Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-06-10
'The Least
 Of These By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
 Literary Press.

not half so forbidding as she had an ticipated, the atmosphere sent chill through her whole girlish figure.
 Instead of rock piles, with convicts monotonously breaking the stone, here were flower bordered walks and swards of softest green. But for the high walls and the barred windows she might well have imagined herself in municipal park or on million dollar estate.
 When she reached the office her bas- ket of delicacies was consigned with others brought by loyal friends for the delectation of other convicts, but the keeper looked curiously from the tag on her basket to Betty's face.
 ''No. 11,s06 hasn't had visitor since he came here five weeks ago." com mented the man significantly. Are you relative?"
 ''No," said the girl simply. He was just good to me when I needed help"
 He was good to lots of folks" :" grunted the warden, but somehow they seem to have forgotten it. He's in the hospital"
 The warden made a sign to trusty, and with fast beating heart Betty fol- lowed the man in the direction of the great gray building, in one wing of which was located the hospital.
 Moreton, ex-boss of the -th district, was propped up in bed, and at sight of Bessie yynne he smiled radiantly.
 Five weeks he had lain there fighting grimly for the life that he had begun to think was hardly worth the saving, for Moreton had indeed been through the valley of political humiliation. Less than two years before 1t had re- quired two husky men to guard the door of his headquarters and keep back the crowd of importunate callers who wanted financial help, influential word or perhaps just the chance to fawn upon the powerful political leader.
 Moreton had been the boss of his district, ruling with a rod of iron. He had controlled the machine through sheer force of will power.
 His enemies both without and with in the party had fought doggedly to break his sway. but the boss had gritted his teeth the harder at each fresh attack and beaten the malcon- tents into submission.
 But there had come an end to his rule, as to almost all one man control. The opposing party had secured the services of a political revivalist. Tn the interest of good government" they had explained. but the whole city knew that it was a .ruse to rid the dis trict of its dominating boss. It meant turning the district over to another clique as bad, but less experienced in municipal villainy.
 And the political world had sat back and watched the warfare with grim smiles. Perhaps, after all, the boss would win again. But in this they were wrong By a mere quip of fate the wheel spun the other way.
 The boss lost, and after loss of power came scandals and lawsuits. The lat ter took most of the fortune he had flched from the city, much of which he had spent on the care of those who needed 1t more desperately than the taxpayers from whom he had filched it So remorselessly. In reality the boss when the blow fell could have counted his fortune only in thousands when his enemies ran it up to tens of thou sands.
 When he left the civil court room al. most penniless he found himself face to face with criminal charges. Stcic. ally he had accepted his sentence of five years in the penitentiary. Stoic. ally he had accepted his desertion by those who had fawned upon him ir prosperity and power. A child of the streets who had started carrying the water bucket for the marching club he had become a ward heeler. a lieu tenant and finally the boss without the aid of fnmily ties or family influence Stoically he had accepted the decision of the hospital staff. He had an incur able disease. He probably would mol live out his sentence.
 Yet at sight of Betty Vynne's face his stoicism vanished. and after th' radiant smile of welcome came a ten derness almost pathetic.
 ''what are you doing here, childE" h' asked as he stroked the hand tha clasped Bis. sing Sings a good wa! for a girl to come who's only making her eight a week.
 The girl laughed. but her voice wa shaky.
 Just listen to the man. And I'm get ting ten-right in this town. I read fl the paper-about-abOu your being s' lonesome"- The man smiled grimiy So the papers were commenting on thu fact that be was a deserted as well al deposed leader of men. And I saw the ad. of a lawyer up here who want cd a stenographer. and came ana got fhs place. like 1t much bettel here than in town And I can com' to see you once a week"
 Moreto1. deposed boss, leaned ovei and looked into her face.
 You-cOme-up-here-to be nea meT
 The giri nodded her head
 -And I've got the incest boardi1. place with a widow. and yOu ought [, see her flower besls~-
 Just then a physician in white uni toru came toward them.
 ~Tou can stas only i've minutes" h' fsid uith05t waiting for the foTmaIitJ sf aa i1trutucUon- T cannot have n.