The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-06-18
1.-The Least
OF These"
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press

AHCh Ahht bhG vas u1tudhe AuS
prison yard. 1t was her first visit to a
penitentiary, and. though she found 1t
not half so forbidding as she had an
ticipated, the atmosphere sent chill
through her whole girlish figure
Instead of rock piles. with conyicts
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 a
municipal park or on a million dollar
estate.
When she reached the office her bas-
ket of delicacies was consigned with
/ delectation of other conylcts, but the
keeper looked curiously from the tag
on her basket to Betty's face
NO 11,S06 hasn't had a visitor since
he came here five weeks ago." COM
mented the man significantly. "Are
! you a relativeT
NO" said the girl simply. HE was
| just good to me when l 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 sign to trusty,
and with fast beating heart Betty fol-
lowed the man in the direction Of the
great gray building, In one wing or
which was located the hospital.
Moreton, ex-boss of the -th district,
l. 81 trvI1f Of
Bessie Vynne 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-
qulred 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 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 revlvalst. "1n
the interest of good government" they
had explained, but the whole city
knew that 1t was ruse to rid the dis
trict of its dominating boss. 1t 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 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
filched from the city, much of which
he had spent on the care of those who
needed it more desperately than the
taxpayers from whom he had filched 1t
so remorselessly. In reality the boss
when the blow fell could have counted
his fortune only in thousands when
his enemies ran 1t 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, Stclc-
ally he had accepted his sentence Of
ally he had accepted his dssertion by
those who had fawnsd upon him in
prosperity and power. A child Of the
streets who had started carrying the
water bucket for the marching club,
he had become ward heller, lieu
tenant and finally the boss without the
aid of family ties or family influence.
Stoically he had accepted the decision
Of the hospital STAFF. He had an incur
able disease. He probably would not
live out his sentence
Yet at sight of Betty Vynne's face
his stoicism vanished, and after the
radiant smile of welcome came a ten
derness almost pathetic.
what are you doing here, child?" he
asked as he stroked the hand that
clasped his. "Sing Sings q good way
for a girl to come who's only making
her eight a week"
Tho girl laughed. but her voice was
shaky.
Gust listen to the man! And I'm get
ting ten-right in this town. | read In
the Experimentation your being so
lonesome The man smiled grimy.
So the papers were commenting on the
fact that he was n deserted as well as
deposed leader of men. And ! saw
the ad Of lawyer up here who want
ed stenographer, and I came and
got the place. like 1t much better
here than in town. And | can come
to see you once a week"
Moreton, deposed boss, leaned over
and looked into her face.
"You-come-up-here-to be near
ne?"
The girl nodded her head
"And I've got the incest boarding
place with a widow. and you ought to
see her flower beds
Just then physician In white uni
form came toward them.
"You can stay only five minutes" he
said without waiting for the formality