The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-25
THE EVENING STORY
"The Least Of 1hese. .
by Lulu johnson. j


Betty shuddered as the heavy iron
gates changed behind her, and she
realized that she was actually within
the prison yard. 1t was her hrst visit
70 penitentiary, and though she
round 1t not half so forbidding as she
nad anticipated, the atmosphere sent
q chill through her whole girlish fig
Instead of rock piles, with convicts
monotonously breaking the stone.
mere were hower-bordered walks and
sWards OF softest green. But for
the high walls and the barred win
dows, she might well have imagined
million dollar estate.
When she reached the office her
basket OF delicacies was consigned
with others brought by loyal friends
Tor the delectation of other convicts,
but the keeper looked curiously from
the tag on her basket to Betty's face.
NO. 1896 hasn't had visitor
since he came here I'VE weeks ago."
commented 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
/
ty. and with fast beating heart Betty
followed the man in the direction OF
the great gray building, in one wing
| OF which vas located the hospital.
Moreton, ex-boss Of the TIL dis
trict. was propped up in bed. and at
| sight of Betty vynne he smiled re-
dainty,
Five weeks he had lain there fight
ing grimly for the life that he had be-
gun to think was hardly worth the
saving. For Moret6n had. indeed.
been through the valley of political
humiliation. Less than two years be-
fore it had required two husky men
| to guard the door Of his headquarters
and keep back the crowd Of impor-
tunate 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
within the party. had fought doggedly
to break his sway, but the boss had
grftted 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. I'm
the interest of good government"
they had explained. but the whole city
| 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 a mere quip of
fate the wheel spun the other way.
The Boss lost, and after loss of
power came scandal and lawsuits. The
| latter 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 it up to tens of
thousands.
When he left the civil courtroom
almost penniless he found himself
face to face with criminal charges.
Of five years In the penitentiary. Sto-
ically 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,
tenant, and finally the boss. without
the aid of family ties or family in
fluence. Stoically he had accepted the
decision OF the hospital staff. He had
an incurable 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 ?"
clasped his. "Sing Sings a good ways
for a girl to come who's only making
her eight week"
The girl laughed. but her voice was
shaky.
"Just listen to the man-and I'm
read in the paper-about-abou your
being so lonesome@' The man
smiled grimly. So the papers were
commenting on the fact that he was a
deserted as we'll as deposed leader OF
men, .And 1 saw the 'ad.' of law
yer up here who wanted a steno-
graper and 1 came and got the place.
I like it much better here than in
town. And I can come to see you once
a week"
Moreton. deposed boss. leaned over
and looked into her face.
"You-come-up-h be near
me?"
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 a physician in white uni
form came toward them.
"You can only stay five minutes"
he said without waiting for the formal
ity OF an introduction. II cannot have
my patients unduly excited. In a few
weeks we shall have him in fine trim.
1 hope, but we don't want our treat
ment upset by too much company
Moreton's lips set in grim lines. The
Young doctor evidently did not know
that this was his first visitor.
"Dr. Lindsay, this is one of my best
friends, Miss Betty vynne, and her
coming can't hurt me. Why. say, feel
like q two-year-old, right now"
Nevertheless. the young doctor stood