The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-15


81 almost wish John Gordon may not
live, for your sake as well as his" she
said Luella shuddered, and Mrs. Pen
rose after a pause went out Of the
room
The crisis for John Gordon came on
the night of the election day. To Ford
and the others who watched by him
that night it seemed as if the struggle
being fought out in the city was typi-
fed by the struggle going on in John
Gordon's room. Rumors of the political
battle drifted into Hope House all day.
Both sides were confident. Both sides
claimed a victory. 1t was righteousness
against all forms of evil that had
grown secure and insolent, but was
now alarmed and fighting for future
he felt almost equal to his old time en-
thuSiaSm.
existence. Tommy Randall typified the
entire city administration. He had
used enormous sums of money. The
tenement district almost solidly voted
for him against the friends who, like
Miss Andrews, lived to better their
condition. The whole thing illustrated
magnificently the regular social degra-
dation of American civic life. .fgrfs
AS night deepened and returns began
to come in slowly there seemed to be
no decisive indications for either side.
Ford. who, had beenswith, Gordon from
the beginning, refused to leave, al.
though he was thoroughly exhausted.
Gordon sank lower and lower. Twice
they thought he had passed on. Each
time he rallied. At 2 o'clock he was
nearer death than he had ever been.
From that time on the struggle of life
for the spirit grew stronger. When
dawn came, the doctor lifted his hand
and a grim smile expressed his salts
faction. The crisis was passed, and
John Gordon, by the grace of God, was
to live and struggle on for a few years
more before his spirit should go to God,
who gave it.
Out in Bowen street and around
Hope House the boys were crying out
special election editions. Miss An
drews and Ford could hear the words
"Victory for Reform ticket" Triumph
for law and orderv Chambers elect
ed city attorney" Ford stole down
stairs and got paper. The little fam
lily of residents gathered in the library
The first questions asked were about
John Gordon.
"The doctor says he'll live. Hurrah!
Ford cried feebly. He waved the pa
, per as if that was the special news
that covered its first page with heavy
type and exclamation points. Some
one discovered Miss Andrews over by
, the window with tears on her face
Miss Hammond came up and put al
arm about her.
Grand, isn't it?" Miss Hammond
said.
"Yes. 1t did not seem possible il
the night that he could live"
"Who? Tommy Randall?' Miss
Hammond asked demurely.
| Miss Andrews laughed.
I'm rather unsrung by all this" she
said.
at is good deal, isn't it? Tommy's
death and Mr.. Gordon's life at the
same time. But joy never kills, does
it?''
at has never killed Miss Andrews
yet" said Ford. "But 1 don't know
how she will stand all this. I'm afraiG
, it will go hard with her."
81 will try to accustom myself to it, ,
the head of the house answered, smil
| ing on them all. At the breakfast ia
BILE no one ever remembered to have
! seen her more interesting or fascinat
, ing.
John Gordon rapidly grew stronger
When once life had claimed him, i
seemed as if all the forces Of goO(
came to his assistance.
/ One day when he had become strong
enough he listened with the creates
J delight to Ford's account of the cleo
ton.
Chambers is going to make history
for the double decker fellows. There
! are over a hundred cases filed already
| The atmosphere around the end OIL
| Bowen street is of dark blue. Tom
| my Randall has skipped out for his
health and carried with him the Doodle
! he was careful not to use for campaign
+; purposes. The property out here, in
Guiding his unfinished building, has al
: passed into other hands, and the city
{; is likely to take measures toward con
demnation and purchase. OF course
that means lots Of legislation and laws
delays, and so forth, but the gang II
out of the city halls, and. Chambers an(
his gold bowed spectacles will move
things as rapidly as the law permits
! which to my mind is not fast enough
| to set anything afire. At the next cleo
! ton the city ought to make Chambers
king and give him absolute authority
/, to do as he pleases for the good of the
city. But tell you, Gordon. yor
missed mighty good fight by being
here the week before the election"
$50 did you, my dear fellow, from
| what hear Of YOU" said Gordon af
fectionately.
"Oh, had good fight over you
| said Ford. There were also others
| Miss Marsh came down or sent wore
every day. We were all determined no
| to let you die. But twas good fight
I'm about used up. turn you over t.
Miss Marsh"
I'm sorry to miss you, Ford" Cor
don laughed lightly. "I've no fault tt
find"
! 81 understand. You simply want &
better looking nurse around. Dom
r blame you,". said Ford, who was TN
commonly homely and not ut all senst