The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-12-30

and a click, that sounded like the
click of silver knives on plates, and
l smelled food.
Il didn't know what was on the
other side-but decided to risk 1t
anyway, so l pushed open the door
and walked right into the most mag
nificent dining room was ever in
in my life" From here on young
Mason's narration to the district at
torney 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 thoroughly-there are no
gambling dives in this city, under
stand?-no gambling dives running
here. Forget it."
But l."
you saw nothing, tell you. For
get it."
Mason rose, his face burning, his
whole figure showing resentment at
the all too obvious meaning Of his
chiefs words. He bowed coldly-and
opened the door leading to his own Of
fee, just as a messenger boy entered
with a telegram for Bell.
III.
Ellis Mason sat at his desk, his
fine, earnest face puckered in a look
CT amazed discomfort. So this was
politics! This was the field he had
entered two years before as ac outlet
for the splendid political passion
the passion for constructive legisla-
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 on "City Gov
ernment," and had made himself SO
talked about in the newspapers that
he had, few weeks ago, by popular
demand, received the appointment of
assistant district attorney under Cur
tbs Bell. Now, two weeks after his ap-
pointment he found himself crowded
close to the rail by chief who was
shielding the very sort of thing he
was elected and sworn to wipe out!
He was cut short in his reflections by
an Office boy with message from his
chief.
''The district attorney wishes to
see you Immediately in his Office,
Mr.. Mason"
He arose and went to Bells Office.
Bell was standing by his desk, an
open telegram in his hand, his face
thoughtful but good-humored, as
though pleased with something that
had recently transpired. He showed
no trace Of the resentment of a half
hour ago, 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 governor"-indi-
eating the telegram In his hand-"to
discuss a political question of urgent
Importance. shall return tomorrow
You will act on nothing unless abso-
lutely necessary, and then only if you
are forced to act. You understand,
| fully?"
eyes, SIR" coldly.
"Very we'll"
The district attorney turned to his
papers, indicating with expressive ST.
lence that the interview was ended.
Mason hesitated moment as
though unable to restrain the scath-
ing sarcasm striving for utterance on
his lips, then with an effort that would
have done 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 few short hours, was, now that
the opportunity had come, entirely
lacking. Yesterdays warning that he
was not to recognize the existence of
gambling hall in that city-and that,
after he had made 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.
If, he thought, this foul corruption
existed in the office of an executive so
trusted as the district attorney, what
of tho 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 tho good he so
wanted to do. How could he fight the
gigantic, irresistible machine, fed by
the votes of the public, and oiled by
the gold of unmentionable vice-ex-
ploiters who bought and sold chief
executives as one might a dancing toy
"a toy whose steps were regulated by
the mechanism of the controlling
party?
When he reached his Office the next
morning, Mason was surprised to find
young man already there awaiting
him. 1t was the very man, he realized
in flash, who, the night before last
he had seen sitting and drinking with
that dancing girl in the gambling dive
he had stumbled on accidentally-the
same dissipated, pink-faced, tiny-eyed,
low foreheaded individual who had al
lowed himself to be persuaded by the