Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-02-07

more. l doubt it. He is evidently ;anx-
! lous to keep me going the tive years
| DO l look had:''
! He thrust lis pale, nervous face for
ward, ANA John Gordon was almost
! ShHc:,"ll 1T his friends l2Allllcr. lie
| was 50 niCch moved that he rose and
! went ovti and laid his hand Gu the
other mans arm.
"David, you're not we'll Why don't
| you take Harris advice anCl go out to
! Colorado. not for week, but for a
year,
AS bad as that?" David Barton
said drylv. II think I'm Sood for the
five years. But tell me about your
SELF
"lvH left home, and I'm going to take
up residence in Hope House,
no! What. Live thprr:'
David Barton seemed to pay no at
tentlon TO the fact of his friends lcav
ing home.
1--WE been there tonight and made
definite arrangements with Miss An
(rews. l must 30 there in order to tit
myself for my work.
"Iour work:''
Yes: for tile people, replied John
Gordon simply.
Pooh! The people,"
David Barton shifted cOntemptuOusly.
"Who knows who the people are?' He
stopped suddenly, and his whole man.
ner changed His sharp. abrupt, indif-
fcrent alertncss was snlothcred out of
his face Ike magic. He rose and
walked through the room while John
Gordon, who understood his moods
quite WELL listened in establishment.
John. listen to me. believe |
know something of your plans and am
bitions You're the only man | know
who would do what you propose to do.
l don't have much faith in it,. At the
same time believe in you. john |
spoke contemptuously of the people,
but in my heart, John. | love the peo-
pie. | am one Of them. Tonight as
saw children rotting in those holes
could have died for them. But the
martyrs stuff is not in me to die for
them except by proxy Let me tell you.
John, you are going at the thing back
handed. What do you want to so and
live in Hope House for? Miss Andrews
is doing splendid work. but even her
efforts don't accomplish anything. Con
ditions are as bad there now as they
were twelve years ago It's good flesh
and blood thrown to the lions while
the politicians and the gang look on
and laugh at the human helplessness.
Why, it is simply an outrage on civili-
Zation that 4 city like this let's a Wom-
an like Miss Andrews die by martyr
dom in that Internal hell on earth and
never gives her the financial and social
support she ought to have. And the
hounds that own the tenelnentS and
saloons and vaudeville property live in
luxury and pose as leaders in society
and allow conditions to be created that
roll a stream Of desperate human prob
lens over Miss Andrews that will kill
her in a few years. Yes, kin herr
David Barton spoke with a savage
energy that made John Gordon shutl-
der. But when Barton had been silent
a moment be continued in a calmer
tone to make a proposition to John Cor
Coz, that John was totally unprepared
for.
'lnstead of going into Hope House
why don't you come into the News?
can speak for Harris that he will give
you full swing on the reform page of
your own. You can have it all your
own way. I'll help you with special
stories and pictures that will make the
property owners around Riverside
street squirm. Harris is savage with
the mayor because of last years cam
paign. He'll be glad to get even with
the administration by showing up the
rotten concern. l tell you. John. there's
m earthquake going to rattle the city
hall this winter. and Harris and the
News will be one name for the earth
quake. The old man is just in the
mood for pushing the reform business
in the name Of the people. He will
agree to anything say. The press is
the only real power left in the city any
how. Think Of what you can do for
the people with the News back Of you.
We can make special business of the
esting for some Of the old moneybags
of this God forsaken metropolis. Don't
answer at once. At any rate, give me
time to cough"
David Barton sat down close by John
Gordon and had coughing spell that
lasted few minutes. John Gordon ST.
lently watched him. steadily excited
by the offer just made to him. Could
he accept it? Was it not one Of those
opportunities that men have come to
them but once? What might he not do
for the people If whole page Of a
great, powerful, practically boundless,
!, wealthy paper were at his disposal?
The material he could put before the
public! The conditions he could ex-
pose! The wrongs be could right. The
lives he might save! The possibilities
grew larger every moment he thought
Of it, ? - ..@%.,,s>: - >..:.:, =. r..
David Barton finally ceased cough
ing and spoke again. - ~ s..
! ! = Well, WILL you come into the News?
What do you sayT' - ri : 49,
1 But John Gordon did not answer at