El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-15
At The Top OF the Poll
By BurfOrd DeIannOy.

1t isn't necessary to give the. name of
the borough I was standing for. By
the way the contest was shaping, it was
pretty clear that the figures would
be close when the poll was declared
Ny agent averred that 1 could not af-
ford to lose a single vote.
Personally, I had been without fear
until few days before the voting day.
Then rumor-many tongued-began to
put in some really deadly work.
credited the agent of the rival candi-
date with starting it. He was-to use
a Yankeeism-as smart as they are
made.
1t fell the harder on me, because l
was the peoples candidate 1 de-
pended on the poorer class for their
votes. And, as a result of my canvass,
I had been pretty sure that-small as
the majority might bel should yet
come out on top of the poll
A garbled yarn concerning me had
been passed from mouth to mouth; that
I. who posed as the friend of the work
ing elasses-see small bills-was an OPP
pressor of the widow and the orphan.
Curiously enough-as the story was
told-it bore some semblance to the
truth. 1 owned some small house prop
erty in the borough. 1t was alleged
that. from one of those houses l had
turned OUT a widow and her daugh-
ter because they owed a few weeks
rent: and had seized and sold all their
worldly possessions.
OF course-when it was so persistent
IL brought forward remembered the
incident which was the basis of the
story we'll enough. 1t had happened
about a year ago
was managing director of the mill
Gregory May had been employed as en-
for r WnRn
he died, it was found that he had put
scarcely anything aside for his wife
and child.
He had lived in one of my little
| houses Taking pity on the widow she
was allowed to stop on For whole
year she never paid-was never asked
fora penny rent.
Then she called on me at my office
one morning. AS a matter of fact
had never set eyes on her before
Strictly. she should nave gone to the
agent l employed TO collect my rents
| but-as luck would have it-he hap
pened to be away on holiday.
Mr.. Poole" said she. Il am leaving
YOUR house tomorrow" I looked up in
surprise; it was such short notice.
! am going abroad; sailing tonight. You
have been good-more than good-to
me and my girl; haven't pald you any
| rent for a year..
.'Oh, we need say nothing about
that
Pardon me, Mr.. Poole, but that is
lust what l have come to talk about
You can be paid part, at least. L an
taking nothing with mel haven't the
| time and 1 haven't the inclination tc
| do so. Sell it, everything and it may
pay the years rent / owe. 1 hope il
| will. If there's anything ever, put II
! in the poor box"
| And she went. And that, too, before
7 could say another word, either tc
sion her or arrange matters with ner
! It was an awkward state of affairs
| OF course, l did not for a moment In
tend to pay myself At the same time
her logic was clear; the place could not
| he kept without a tenant forever.
So when next day my agent came
| back-having assured myself that Mrs
Nav really had gone-I gave him in
| structions AS q result, the place was
! mastered with sale 0ills-for L wanted
| to realize as much as possible-and the
! auction took place.
| The amount handed over to me by the
auctioneer was not paid into my owl
bank. L opened separate account III
tending to keep the money Tor INT
widow or ner daughter, and hand 1
| over to them whenever they turned VI
| again.
That was the plain, unvarnishe'
| truth. But what was the use of telllns
it? Whom the midst of an election
| fight-wouId trouble to inquire into o.
| believe it,