Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-02-04

he stepped In front of Miss Andrews,
directly between her and Randall:
"When we want 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 l talking to you? My 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 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
resentative 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 no 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 hell of misery and
with supreme anger against the man
who got his living out Of it.
"Oh, Mr.. Gordonw Miss Andrews
spoke almost timidly. Luella, watch
ing every tone and gesture, noted her
apparent willingness to let John Cor
don have his way. And indeed, with
the exception of those three words ad-
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
we'll how lots II, 10 and 21 changed
hands. We do not care to be receivers
of stolen goods"
He said the words looking straight
into Tommy Randall's face. Tommy
Randall knew as he tried to return the
look that here was one man who was
not afraid Of him, come what might.
Nevertheless the boss Of Ward 18 had
been ruler 80 long, he had grown so ac-
customed to regard the methods by
which he extorted revenue from his
subjects as legitimate part Of the ex-
listing political system, that Gordcn's
almost brutally 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. I know
plenty Of men who will buy them. I
suppose. seeing you are so particular
about the lots, you will be overparticu-
lar about who gets them"
He said it with a deliberate sugges-
tiveness so full Of possible evil that
Gordon was again tempted to knock
him down. Nothing but the knowl-
edge of Miss Andrews presence pre-.
vented him. Tommy Randall felt his
own power and went step further.
perhaps you would be interested to
Sok at my plans" The suggestion
was so profoundly insolent that no one
said a word. Tommy Randall unrolled
the blue print and spread it out before
them. With the same degree Of fas-
eination that they might have felt In
looking at battlefield during the
slaughter John Gordon and Grace An
drews followed the grimy hand Of the
boss as he described his plan. Mrs.
Penrose, Archie and Luella looked on
as interested spectators, but to them.
especially to Luella, the main interest
of the occasion lay not in the dirty
blue print. but in the expression and
attitude Of the settlement workers.
Here" said Tommy, indicating with
a much soiled thumb the spot where he
and Gordon had been standing when
Miss Andrews and her visitors came
out, sis my first building. 1t Is model
tenement, five stories, brick with terra
Gotta front, all modern improvements.
Over here on this corner Is to be sa-
loon and vaudeville. Back here a-the
workingmen need recreation. No one
understands that so well as you do,
Miss Andrews. Two blocks west is
another tenement. Apartments in these
tenements. by the way, are already all
spoken for. Corner lot II, northeast,
over here. is to be occupied by another
saloon and vaudeville. Give the people
plenty Of amusement. Another tene-
ment over here; same style and size as
first one. Over there"-he shifted the
blue print a little and brought the GEN.
ter of the drawing into palmer view
"is going to be q hall which will be
used us headquarters for the ward
workers. office. restaurant, etc. We
need some accommodation of that sort.
Down here, southwest corner district,
another tenement, and Avitzen puts up
his saloon here on this corner. Then
over here another tenement. same size,
same style. These tenements will re-
lieve the congestion now found around
Bowen street. | have in contemplation
three. four, five, six. possibly seven.
Ground will be broke for the first one
over there"-he pointed to the block
from which he had come-"tomorrow
l am planning to get everything in
closed before winter. Pretty good plan,
eh:"
Miss Andrews blue eyes gazed at
him with their profound look Of un-
measured sadness. So might an un-
sullied angel Of light have looked upon
one who had denied his fellowship
with the shining hosts Of heaven.
But John Gordon had no history Of
past defeats and long accumulated
u.1.onnc 70 l,aon hin, cilont Nlco this