The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-22
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT-
A MARTYR TO DUTY

Beautiful Gladys Gotrox was in love with the hand
some fearless INDEPENDENT young reformer Percy Pop
gun. How proud she whenever his in
the papers Who could denounce municipal corruption
fercely? Who could plead the of good
eminent eloquenty her Percy? When the city,
undergoing of its acute attacks Of yrtuous indgna
thonfrom which it recovered after the election
and swept the machine out of power and put the
reformers in, the fair girls with joy
And when after election, her Percy made police
magistrate her elation knew no bounds.
Percy made very good police magistrate He
just and absolutely infiexibe ''Ten dollars!" Ten
days" six months!' The fiat went forth, and,
pronounced, was as rrevocable as a decree of fate
Politicians came and whispered in his ear, but went
Pulls don't go with him!" And Percy felt the proud
consciousness of pole duty.
All would have been well if old Gotrox had not bought
automobile. He didn't want it. He considered it
dangerous and explosivehe close listed old
gentlemanbut the family persuaded him that it the
proper thing, and he yielded reluctantly Having an
automobile it followed the night the day that he
ceeded the lawful speed limit 1t happened that he
arrested for this oense late afternoon and the
courts sitting, dispatched to
Judge Popgun to arrange about bail The old million
aire released understanding that he
to appear before Judge Popgun in the mornig.
That night Miss Gotrox sent note to the judge, ask
ing him to call on her at
"Oh Percy said, merciful my father! I
know he is guilty, but be mercifu'
"The law take it's course, Gladys" replied the
judge gently, firmly "The law is respecter Of
persons If your father has exceeded the speed limit
ne fined"
to part with dollar We-that u.s. the family-manage
to out of him. but it like drawing
Again, Percy, entreat you to be merciful!'
alas! cannot! Indeed, Gladys I have ideas of
about these things. Cost what it may must
follow the dictates of conscience l have long
thought that fine of $40 inadequate penalty
reckless automobilng. I made mind long
that all offenders of this class who before shall
be punished severely than that have determined
that they shall be fined SIS
Fifteen dollars! My poor old father! Again T
you, Percy, by all tender recollecons
mercifu don't for the money, but know it will
break fathers heart if he has cccough $15 He is
n-not l-lke other -1nillionares!" And the poor
girl sobbed violently.
This is ihexpressbly painful to me- Gladys" said
Judge Popgun "but officer of the law. I
must do my duty
"Then said the girl drawing herself to her full
height, is customary in such cases. 'I are
horrd thing, there, now!' And she left the
room before he had time to reply.
Slowly and sadly he took his departure.
The day the old millionaire stood up in court to
receive his sentence Percy had sleepless night
but he did not falter
"You fined $15!'
A loud shrek heard in the courtroom. Gladys
carried fainting. father paid the fine,
there dark scow his face he parted with the
money
Woman's love forgives much, and possibly Gladys
might relented, her father threatened dis
inherit her if she saw Percy Popgun again. The
unfortunate girl married into the British nobility AS
for Judge Popgun there nothing for him to do but
to conceal calm exterior the ruins of his blasted
hopes-Wiam F. McKenna in New York Times.