The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-26
TIE EVENING story
The Ban.
(By Annie Hinrichsen.)

small, hard rubber ball. She was
looking at it so intently that as she
stepped into the street she almoSt col
lided with a man who was passing.
What is your treasure, Miss Mil
dred?" he asked, curiously.
Mfldred's eyes dropped to the ball
and the color famed over her face.
"It is a ball." she said, as positively
as if h were throwing knowledge on
a state of ignorance; "a rubber ball
What are you going to do with it 2"
Il bought it Observation-Disclosures
wanted it."
D you often buy balls for the
pleasure of carrying them about with
your"
II do not. Mr.. Powell" Her tone
informed the young man that further
questioning concerning the ball would
be most undesirable.
Your paper" he said. hurrying to
safer conversational fields, contains
this morning an especially vitriolic
attack on the Water company bill"
THE bill was introduced in the
house several days and referred
to a committee of which o are a
thing possible to defeat it."
THE belief is current in the gen
eral assembly that the reason for the
papers opposition is the fact hat Mr..
Zane, the proprietor, is a heavy stock
holder in n of the water companies
WHICH l1llS IL III dllSSI. 4Oo die
one of the Moon staff"
81 am only an assistant, a picker
up of scraps of news for the men who
chronicle the legislative affairs I
hope and expect that some day
THAT some day you will rise to a
high place on the staff?"
IT intend to-"
1T is a great metropolitan paper.
1t has here at the capital a staff of
trained journalists and also several
good lobbyists. 1t is fighting the
Water company bill. 1t will grant
can influence legislation against this
bill. Would you, a charming, we'll
bred young woman be willing to earn
advancement in this way?"
II should do anything in my power
for my paper and for myself" 1856
The water company bill-had reused
a storm of controversy throughout
the state. 1t was a bill popular with
the people and opposed by certain
largest paper in the state. was leading
the fight against it. The measure
had been introduced in the house
and referred to the committee on
corporations. 1t was believed that if
the committee allowed the bill to leave
it's hands and return to the house to
be voted on it would be passed. 1t
was so popular with the people that
few legislators would dare vote against
II. It's 0IlGII11cS OGlSI IIIlh0u lila IL
should be smothered beyond resusci-
tation in the committee.
1t was the day on which final ac-
ton on the bill was to be taken by
the committee.
On his way to the meeting, Harold
Powell passed John Zane owner of
the Moon" and Mildred Grant. They
were standing in the rotunda of the
state house. AS he passed them
Powell caught the words Zane was
While he waited for the elevator
Mildred Joined him.. What are you
going to do with III bill today?"
she asked.
vote, I hope" he said. gravely. 1.-THE
members are about evenly divided for
and against it. Albert Catlin is the
uncertain member. His vote will de-
you are in favor of the bill.
Change your mind, pose it and
make Mr.. Catlin oppose it," h
spoke l~aughingly, but PowelPs face
clouded.
81 would do anything on earth for
you, Mildred, except allow you to
direct my political acts contrary to
my convictions. Mildred, will you
give up your work, your struggle for
success, and take what I can give
you? 1t is a home, dear, and a heart
full of love-"
The girls keen eyes softened, but
she shook her head and turned alb
ruptly from himan d hurried away.
The committee was called to order.
Albert Catlin. the man who held the
balance of power, sat lee an open
window.
Through the window came a small
rubber ball. 1t came slowly, as if
tossed. 1t opp on Cat
Inns desk. He picked it up, but Pow
ellis hand caught it from him. Both
men had seen the letters and figures
the bal.
Ten minutes later the committee adj
Come with me-" he said
harshly. "I want to talk to you"
In the deserted committee room he
closed the door Here is something
that belongs to you" He held the
your attempt to bride Albert Catlin.
"A. C.-J. $50, OOO.' You threw |
ball in to him at a critical MOI
to show him what he would re-
ceive for his vote to kill the bill. 4
proof of attempted bribery in my pos
session he dared not vote as zane
wished him To. 1 saw you buying this
ball. You told me frankly that you
would do anything for the paper and
your advancement. L heard Zane
say to you: You are clever enough
for any work. You will succeed in
this h evidence against you is
conclusive. The one point I do not
understand is the meaning of the -.
on the ball. The other letters meanl
Albert Catlin-ten thousand dollars to
kill the bill"
You believe this? Did L, the wom-
an you protested to love. attempt an
act of bribery"
For a he 1ooked into her
Then his hands came down
on her shoulders. you did not" he
exclaimed joyously. You did not"