The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-02-06

and Mr.. Rufus Gordon had paid as
part price for being let alone I'm their
business methods?
How should the people know that
Tommy Randall touched the pocket
OF every saloon keeper and every keep
er of disreputable house and every
prominent criminal In Waterside dis
trict to get the sinews Of political war?
And what difference IL he did, as Miss
Andrews had so often told them?
Wherever the money came from, II
bought the things the people needed,
and Tommy was the best friend they
had. Flowers at christenings, turkeys
during the holidays, jobs on the street
force, a stand-in with the city hall
why, even Miss Andrews and Hope
House had no such gifts for the people.
To be sure Hope House was a good
thing. and Miss Andrews was all
right. but Tommy Randall was the
peoples friend, and well never 60
back ON Tommy was the settled con-
viction of every man in the ward VINO
owed his job to Tommy. Surely, o
boss of Ward IS, you understand your
gel of light. Hats Off to the ward
boss" says the devil. as his best agents
in corrupting the modern city file by In
the great human review of the Ameri-
can city. The republic may have a
president. but the municipality sup
ports king.
When Gordon went up to see Barton
at the end of the most narrowing day
he had ever known, he found his friend
raving with fever. He did not know
Gordon. The nurse was in charge with
Williams. and all Gordon could do was
TO drop n tear on Barton's face as he
kissed the burning forehead and exact
n solemn promise from Williams to
send for him at once whenever the end
was near. Then back again to three
days experiences that aged him, but
brought out all his reserve force-and
he had vast quantity Of ii.
Two events In those three days stand
| out sharp and distinct in the life Of
John Gordon.
The first event was his deepening &C.
quaintance with Grace Andrews.
Working together side by side during
those three days. they rapidly grew to
| respect and have confidence I'm each
| other. Grace Andrews amazed Gordon
| by her courage, her infinite patience,
| her profound pity for suffering, her en-
| durance under circumstances SO terri
bile that more than one of the men resi-
dents in the house tainted away at the
sight OF some of the bodies taken from
the ruins. In several instances Gordon
felt confideGt that Miss Andrews loved
the dying back into life. She moved
among them like an angel of God. At
the most painful examinations, at the
most critical operations, she was pres
ent, a benediction and a peace. More
than once during those days Gordon
found himself thinking Of Grace An
drews in way he had never yet
thought He had never given her cred.
1t for n sweet hearted tenderness, fas.
cinating in its disclosure of an abso-
lutely pure and gentle nature, feeling
for all the woes of life. He had al
ways admired her steadfness of pur
pose, her unterrified patience, her deer
seriousness Of motive. But he had new.
er before witnessed her womanly senti
ment. brought into prominence by this
sudden stroke of suffering. 1t all add
ed to the definition he was making OF
her. 1t all enriched his faith in hel
purpose and her sacrifices. In all thii
there was not a hint Of anything senti
mental on his own part. The awful
ness of all those surroundings durin;
that memorable week would hav,
made any such thought impossibl,
even IL he had been other than he was
ceptibility. The one impression tina
he received from a nearer view Of he
character was a conviction that sh
was a woman who had rare capabilit,
for loving and being loved, and b.
even went so far in his thinking as
result of this impression that he triet
to imagine the character Of the mai
who might possibly win such a grea
and affectionate nature.
The other event was an unexpecte,
interview with Luella Marsh. Tn
Rev. Paul Falmouth had come dow
to see Gordon and offer help Of variou
kinds to Miss Andrews from his churc
young peoples society. AS he wa
getting ready to leave he said to Gol
don: 1T seems to me now Is the tim
for Miss Andrews and you to brin
pressure to bear on Mr.. Marsh. Will
the horror is still keen and publ
sentiment is favorable you ought I
persuade him TO do something. b
will probably rebuild. Do you know:
Il don't know anything about i
Why has he not been down hereT
"Gordon''-Falmouth spoke with quis
earnestness-"do you know Mr.. Mars
Intimately? I understand your relatio
to the family. / believe I know b
characteristics better than you do.
least know this-he is morbidly sens
tive I'm the matter of viewing huma
suffering. Do you suppose
Gordon's face darkened. Was II po
| sible that any man would run ava
| from duty like this? All his respect Il
J Marsh and his feeling for him as II
father of Luella were at once swe
away by the thought of the mans CO..
/ temptible cowardice. A tremendous tit
4 of Indignation took possession of hi
as he recalled Marsh's pitiable actio
: at the time he visited the tenemen
Would he deliberately shirk his respo
: sibility i'm the matter of the fire and Il
e opportunity now offered him to r
build?
I'll so and see him if you say so
! Falmouth volunteered as he we
y away.
u Il wish you would" Gordon replie
: And he added In tone that spoke Of
= personal passion that was nearer ang
= than any feeling he ever experience