The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-27

81
as boss of Ward is. AS he came up
to the little group OF which Miss An
drews was the central figure not even
her thorough knowledge of the mans
peculiarly inSidious hold on the situa-
ton was sufficient to give her n real in
sight into the motive which prompted
him to face her and John Gordon at a
moment when he knew their indigna-
ton against him was at its highest
He took Off his hat rs he bowed
How do. Miss Andrews: I've got
some good news for you. and thought
maybe you wouldn't object to my.
bringing il. Lots IL. IL and 81 back
of the settlement have changed hands
since the fire. Maybe you didn't know
it, but I've had my eye on those lots
for some time Now. don't mind tell
ing you that admire your pluck.
You've been doing good here. and 1
want to help in a small way. So I've
decided To give the settlement those
lots l understand you've been want
ing more room to build on n new hall
This will give you n chance"
He stopped very suddenly and his
shifty gray eyes. still fastened on Miss
Andrews. had a look OF such malignant
satisfaction in them that John Gordon
wanted to strike him across the mouth.
He did not do that. but he did say. as
he stepped in front of Miss Andrews.
directly between her and Randall:
when we wanx any donations from
you, we will let you know it, Better
take your gifts where they're better
appreciated"
The man gave Gordon one evil look.
Am talking TO you? Ny offer was
made to the head of the house. If you
are Authorized
Miss Andrews is not going to enter
into any conversation with you" Cor
don spoke with a rising tide of wrath
in him that was nearer To actual vio-
lence that he had ever been. But the
man in front of him was visible rep
lresentative of the most corrupt, Vi
cious. damnable political system that
was directly responsible for practically
every dwarfed child. every ruined girl,
| every debauched soul in the district.
There was 10 room left in John Cor
don's heart for anything but over
whelming indignation toward the man
who stood for all that monstrous
wrong. He wanted to strike some
thing. His soul was bursting with
compassion for the hundreds of help
less lives in that he'll of misery and
with supreme anger against the man
who got his living out of it
"Oh. Mr.. Gordon Miss Andrews
spoke almost timidly. Luella. watch
ing every tone and gesture, noted her
lapparent willingness to let John Cor
don have his way. And indeed. with
dressed to him, Miss Andrews did not
speak again during the whole of the
strange encounter.
by your leave. Miss Andrews, I
will do the talking. and unless you say
otherwise / will take the whole respon-
sibility OF refusing any gifts Mr.. RAN
dali may. for his own reasons. make
the settlement. We know perfectly
well how lots IL, 10 and 81 changed
hands. We do not care to be receivers
of stolen goods"
He said the words looking straight
into Tommy RandaIl's face. Tommy
Randall knew as he tried TO return the
look that here was one man who was
mot afraid of him, come what might.
Nevertheless the boss OF Ward Is had
been ruler so long. he had grown so ac.
lcustomed to regard the methods by
which he sxtorted revenue from his
subjects as a legitimate part of the ex.
listing political system, that GOrdon's
almost brutaIly frank denunciation
caused him only feeling OF contempt
Just as you say" he answered cool.
ly enough. Lots In Hope House block
are not given away every day. know
plenty OF men who will buy them. l
suppose. seeing you are so particular
about the lots. you will be overparticu
lar about who gets them"
He said 1t with a deliberate sugges
tiveness so full of possible evil tina
Gordon was again tempted to knoc
him down. Nothing but the know
edge of Miss Andrews presence pre-
vented him Tommy Randall felt hi
own power and went a step further.
| NOu Noulu bt Z
look at my plans" The suggestion
was so profoundly insOlent that no on
said word. Tommy Randall unrolle
the blue print and spread it out befor
them. With the same degree of fas
cination that they might have felt i
looking at a battlefield during tn
slaughter John Gordon and Grace AL
drews followed the grimy hand of tn
boss as he described his plan. Nlri
Penrose, Archie and Luella looked o
as interested spectators, but to then
especially to Luella, the main interes
of the occasion lay not In the dirt
blue print, but In the expression an
attitude of the settlement workers.
Here" said Tommy, indicating wit
a much soiled thumb the spot where b
and Gordon had been standing whe