The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-06

- 81 Miss AndTe,cs plucedher
u ~ fingers on his Grra-
= Y \ IHATEVER else Tom
I my Randall lacked,
3 a : he did not lack the
+ - Sz most absolute conf
s==-- dence in his position
as boss Of Ward is. AS he came up
to the little group Of which Miss An
drews was the central figure not even
her thorough knowledge of the mans
peculiarly insidious hold on the situa-
ton was sufficient to give her real In
sight into the motive which prompted
him to face her and John Gordon at q
moment when he knew their indigna-
ton against him was at its highest.
He took OF his hat as he bowed.
''How do, Miss Andrews? I've got
some good news for you, and thought
maybe you wouldn't object to my
bringing it. Lots II, 10 aid 21 back
Of the settlement have charged hands
since the fire. Maybe yoc didn't know
it, but I've had my eye OF those lots
for some time. Now, don't mind tell
ing you that I admire your pluck.
You've been doing good here, and I
want to help in G small way. So I've
decided to give the settlement those
lots. I understand you've been want
ing more room to build on q new hall.
This viii give you chance
He stopped very suddenly and his
shifty gray eyes, still fastened on Miss
Andrews, had look Of such malignant
satisfaction in them that John Gordon
wanted to strike him across the mouth.
He did not do that, but he did say, as
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.
cam talking to you? Ny offer was
made to the head Of the house. If you
are authorized
ssMiss Andrews is not going to enter
into any conversation with you" Cor
don spoke with q 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 dwarfe6 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 tor 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 he'll of misery and
with supreme anger against the man
who got his living out Of it.
"Oh, Mr.. Gordon 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
well how lots II, 19 and 81 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 is had
been ruler so long, he had grown so &C
customed to regard the methods by
which he eXtorted revenue from his
subjects as legitimate part Of the ex-
listing political system, that Gordon's
almost brutally frank denunciation
caused him only feeling of contempt.
Just as you say" he answered cool
II 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 deliberate sugges-
tiyeness 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
Iook at my plans The suggestion
was so profoundly insolent that no one
said a word Tommy Randall unrolieo
the blue print and spread it out before
them. With the same degree Of faS.
cination 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 Luel!a, 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 be
and Gordon had been standing wheL
Miss Andrews and her visitors came
out, is my first building. It's 4 moae
tenement. Gve stories, brick With terra
Gotta front, all modern Improvements
Over here Oh this corner is to be sa
| loon and vaudeville. Back here a-the