The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-12
''TheLedSt
OF These
pvIIJI-U Johnson.
Bv LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.

Betty SQuuueleu elS 'ue uSofJ iioA
cafes changed behind her and she real
izod that she was actually within the
,rison ward. 1t was her first visit to q
nonitentiary, and, though she found il
not half so forbidding as she had an
+icinoted, the atmosphere sent a chill
+hroush her whole girlish figure.
instead of rock piles, with convicts
,oonotonously breaking the stone, here
wore flower bordered walks and
srords of softest green. But for the
bicb walls and the barred windows she
r,,ioht we'll have imagined herself in a
municipal park or on million dollar
estate.
When she reached the Office her bas-
LOT of delicacies was consigned with
othprs brought by loyal friends for the
dalnctation Of other convicts, but the
boomer looked curiously from the tag
IN her basket to Betty's face.
"No. 11,s06 hasn't had a visitor since
bo came here five weeks ago." COM
monted the man significantly. care
YOU a relative?
"1o" said the girl simply. "He was
inst good to me when needed help"
"He was good to lots Of folks"
orunted the warden, "but somehow
thav seem to have forgotten 1t. He's
in the hospital"
The warden made sign to a 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 til district,
was propped up in bed, and at sight 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 it had re-
ouired 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 revivalist. "1n
the interest Of good government" they
had explained, but the whole city
knew that it was a ruse to rid the dis
trict of it's 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 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
filched from the city, much of which
he had spent on the care of those who
needed it more desperately than the
10 Io ho1 f1ohn1 II
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. Stole
ally he had accepted his sentence Of
five years in the penitentiary. Stole
ally he had accepted his desertion by
those who had fawned 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 heeler, a lieu
tenant and finally the boss without the
AID OF family ties or family influence.
stolcally 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
us stoicism vanished, and after the
radiant smile of welcome came a ten
derness almost pathetic.
"nat are you doing here, child?" he
asked as he stroked the hand that
s1asped his. "Sing Sings a good way
iof girl to come who's only making
her eight week"
Ihe girl laughed, but her voice was
shaky.
just listen to the man! And I'm get
ung ten-right in this town. I read in
Tue paper-about-about your being Sc
tonesome"- The man smiled grimly.
~ tne papers were commenting on the
t"ct that he was deserted as we'll as
ueposed leader Of men. "And l saw
sle ad' OF lawyer up here who want
GU stenographer, and I came and
soC the place. 1 like it much better
4eie tnan in town. And I can come
10 see you once a week."
Moreton, deposed boss, leaned over
anu looked into her face.
aou-come-up-here-to be neal
ane girl nodded her head.
an, ana I've got the incest boarding
s,a'e soa with widow, and you ought tc
see her flower beds"-