The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-16


ance. Three rings and a drove of ele-
plants and a trained automobile don't
describe it."
John Gordon looked mournfully at
the recumbent figure The truth was
very apparent to him. The great eyes
that glowed in the face stamped by
deaths trademark burned like vast
ing fires. 1t was evident that the time
was short now. But after all it came
as a shock to John Gordon. He had
not really been expecting it.
what have you been doing? Amuse
me with it. 1 went down to the office
this morning, but Harris sent me back.
tell you, he's not half bad. And-oh-
there's a matter l want to explain.
Have you seen the evening edition?
No? There's copy on the table.
Don't blame me. l kept the business
out as long as I could. Might never
have got in if / hadn't been off duty.
Miss Andrews used her influence and
actually went to see Harris herself.
She did miracles in keeping matters
out of all the papers for more than a
week. But Harris got word that the
Review was going to run in story,
and 1 suppose he couldn't stand it
so7don't blame me, John. Pm sorry
but I'm not
He sat up so that his knees touched
his chin and began coughing so terri
bly, that John Gordon, on his knees by
the side Of the couch, feared that the
end would come then and there. But
the spell did not last as long as he
feared, and Barton said as soon as he
was able to speak
7 "She's getting out of gasoline or
something. That squirt she made at
7:30 Winded 1er. There! Let me down
again. And give me that stuff in the
bottle. It's no particular good, only it
keeps the cough from thinking Of me
all the time, the stuff's so strong and
bad tasting
Gordon gave him the medicine and
Barton lay back exhausted. After
moment he whispered:
"Read the story if you want to. But,
II you are going to swear or anything
at the close and, want help, ask Will
liams to go out into the ball. Give him
a dollar, and he'll pitch into Harris
and the News as long as you want"
John Gordon picked up the paper and
went over by the table. He seldom
saw the News, and he never read it
His whole refined nature rebelled in
disgust at the monstrosity of yellow
Journalism, but his curiosity was
strong enough to make him read what
Barton seemed so genuinely sorrow for
The headlines were bold and obtru
lsive:
pudiates His Son. Miss Marsh Refuses
| to Talk Does Not Deny Interview
| With Her Former Lover. John Gordon
| to Make a Special Study of Tenement
| House Conditions In Bowen Street"
The whole STORY occupied two col
umns, and directly under the headlines
| which covered two columns in width
+! were two cuts, one of John Gordon and
| the other of Luella Marsh. The title
under these cuts read, Cupid Balks al
Social Sacrifice"
| John Gordon read the headlines ant
| glared at the pictures. Then III
crushed the paper between his hands
and flung it on the floor.
"Ring the bell for Williams. John.
think he's in the pantry. You need hi
help to do it justice. Sorry l don't fee
able to chip in with YOU"
For a moment John Gordon stoot
still by the table; then he came owe
and sat down by his friend.
81 don't care for myself, but Luella
David, it's a horrible invasion of al
one's sacred private affairs. hay
never understood how you could beliey
In that sort of journalism"
| David Barton looked lovingly at job
] Gordon. His cynical whimsical. reck