davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
Buffum's "reminiscences
The Two Ballot Boxes.

munitions of war, and entered the private
ONCE, there sat the Senator at his desk,
his chin in his hands and despair on his
brow.
A shriveIled shrimp of a man. cold bIooded,
INSCRIPTIONS, selfish, l couldn't help feel
ing sorry for him; for on the desk in front
OF him, like the image Of a shrine, stood
the picture Of Geraldine Schrigley.
Then 1 remembered. The morning paper
had contained this item: The engagement
is announced Of Miss Geraldine Schrigley,
daughter OF the late Gov. Schrigley, to the
Hon. Peter MerrifieId, former United States
Senator who is putting up so valiant a
fight for .he vindication Of q return. None
but the brave deserve the fair.''
It is hard to define the love OF such a man
as Cabanise. i think that acquisition
and vanity inspire a large part Of It. I think
that advancing years keep a sort Of desper-
ate cling TO it. But the hatred that burns
when this love, whatever il is, is denied
and fouted is simpler, moro elementary,
Since Geraldine Schrigley had rejected
him, Mr.. Cabaniss must rave been hoping
against hope, and yet, Notwithstanding,
he had tried to rob her OF her name and
fortune. Now, that hope was dead; she
had pledged herself to his rival and foe.
What did he care for primaries, for political
triumph, when every shred OF his being was
tingling and straining for revenga2
Don't bother me-" he said surlily, with
repellant gesture and not looking up.
Even then, as l hesitated. the telephone
rang on our private line, restricted to the
use Of the Senators, Its number only known
to the most intimate OF their intimates.
l took down the receiver. A woman's voice
was asking for Mr.. Cabaniss-a familiar
voice.
TITS a lady, SIR I explained. 'she
wants you"
"a LADY," he exclaimed. mo. Can it be-
She is the only one that knows" And
he wal up and at the transmitter Ike q pallid
flame.
Geraldine" he called, -this surely isn't
you, on this day Of all days3'
l could almost read the soft, hooking,
m~ischievous answer in the change and glow
Of the Senator's face.
But the paper, the announcement he
protested.
More serious now he grew as he listened
Could It be that the girl was contending thai
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

touched his heart. The boy was guilty,
there was no doubt about that, but he was
his mothers only help, and even the mini
mum Jail sentence would bring misery
to the woman.
The boys sentence was suspended, on
condition that he make a personal report
to the Judge every day. The Judge had
the satisfaction of seeing the boy brace up
and become a useful member OF society.
This experience convinced Judge Lindsey
that the courts we're wrong in their methods
of dealing with Juvenile offenders. He
looked into conditions at the jails and the
Golden reformatory,. and was Mortified
at what he found.
He protested against children being
thrown in with older offenders at the jails,
and he probed conditions at Golden with
such good effect that reforms we're speedily
effected there. Then he began an agitation
for a children's court, where tthe cases Of
juvenile offenders could be considered apart
from other cases.
He succeeded, and every Saturday was
set apart as juvenile court day. From
this beginning sprang a series OF reforms
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

Primary elections at Tobula; and it was
ND to Senator Hector Cabaniss to show his
political sagacity and cunning.
Since the burning Of the Leaf building,
my Senator, Mr.. Savage, had sulked in his
discontent, sick from suffocation and morti-
it would DO hard to say which
choked him the more. The only interest he
would take in the local fight was to turn me
over to the commands Of his colleague.
Like many another new State. Sequoia
wa radical in her election laws. Primaries
were surrounded by legal restrictions;
direct nominations were made through
them and without the Intervention Of a
convention.
But-that all important; ever present
qualification to any reform-the politicians
had had a finger in the political pie, a finger
on which one Of Hector Cabaniss's dainty
gloves would snugly fit. A dodger had
been slipped into the primary law providing
that the Tobula primaries should be held a
week in advance Of the others, this in defer
ence TO the political adage 'As goes Tobula,
60 goes Sequoa.'
Hence, II our faction could nominate the
thirteen Tobula Assemblymen, there was
A~reasonable chance that IL might dominate
the StateS through the force OF example
and despite the advantage that had come
TO Mr.. Merrifeld's side by the destruction
Of the Leaf plant. No wonder, then, that
Hector Cabaniss should be up and doing
ON primary day.
No tyro at political thrust and hnesse
wa tho junior Senator from Sequoia. Head
o. the great Transmontane railway system
centring at Tobula, the wires from his
cfloe for years had led into every section,
ward, precinct, den and dive OF the town,
only-the homes remained unconneOted.
But this year It was different. There
was disafEection among the boys. The
Third ward gang under Big Tom Merton
had openly declared for Merrifeld.
There were rumorst that some OF our most
trusted henchmen had been tempered with.
that for once the dJvil was being fought
With fire instead OF with holy water. AL
the more incentive, then. for Hector Cabaniss
70 bold his own, wen against his own.
And yet that morning when / hurried
through the front rooms Of our head
quarters at the Ladevan House, where
tough and plug ugly were besieging their
prototype, Jack Bliven, for instructions and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

pompously, though I could see that he
was striving to hide agitation. Il asked
for a report, not an abstract"
Il arrived there, sir, about 0 o'clock,
l began, standing and speaking with mill
tary precision. Through various delays
the counting had not yet begun; but the
judges, watchers. tallymen with their
books, clerks, were all seated aroun the
table in the centre OF which the ballot box
was placed-a square box, sir, we'll made,
Of polished wood. bound with brass
"Yes, yes; 1 know. The official box, OF
course, furnished by the State and made
exclusively for it. Go ahead, avoiding such
digressions
Il had hardly introduced myself, had
hardly been received oourteously, before
there was q rush on the narrow winding
stairs leading from the street. the door
burst open and In dashed three or four
men; / think there were others blocking
the passageway. In these dashed, any way.
their faces covered with white masks and
leveIled revolvers in their hands.
Throw up you arms and stand as
y'are for ten minutes cried a voice, or
we'll shoot up the hull damned j'int.'
JuSJ LuOu OuJ WCnk Tic tLoCtT1C n8ug1s
well, well, what did you do2'
what the others did, I guess. When the
lights flashed up in about ten minutes the
intruders were gone, and we were all stand
ing. each in his place, with hands in air.
There had been no need Of shooting up the
tint, sir"
and the books, the lists, the ballot box7'
THE records were all gone, sir; but there
stood the box"
"Of course. There wasn't time to tamper
with that; It couldn't be duplicated, for
only the precise number needed was furn-
ished by the contractor. 1 don't see that
anything was gained by the Outrage: il
must have been more OF a drunken frolic.'
That's just what was generally agreed,
sir, after quite a discussion. Then the ques-
ton rose, what should be done2 They finally
left IL to Phil Grange-MerriReld's private
secretary, you know, there in Merriaeld's
interests-and me.
Il had quite a time with Phil, sir; but at
length l had my way, or rather your way
We all entered INTO q stipulation that the
canvass when made should be certified and
accepted. Then the count began, and pro-
ceeded peacefully and without interruption
until il was completed"
'Goodl You did just right; IL couldn't be
betterl The result, man, the result2"
Here it is, sir, on this slip. Total votes
cast, $50. OF which the Mortified ticke,
received 49s; our ticket received 81"
He'll"
That's just what our people said. sir
You saw anything equal to the de.
light Of the Merriield men. They had
calculated N not more than $50 at the out.
side. It gives them the city, I hear:
' sOhI' a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

them as if he had been robbed Of his own.
-BufIum, / a you to drive in a closed
cab to the rear OF S~ohrigley's house said
Mr.. Cabaniss sharply on my return to his
desk. Through the alley, you know.
Don't let anvOn recognize you. You
will receive there a package; be sure that
It is well wrapped. Then drive with the
same caution to Jack Bliven's place; he
has a back entrance, and deliver 1t to him.
He'll be home by hat time.
Remember, this is most secret and i'm
p~ortant. You are but little known in town;
there should be no difficulty in avoiding sus-
picion. But put some life in you, mani
You look as II bound to a funeral"
Il fear hat / am, sir
when you learn what you are going to
receive at Schrigley's you won't be so
sceptical."
The Greeks also gave gifts sir
But he wouldn't listen, waving me of
| with an imperious gesture, and summoning
Bliven in my stead.
As 1 passed the fellow at the threshold he
gave me one Of his looks, i~nscrutably
malignant and eIate. He never did like me
any more than I ever did trust him.
Hurry along, arrand boy he sneered,
while your betters use their wits
l did hurry along, though dubious OF mind;
taking a circuitous course to the station
with the thought that l might there get a
cab unnoticed.
As l passed through the waiting room /
caught a side glimpse of an elderly woman
bending over a stack Of luggage az il waiting
for some one. Surely it couldn't be Miss
Skeed? l looked again; only to find that in
the interval OF my thought she had retired
behind an impenetrable green veil. So
proceeded, unsatisfed, dissatisfied.
At the rear garden gate TO the Governors
house a boy in buttons was standing.
He handed me. without a word, a large,
square package.
Give my compliments, Mr.. Bufum'G
compliments, to Miss Skeed," l said as he
turned away.
4 will-when 1 see her. he retorted
g~rinning over his shoulder.
The package was wrapped in thick
brown paper; but one sharp angle had
forced it's way through. As I bound the
paper over the break I caught a CLEAN
OF polished wood and brass. Evidently
was conveying a box Of some sort. But
what sort and why only added to the muddle
Of problems in my mind.
Jack Bliven gave me an evil grin wher
I delivered over my charge to him.
Wouldn't you like to know" he sale
tauntingly.
"Yes, but l would rather know why Bis
Tom Merton, Merrifeld's head devil anC
your personal enemy, let you tell IL, Is com.
ing here 1 replied spiritedly.
Tkn ,ra-1aokAl 1a,nNo- .krn- NIL
turned and looked down the hallway Il
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

I stopped aghast at such a thrilling cry
OF woe. Senate Cabaniss, his chin in
his hands, again gazed despairingly at thet
picture Of Geraldine Schrigley on the desk
before him.
II thought from his voice, sir, that the
man who was going 20 shoot up the lint
was Jack B~liven," I suggested, as a merci-i
full diversion. ,
Jack sold us out he replied in dull;
hollow tones. HE and Big Tom Merton
must have stuffed the sample box youl
brought them with Merriheld ballots. That
isn't It; don you see, Tor o see? We
couldn't have got the box, we wouldn'ti
ave thought Of the scheme, we woul have
worked our game in the old bullying way,I
successful a hundred times before, II it
hadn't been for her. My Godi l can't
stand i'll"
He whipped out something that flashed
from a side drawer Of his desk. Livid
faced, staring eyed, without hat or coaty
he tore out OF the office.
1 followed as best l could, guided by in
tuition-for his fight was so precipitate that
l could not keep him in sight fairly praying
for his sake, for her sake. that my sus-
picions OF the morning were correct, and
that Geraldine Schrigley, having shot her
Parthian shaft, had left the city. :
Did l blame her? It least she had been
true TO her impetuous nature. ,
She loved Merriheld intensely. She had
suffered modification and shame from the
oowardly Vaccinations Of his deadly foe.
who himself had vowed he owe her. Why
shouldn't she play the Delilah. then, when
neither honor nor memory had restrained
him7 Why shouldn't she Join In fighting
the devil with fire, since holy water had
been 80 ineffective7
But he, Senator Cabaniss3 How could a
man OF his years, experience, facultiesIl
have been so beguiled1 Even as I fastened
the answer came from a thousand instances
l had Witnessed during my service at WAsh-
ington. 'Vanity maketh the judgmenal
blind ,
The Governors house was dark; with
shutters closed and main entrance boar4Dd1
but at the side door the boy In buteonA
was looking up and down the street with
scared face.
Il told him they'd gone.' he faltersd
"but that she left somethin' for him ON the
lib'ry table. He looked 50 queer, hs ran
so fast-I heerd a noise Jest now-I'm dead
skeered, that l am"
l hurried into the library. The drop
light was burning dimly. On the desk
lay a torn envelope AID scraps Of paper.
l fitted together some OF these bits. The
writing was In Geraldine Schrigley's hand,
Imade out, There is no fool like an Old
1 turned abruptly at q CLEAN, a glimmeri
from the further side Of the room.
The gleam came from a revolver In Hec-
tor Cabaniss's stifened grasp. The CLINE
mer came from the whiteness Of Hsctoel
CnbRnias'a dead fAca. 4
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
JUDGE LINDSEY AND HIS BOYS

tics. In consideration Of his work an Office
was given to him and 1t happened TO be
q short torn District Judgeship. Lindsey
wanted to be District Attorney, but that
office was promised to q Democratic worker
with more influence, ~ the young man
had to be content with the lesssr Office
One day when in the routine Of court
work he had sentenced a boy TO jail for
stealing, the lads mother created q scene
in the court room. Her shrieaJs startled the
Judge. After court had adjourned he ques-
toned he boy ard the mother.
He found a condition OF affairs that
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
SEEING BY ELECTRICITY.
Two Separate Assertions That the Preblens
Has Been solved.

Has Seen SOtVe0.
Almost simultaneously from two different
places in the United States the invention
Of a device for seeing at a distance by cleo
trical means is announced by two dinerens
inventors.
Somewhat strange TO say, the name
adopted by each inventor for his device 10
"Televue.' The names Of the two in
ventors are given in Casters MdgdsiRe as
j. B. Fowler and william H. Thompson
A description Of Mr.. Fowler's device In
one Of the electrical papers showsa woman
speaking into a telephone transmitter, while
at the sideof the transmitter is a projection
akin to that of a ham stereoscope. The
dea is that the apparition OF the person ae'
the distant end of the wire will be seem
within this projection.
It is said that four wires are at preseno
required to accomplish the speaking and
seeing, but that eventually two wires only
will be necessary. 1t is also said hat natural
colors are reproduced in the apparatus.
Complete details OF the operation OF TINS
interesting apparatus are withheld, It IS
said, for certain reasons connected with
Patent Office matters. In the meantimeS'
however, it in reported that a company
has been organized to push the schemeI
and stock in the company will be offered
to the public.
Mr.. Thompson does not appear to have
progressed so far with his invention as
Mr.. Fowler, but it is stated on Mr.. Thomp-
sons behalf that his device will be an inn
provement on the other one.
In the absence Of details 10 IL obvious
that no opinion can be expressed as TO the
value OF the claims of those gentlemen: le
Ia we'll established that the problem which
they lave set out to solve is not an easy
one. Attempts have been mad to solve it
by men well equipped for the purpose, bus
thus far without success.
Not long ago NJ. A. Nisco OF Belgium
made a careful study OF many OF the methods
that nave beer proposed for seeing at a
distance electrically, and concluded that
none of the devices thus far Experimental
with possesses the necessary requirements
for successful operation.
In the majority OF the methods for trans-l
hitting sight 70 a distance h a property
of seIenium by which its electrical resistance
varies with the intensity of the light thrown
upon il has been employed, but this use OF
the substance has not hitherto met the
expectations of inventors.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

civilized countries. 1t is, asserted by his
admirers that he has evolved a method
Of dealing with juvenile offenders which
promises to reduce crime and confer great
benefits on humanity.
Lindsey's methods OF dealing with boys
directly and giving them another chance
are now being tried with good results in
juvenile courts all over the world. Interest
in juvenile offenders has been awakened
and Judges nave realized the individuality
Of sending children to jails in company
with older offenders.
Systems Of supervision and parole have
been established; bun above all things Judge
Lindsey's plan of heart to heart talks has
resulted in saving thousands Of boys who
would otherwise have gone straight to a
career Of crime, all through being mis-
understood.
Judge Lindsey began his work for the
children by accident. He spent his boy
hood in Denver and belonged to several
RanRs, Just as do most OF the young offenders
called before him for punishment.
He studied law in the Office of a Denver
attorney and became interested in poll
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

she had acted a part for his sake; gaining
Merriheld's confidence only TO betray II?
While there was doubt, there was rapture
on his face, as reason, "a emotion, pre-
vailed.
MY lesson has been too bitter, he sighed.
Il cannot dare to hope, believe. Unjust have
a sign.'
Again the Senator listened oven more
intently, as the telephone buzzed on and on
with Increasing emphasis.
1T may be So at length he replied re-
~luctantly. -Merriield may count on having
the Chief Justice set aside the election on
the ground Of intimidation and violence.
But what else is there for ustodo? You say
yourself that the canvass shows It is nip
and tuck on a square vote
Again explanations, arguments, sugges-
tions; weighed by the Senator's judgment,
but weighted by the Senator's hope.
Depends on the Thirteenth precinct
hey2" he repeated. Very likely it does.
but our tally gives MerriGeld q little adj
vantage there"
sListenl- l could fairly hear the com
mand; even as I could read its s~ubjugating
effects in the Senator'S face. Indeed, he
listened, until suspicion faded, doubt van
ished, and pride and exultation reigned
supreme.
-Glorious!" cried Hector Cabaniss. "A
daring scheme; a darling schemei I re-
member now that samples we're submitted
TO the commission Of which the Governor
was chairman. You are sure it is the same
III send for it. then. by our man, Buffum
Oh, Geraldine, you have raised me from
hell into heaven. And tonight, after VIC.
tory has been won, may / not
Again there was a murmur, hooking
mischievous, enhancing. IL ceased, anc
Senator Cabaniss, hanging up the receiver
strobe out into the front rooms, walking
on air like a god.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

DENVER, Col. Oct, 2Z-The most pic-
tIrssque figure in the " for Governor
in COLORADO il Judge Ben B. Lindsey, famous
ga the originator and head Of the Children's
court in Denver. He is rinning Go an in
dependent, being opposed to the machines
Of both political parties.
He is widely popular in Denver, where
hA ia callo1 -Cnr Little Bon" His personal
ar.unRth in Colorado politics is such thEs
3. the last eleC ion he was put on evcsy
ticket for County Judge. His juvenile court
work has made him "A power.
II has, indeed, made him known in most
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

The plug uglies and bullies rose defer
entially, and then crowded forward avidly.
1T won't do to-day, boys said the
Senator In his short, snappy way. THE
best men in town lave volunteered as
watchers. Merrifeld hopes to throw out
the downtown districts on the ground Of
intimidation and violence. Get out our
full vote, mind, but not n vote more.
It's all right, I tell you; you know me-.
Here, Bliven, hand out the usual
He turned back into his Office without a
glance.
As l fingered In the doorway l saw
6liven distribute stacks Of crisp bills with
the regularity and routine Of a factory
payday. l heard the henchmen as each
thrust his bundle into his pocket whisper,
with relaxed features, as they shuffled
away, that the old man had the joker up
his sleeve, sure. l saw disappointment
and rage continue on but one face, the
face Of Jack Bliven, who soowled after
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

where, surely enough. the redoubtable Tom
was entering from the street; and l could
see his eyelids CULVER and his lips blanch.
Then he slammed the door. in my face.
I dismissed the cab, and walked back to
the hotel, heavy with meditation.
Suppose Geraldine Schrigley had left
tow with her aunt, Miss Skeed, after
taking a parting and Parthian shot at h5
former lover1 Wasn't this more. akin to
her proud, vehement, unforgiving nature
than the belated fondness she had ex-
hibited?
Suppose amity, and not accident. ac-
counted for Big Toms visit to Bliven's
saloon? Wasn't this more in keeping with
rlmors OF double dealing and with Bliven's
chagrin at not retaining possession Of the
campaign fund than with fidelity OF mer-
cenaries Of their stamp7
And il these suppositions were correct,
might there not be some connection be-
tween the two treacheries in which 1,
myself, had acted as intermediary?
Il don't like the looks Of things, Senator
Cabaniss," / said when l had reported the
performance of my mission.
The Senator looked up i'll pleased.
IF it's about Merton, you needn't go any
further he snapped. -Bliven just ex-
planned his presence satisfactorily over the
telephone"
GBut-'
Il haven't any time to waste with con-
lectures, Bufium, and you ought to know
your place too well to indulge your evident
fancy for them. What is the first duty Of
a private soldier? You are nothing more
or less in this contest"
TO obey orders, sir
very well; you can't err i~gnorantly,
then, in what 1 want you to do. 1 want
you to 90 to the Thirteenth precinct polling
| place this evening, and attend the canvass
| Say that you are present as the personal
representative OF Senator Savage and
myself. No matter what happens there,
and / have reason to believe something
unusual will happen, l want you as our
representative to consent, yes, to insist,
that the votes in the ballot box be counted
and certified as correct. Do you under
stand1 Then go, and don't come back
until you bring with 20 u the authorized
authenticated poll
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28

c,anuhar plchles. I do not know whldh
ind ID food / tackled first, but ] have .
very vivid memory Of thoee pichiee p
felt as n tho person who had nlled the
no LunchSOns for Sunday school picniCs,
and wondered why the napkins had Q
omitted.
sAs for the hedgehog which I had Dap
tured with 40 much difficulty regret 70
mony,' ,f
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-28
III.

II was late that night when I returned to
headquarters. \ The front rooms were
vacant. Senator Cabaniss sat alone in
his private Office. On his desk lay a detail
Of tho vote throughout the city, complete
except for the Thirteenth precinct.
He looked up eagerly, feverishiy.
you are back in the nick OF time he
muttered. by Jove, she was right in
saying it would be nip and tuck. Well,
what have you to report7'
Summarized, or in full, sirP'
In full; from egg TO apples, be answered.