White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-18

dow a fight Of dark steps. through
q narN,w, twisting passageway. and up
another flight of steps-darker, II
anything, than the irst-until | came
smack up against q door. Inside I
could hear tire murmur of many voices,
and q click. that sounded like the
click of silver knives on plates. and
smelled food,
Il didn't know what was OF the
other side-bur decided to risk 1t
I anyway, so l pushed open the door
and walked right INTO the most mag
nSffcent dining o I was ever In
in my nfe.r From here on young
.Mas0ns narration to the district at
toney Is familiar to those who read
the opening of this story
When Mason was through, his chief
turned slowly around In his chair.
his face drawn and tense--his finger
tapping positively the coat lapel Of the
young man before him.
Mr.. Mason, I want you to- under
stand me tboruughly-there . no
gambling dives In this city, under
stand?-no gambling dives running
here. Forget it."
But l."
You saw nothing,,I tell you. Fsr-
get it,
Mason roa,, HIS face burning. his
whole figure showing resentment at
the all too obvious meaning of his
chiefs words. He bowed ~coIdIy-and
opened the door leading 10 his own Of
fice, just as a messenger boy entered
with a telegram for Bell.
~.
Ellis Mason sat ant his desk, his
fine, earnest face puckered in a look
of amazed discomfort. So this was
politics., THIS was tlse field he had
entered two YseErs before as an outlet 4
for the splendid political passion
the passion fDr constructive legfsla-
tion that had so obsessed him ever
since his entrance to college. On his
graduation from college he had en-
tered the government service as a
clerk in the customs. He had written |.
two books On political economy. had
given numerous lectures o4~City Gov
eminent" and had made himself SO
talked about In the newspapers that
he had. a few weefs ago, by popular
demand. received the appointment of
assistant district attorney fnder Cur
tbs Bell Now. two weeks AFTER his ap-
p%oinrnent he found himself crowded
close to the aaiI by a chief who vas
shielding the. very sort of thing be
was elected and sworn to wipe cut!
He was cut short IN his reflections by
vffice boy with u message from his
chief \
The district attorney wishes 90
see. you immediately in his offire,
Mr.. Mason
He arose and went to Bells office.
Bell was standing by his desk. IN
open Telegram in his hand. his face
thoughtful but good-humored. as
though pleased with something chat
aad recently transpired. He showed
no trace Of the resentment. of a half
hour g when he had so arbitrarily
impressed his assistant with the
assurance that there are No gam
bling dives running in this city \
Mr.. Mason, l have been called TO
the capitol by the goyernor-indi-
eating the telegram in his hand-"to
discuss a political question of urgent
importance. I shall return tomorrow.
You will act on nothing unless abso-
lutelY necessary. and then only il you
are forced to act. You understand, !
fully"
Yes. sir coldly.
Every we'll"
The district attorney turned to his
papers, indicating with expressive ST.
lence that the interview was ended.
Mason hesitated a moment as
though unable to restrain the scath-
ing sarcasm striving for utterance on
his lips, then with an effort that would
have lone credit to a much older and
more experienced man than he was.
controlled the rebellious spirit Of him
utterly. turned and went back to his
Office.
When Ellis Mason started for his Of
flee next morning, It was without the
wonted eagerness of spirit that usually
manifested itself In his quick buoyant
step.
The keen pleasure he would have
felt a few days before at the prospect
Of playing district attorney, only
for a few short hours. was, now that
the opportunity had come. entirely
lacking. Yesterdays warning that he
was not I o recognize the existence of
a gambling hall In that city-and that.
after he had made a special detailed
report OF one-so depressed his fine
conscientious spirit that he could not
bring himself to view part of his
work with the enthusiasm so charac-
teristic of him.
II, he thought. this foul corruption
existed in the office of an executive SO
trusted as the district attorney. what
of the courts, judges. lawyers. police
department? He felt for the first time
since he entered the government serv-
ice, how small. how Intellectual was his
! personal power for the good he SO