The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-06
THE EVENING STORY
The Net.
(By Joanna Single.)

that the employees left things in proper
| order, and as they filed out into the
| hot spring evening, came himself into
the dirty. smoky factory yard, his cap
far back on his curly dark head and
his blue shirt sleeves rolled to his
muscular shoulders. He had bright.
dark eyes, and a quick smile. AS the
| men passed him, each had a word, a
| Jest, loving sort of recognition for
| him. He was fair and square, quick
| to take up their interests. although
no alarmist. He could have been
| their leader anywhere. Off to one
corner a fat, gross-looking man stood
smoking and watching him-a man
who was no stranger. But young
Willis, the foreman, had not yet OBJ
served the politician.
Jerry Willis had pulled down his
sleeves and remarked forty times on
| the unreasonable heat of this early
April when Bill Dugan and half
| dozen others stopped him. The city
elections were due for next week, and
candidates were ''in the hands of
their friends
Who's yours for mayor, Willis ?''
Dugan asked the question carelessly
| enough, but he really wanted to know.
He had no initiative of his own, and
the others were much like him.
John Preston for me-a clean
| town, tight shut and the machine
out of commission. Amt that the
ticket for working man? This town
is getting so a poor girl hasn't a
chance-if she keeps decent, and the
| machine has spread like a net over
the workingman," replied Willis IT
know dozen-no, hundred-fellows
who can't vote as they like, because
| they are under some obligation to
some of the city hall gang. Not for
mel"
Guess you're right agreed the
others. hTlf D11Oan fniohod hoo
I'm caught in the net, but I'll be
blessed If I don't break loose If you
do, Jerry. The South end, being wide
open, is getting something fierce, and
Name, my girl, has to go through
there to get to her work twice a day.
1t amt safe-you're right"
The politician, casting an eye after
| them, decided to let them alone for
the present. This Willis was a better
capture just now-he could easily
swing the working mans vote in his
precinct. And a man with a wife and
two babies. and a little home not vet
half paid for-on the installment plan
has an eye open to "bettering him
self. He came forwad and hailed
the young foreman, who was now
aware of him for the first time.
How're We, Willis? Coin home :?
Let me drive you-got my mare tied
out here. Have a smoke? ?" Willis
nodded and took the cigar. following
the man, wondering what had brought
him to the factory.
Fine mare Ryan," he remarked,
| climbing in. The politician followed
him heavily
Then Ryan approached Willis, in the
manner of his kind and with infinite
skill. He had overheard. he said. Will
lis remarks on the mayoralty. and
While 1t was none of his business he
was on the inside and knew a thing
or two. He hated to see bright young
fellow like Willis make such a mistake.
He would put him WISE
This he proceeded to do. putting the
machine in the light of a heaven
| ordained necessity, and its parts as the
protectors of the city, and the special
agents of the working man. He did it
well. He knew better than to offer
this young man more than a causal
But he hit the sensitive spot when
he spoke of the family and the little
house. He asked Willis If he was
working for his health. or whether he
would know a good thing when he
saw it?"
BY the time they reached the little
cottage and the young mother with the
baby in her arms came to the door to
see who was bringing her husband
home in such a style Ryan had made
the foreman a proposition. 1t was flat
tering-and advantageous. Jerry was
to swing the labor vote the fright
way'-not for Preston and decency-
and, as return favor. the machine
would give him a soft Job" Ryan
knew of a position where Willis could
double his present salary-with a bo-
nus on the side sufficient to pay off
the remaining payments on the house.
1t was a perfectly fair thing. The
interests had to be protected; these
working men were like sheep, not
knowing what was good for them. and
Willis natural leader Nnn1d hri1 q
them into the fold. 1t was the best
for the city and everybody. and so
| long as human nature was as it was,
it was no use putting the lid on too
Decency was a personal matter and
so forth. This would swing Will
lis up out of the sweating crowd
with no. future but slavery. 1t was his
chance. The man was clever enough
not to ask for decision then. AS he
let the young fellow down and compli-
mented Mrs. Willis who had come out
with her baby, he remarked:
Think 1t over a day or two. and
I'll come over and fix things up
Then he drove away and the little
happy family went into its simple ev-
ening meal. They had little save ne
cessities, but they owed no man; they
had health. and love-and honesty.
Never so much as on this night had
the young head of the family realized
the porch a while after supper he did
a lot of thinking. The proposition
seemed square enough. Perhaps Ryan
was right. politically. And If he, will
| lis, did political work 1t was surely no
| bribery to be paid for it in favor and
| influence. He thought of the little
place debt-free, the chance of a fuller
| life for Molly, and a better prospect
| for educating the babies. and a better
position for himself. Perhaps this was
| indeed his chance. He would think
about II.
But the night brought little sleep.
| Willis was restless, and the restless
ness spread to the others Four-year-
old Bobbie fretted and wanted fire.
quent drinks, and the baby was wake
full. Jerry wanted to talk things over
with Molly, but a queer something
| held him back. 1t was a doubt of
! what she would think-or. rather. a