The Mankato free press., 1903-01-23
sect. TER me about Mr.. Marsh"


Sect. Tell me about Mr. Marsh"
"But how many persons are you sup.
porting in Colorado?'
Don't renaembec. Quit It or you
will bring on my cough. 1t always
gets me WREN 'tnconsiderate friends In
sist on talking about it,
So Gordon took up the days expert.
ence with Nfv Marsh while Williams
brought In the coffee and rolls, and Bar.
ton seemed unusually cheerful and fun
ny. When Gordon rose to go, Barton
said:
II thiEk maybe I'll get dcwn to the
ocfce next week. But come up as often
rs you can. old man, won'e you?" !,
Gordon promised, with a choking in
his throat, as he shook hands, and went
OH, carrying with him a memory that
was both sad and inspiring. After he
had gone out David Barton went over
to'the couch and. kueeling down, sobbed
like child. He was gifted man
only forty years old, sand life was very
sweet to him.
The first thing John Gordon did on
reaching Hope House was to confer
with Miss Andrews.
"Do you think Mr.. Marsh will do
anythingT' she asked.
81 think so-1yes." But Gordon's re,
ply was not very strong.
"Yon are in doubt He was deeply
impressed. But, if l mistake not, he is
the kind of man TO delay any move
that means real financial loss. His
horror of the tenement conditions is not
equal TO his dread of ultimate money
loss IL he tears the double decker down
or remodels It."
'I'm afraid-yes," Gordon answered,
with a sigh.
"But Of course" he said after awhile
''you have used your influence with
the board of health and the city Off
cials and all other departments"
YES ,''AAfisSNAndrews answered quieS-
ly.
"But conditions are getting worse,
Why?"
ASK Tommy Randall"
"The political boss?'
"Of course you know he is the rock
ON which most Of our reforms split"
81 have never met him. OF course
you have been to him personality
"Often. He's the most dangerous
man in the city. He is utterly devoid
Of conscience. have never found a
single quality in him to which could
appeal. But, if he would, he could
move the powers that be to right near.
ey every wrong in the ward"
Gordon was on the point OF going on
with the inquiries, for what he had
heard Of Tommy Randall, the boss
surrounded that potent force with a
certain human fascination, but Miss
Andrews was called away, and the
talk was not renewed until they met
again at dinner.
For q week John Gordon continued
his special investigation with Ford, the
university student The work took
him into another block. Coming back
one evening from the district, he passed
by No. 81, and the sight of an unusual
commotion there caused him to stop
and go in. He thought of his little
friend, Louie, and reproached himself
for not having gone to see him or make
inquiries. But the child was only one
of hundreds for whom his heart was
beginning to bleed as the unending ag-
ony Of childhood's tragedy in the tene-
ments was beginning to be unfolded to
him.
To- int hn I,o
staircase and out upon the corridor.
Several women there seemed agitated
by some recent occurrences.
what is it?'' he asked of one of the
women, who was crying into a dirty
apron.
"Louie's dead" she replied and re-
sumed her crying.
John Gordon stepped to the door
leading into Mrs. Caylor's. The moth
er met him there. Her face was hard
and fearless.
'.May go in?" Gordon asked gently.
The,woman made no reply, and Cor
don went on. The rooms were lighted
with candles. Several women were in
the room. A man was standing by a
table on,which was a rough pine coffin,
at which he was looking with disgust
or contempt.
He looked up,as Gordon came in.
-sWho are your was the mans rough
greeting.
"My name is John Gordon Of Hope
IHouser'
The man turned suddenly to one of
the women who stood looking on sub
Take the thing out, point
ing to the coffin, .and tell Abrams to
send up something better or he'll hear
from me-"
And this was John Gordon's introduc-
1tion to Tommy Randall, the political
boss of Hope House district, Ward Is.