The Washington times., 1903-09-06

The little mayor nodded to his guests
with gratifed air.
My position in this matter is a deli
cate one" he resumed. These boys are
not really vicious. Some OF them are Of
good families. can't treat them as or
binary criminals Besides. with their
present organization it would be difficult
10 handle them with the means at our
disposal. Our police force is very small.
but large enough for ordinary emergen-
cies. To increase IL would meet with the
prompt disapprovaI of the taxpayers"
Another murmur of assent ran around
the room
True" said the sour-faced man.
I'VE can't overawe them with force.
This is quite evident We must per
suade them, cajoIe them. outwit them"
The sour-faced man slightly suorted.
Il don't much believe in sugar-coated
treatment" he said. 1T reminds me of
the farmer who tried 10 get the boys
out of his fruit trees by throwing twigs
AT them"
''We may throw stones before we are
through" said the little mayor with
much dignity, but We are not quite
ready for that yet. Unfortunately.
new emergency has arisen. The gang is
arranging for a series of prize boxing
contests, as they call them. 1 suppose
they really are no better than fist
fights. Anyway. I look upon this as
the most unfavorabIe demonstration they
have yet made. We know what such
contests mean. We know the character
OF the crowds that would be drawn TO
them They would disgrace and shame
fully humiliate the fair fame OF our
village"
A murmur Of approval arose.
That's more of Joe Germans work."
said the sour-faced man.
Yes" the little mayor assented.
He's their ringleader in everything. He
is teaching some of them 10 box and 10
wrestle. and seems to have entire
charge of the affair. And the worst OF
II is he has complete control OF the
other lads. II isn't alone because he is
the oldest of the gang. or the stoutest,
but there is something really winning
about the boy. He Is an idler and a
mischief maker. and yet they tell me he
never breaks his word and would scorn
10 do a tricky act. He has been brought
up in a rough school. but l like TO think
there is still hope for him"
That's well said. Mr.. Mayor" came
the quiet voice of the broad-shouldered
man with the smooth face. The other
man turned and looked at him. He
smiled at the attention. The mayor is
~ h.
there is good stuff in the boy. The
question is how TO get it out"
That isn't the question az ALL"
groWled the sour-faced man. "The fell
low is a man grown-twenty-two If he's
a day-and a lazy loafer to boot. The
only question is how 10 get rid OF him.
I believe if we can find a way TO elimi-
nate Joe German we've got this Inlet
problem solved
The little mayor looked around.
There is a way" he said.
The seven men who faced him gave a
little start.
The mayor prolonged what he must
have recognized as a dramatic pause.
Well" snapped the sour faced man.
There is a way" the mayor repeat
ed. Then he regretfuny added. But 1t
Is absurd"
I thought so" grumbled the sour
faced man.
Let us Judge of that" said the man
with the quiet voice.
The little mayor again regarded him
gratefully.
Il only fear" he said, that you will
find il quite as impossible as ! do I
will explain IL as briefly as l can. l met
Joe German by appointment this morn
ing and had a long talk with him. OF
course tried to show him how the Inlet
boys were disgracing the town. He only
laughed. l fiattered him by telling him
what an Influence he had over the boys
and how easily II might be turned into
an influence for good. He laughed again
/ lost my temper a little and told him
that the good citizens of GraceviIle were
determined to put a stop TO his nonsense
And he laughed at that. Then ] spoke of
the fist fights he was encouraging and
told him emphatically that they must
stop. He grirned at me and then his
face grew thoughtful. l thought / had
made an impression. Is there any
reasonable inducement we can offer you,'
! asked. that would lead you away from
GraeeYille? If you are determined 10 be