the
boss felt again that uneasiness that, had
come to him already as a new experi-
ence, and again that same .diaboIical
hate cluded John Gordon in it's sweep
OF future:reckoning, for T Tomm Randall
was eginning to feel dimly, but really,
that for the first time in his political
career he was in the presence of 3 new
factor The newness Of it puzzled and
enraged him: TWAS so unlSnow,llllsstlllt
he could not figure on it. That made it
doubly hateful to him. /. az !. at, i 5ss is,5 n
John Gordon stayed a little longer
and then went n wa vs. NJ Tho hn,,r Z; I, "a