Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15
Continued from page 8


in such hopeless key that it got on his
nerves at last. He leaned over and plucked
Mayor Denmore by the sleeve.
II wonder whether you'd let me say few
wordso" he whispered. Kent had never
made a speech in his life; but he felt that
somebody must say something cheerful.
The Mayor nodded, and when the speaker
then on the floor had finished, introduced
him. For one minute Kent felt like school
boy about to speak piece; but he knew the
piece and "went to it.
"Mayor Denmore has told who | am and
why I'm here, Gentlemen. | don't want
you to think that I'm butting in. I'm here
to help you people, that's ALL Old NIllville
Millvile This isn't any time to be down
hearted: you people have got the chance of
your lives. Melville was hustling, gritty,
hard-hitting town, and you made it so.
Now get busy and show the State what you
can do! Make new c1ty-sweep out the
ashes, and build it up again.
"Somebody said that Rome wasn't built
in day Prove it to 'em that NIillville can
be rebuilt in day! You've been advertised
all over the State by the Boosters Think
what a chance you've got now-Alilville
leaplng from her flames know what |
mean. Let everybody see that you can't be
beaten. You people have a reputation to
live up to. Everybody's heard of Alillville:
now let EN- see how she bucks tragedy!
"The longer you wait the harder it's going
to be. What are you going to do for all your
people who've lost their homes and their
storeso You've got to give them a chance to
get new homes, even if they're only shacks
for awhile. You've got to start up business
again. You can't do that with ashes! You
had thousands here last night without shell
ter: what are you going to do for them to-
night? Think OF the women and the little
children! They've got to be taken care of
somehow. Give EN- shelter show EN- that
Millvilles still alive! Even if their homes
are burned up, NIillville spirit isn't!
"Im here to help you do this. There']l be
a special train at the station sometime to-
morrow with all the lumber you need, thou
sands of feet of it, and doors and windows.
Thatll give you a start. III have all the
men | can find in the town to help unload it.
Get busy, Men, and by tomorrow night you
can have enough shacks knocked together
to house the women and children. Let that
be the beginning of your new city. Show
EN- all what you can do"
Kent stopped moment for breath, and
round of applause rang out.
Thanks for that" he said, with a smile.
"That's the way to feel. I'm sorry that |
uOI kIlo" dHyDOuy here III AllliNlle, So
you'll have to take my word for it about the
lumber. But you can bet anything you've
got that it'll be here. It's up to you to do
the rest. And when that lumber is offered
to you it'll be at the regular price. I'm not
trying to take any advantage of you, and
I'm sorry there isn't someone here who can
vouch for what | say. | think that's about
all, Gentlemen"
WYATT a minute, young mani" 1t was
voice from the rear of the room which
arrested Kent as he was about to sit down.
Someone was pushing forward from the last
row of chairs.
"That young man says that nobody here
knows him know HIM
Kent craned his neck to see the face of
the speaker, and suddenly went cold. The
man was Steve O'Brien contracto with
whom two years before in Rawlinsburg he
had almost had fist fight. BY some mis-
understanding over an order the lrate old
Irishman had herated him, cancelled the
order, and threatened to throw him out of
an office window In addition he had called
him a drummer and written to head
quarters about him. 1t took the Office six
months to pacify O'Brien. and the pactica-
ton was not held to be anything like per-