The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-29
The Epening Story
The Police Lady.
(By Annie Hinrichsen.)

(By Annie Hinrichsen.)
81 am health warden of this city,
the young woman was saying to the
mayor of Baysville, land I intend to
enforce every health ordinance in your
statutes
Her eyes were deep blue and very
keen. A soft mass OF gold brown hair
waved from under a plain panama hat
down over the snow white forehead.
Her lips set in determined lines, were
wildly red and the firm, upturned
chin was deeply cleft.
''And what is it that you wish me to
do?" asked the mayor.
'Give me police powers Make me
a real police woman with power to
arrest any person in this city who vio-
lates health ordinance. You did not
have health warden in this city until
you appoined me- she went on. THE
women's clubs of Baysville demanded
a woman health officer and the city
council agreed. 1 was offered the
position because 1 had been successful
in public health work in other cities
I intend be successful here. 1 cannot
do my work properly unless you give
me the power to enforce the ord1-
nances. I want a policewoman's COM
mission in order that may make GER
tain arrests"
And whom do you intend to ar
rest?'
Leonard Gordon"
Leonard Gordon?" the mayor
ard Gordon?'
Because he is the owner of the
most unhealthful, most dilapidated old
tenement in Baysville. The building
is a disgrace to the city and to its
owner 1t is crowded with wretched,
half sick people. There is no decent
ventilation, no adequate fire protec-
ton, no clean, pure water, no fresh
air in the building. Mr. Gordon should
be compelled to repair this house"
The maVOr took form from a
drawer of his desk and filled in the
blank spaces. Here is your commits
sion, Miss Calvin. You are a, police
woman with power to arrest Leonard
Gordon or any one eIse.
The newly commissioned police
woman stood before the door that
Leonard Gordon's office boy had
thrown open for her. You are Mr..
Leonard Gordon?" she asked.
The young man at the desk rose.
There was a half questioning, who'll
ly admiring smile on his face,
ST have come to arrest you," said
Miss Calvin, ION a charge of violat-
ing these sections of the city health
ordinances" She held a book of stat
utes toward him and traced the sec.
lions with a slim white finger. i
Gordon's eyes followed the finger.
Every pretty. Very pretty indeed
um-er-I beg your pardon. I mean
the ordinance is extremely interest
ings."
I
prove interesting"
"And you are arresting me?'' he
beamed delghtedly. Really arrest
ing me? You, Baysville's first and
honor. Put your handouts on me
and lead me to jail"
''Mr Gordon''-there was a little
angry CLINT in her eyes-"this is not
peatedly asked your agent to make the
in your tenement that the
law demands. He has refused to dol
so. You have returned to the ethyl
the first opportunity to compel you to
rebuild your tenement.
81 am delighted to do what 1 can
for you," he began.
For me?" The girls lips were set
and her face was white. mot for me
for those wretched, i'll, poverty
stricken tenants of yours. For them
the law will make you do something. |
of the peace? 1 want him to impose
q fine on you for each section of the |
law violated and to inform you that
the law will compel you to repair
your building. l want every property
owner in this city to understand, from
your experience, that the laws for the
protection of life and health will be
In the office of the justice of the
peace Miss Calvin formally stated her
case. Leonard Gordon promptly plead
guilty to each charge. Miss Calvin
asked that the maximum fine be i'm |
posed. Gordon requested the aston |
ished magistrate to do as Miss Calvin
asked. He promptly wrote a check
for the entire amount.
A few days later Gordon called at
Elizabeth Calvin's office in the city
hall and asked her to visit his tene-
ment She went with him in his car.
The building had been completely torn
down. In its place was the founda-
tnon of a new apartment house.
"What have you done with your
?" she asked.
Gordon flushed uncomfortably and
avoided her eyes. '"They are being
cared for" he said, half gruffly.
Every attempt of Leonard Gordon
to establish friendly relations with the
city health warden failed. The young
treated him with a cool cour-
tesy that became distinctly icy when
he ventured to speak to her on any
subject except the public health of
Baysville.
Elizabeth was standing on the side
walk looking at the finished
apartment house that Gordon was
erecting on the site of his condemned
tenement. Gordon stood on a scat
folding looking down at her. He
waved his hand. She paid no atten-
ton He took off his hat and waved
it around his head. The glance she
were a part of the scaffolding. He
waved his hat in a wider circle, lost
his balance and fell to the grouid.
With a cry of horror Elizabeth run
to him. He lay white and silent. She
laid her ear close to his lips. The
faintest breath touched it. For an
instant she pressed her cheek against
hi y, h II - -