Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-29

w and Home
he Morning Story
THE POLICE bride.
ny Annie Iifnrtcheen.

"a mayor or BaySvllle, ana iIltcnu 10
4 enforce every nealth 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
E down over n snow white forehead. Her
lips, set in determined lines. were vivid
ly 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
real policewoman with power To or
rest any person IN this city who vio-
iates health ordinance. You did not
have n health warden in this city until
you appointed me-" she went on. The
women's clubs of Baysville demanded
woman health officer md the City Coun-
ell agreed. / was offered the position
because had been successful in public
health work In other cities / intend to
he successful here. / cannot do my
work properly unless YOU give me the
power to enforce tho ordinances I
want policemans commission in or
der that ] may make certain arrests"
and whom do YOU intend to arrest?"
Leonard Gordon"
Leonard Gordon?" The Mayor
gasped. why will you arrest Leon
ard Gordon"
Because he Is the owner of the most
ement in Baysvillc. The building Is n
disgrace TO the city and TO it's owner.
1t is crowded with wretched. half-sick
people. There is no decent ventilation.
no adequate fire protection. no clean,
pure water, no fresh air in the build
ing. AR. Gordon should he compelled
TO repair this house"
The Mayor took n form from a
drawer Of his desk and filled In the
blank spaces. Here is your commits
- Inn II l,.f,
woman with power to arrest Leonard
Gordon or any one else
The newly mmissioned policewo-
man stood before the door tina; Leonard
ti"rdon's office boy had thrown open
for her "You| are Mr. Leonard Cor
dom" she asked.
Tho young man AT the desk rose.
There was lf-Questioning, wholly
admirins smile on his face.
have come to arrest YOU said
these sections OF the city health ord-
nances." She held book of statutes
toward him ard traced the sections
with a slim white finger.
G"rdon's eyes followed the finger.
'Nery pretty. Very pretty indeed
um-er--I beg Your pardon. mean
the ordinance IL extremely interesting."
Your violation Of 1t will doubtless
prove interesting"
And you are arrestinG me?" he
me? You, Bayviile's FIRST and only po-
lice lady? | appreciate the honor Put
your handouts Oh me and lead me to
Jail"
Mr.. Gordon"-ther+ was ntue
angry CLINT i'll her eyes--"this is not
"A matter TO be ridioulcd. have re-
reatedly asked YOUR agent to make
the changes in Your tenement that
the law demands. lIc has refused TO
do 81. You have returned to the city
"a a hear Nd 6o,, al.o
the hrst opportunity to compel you
to rebuild your tenement"
II am delighted TO do what can
for YOU" he began.
For me?" The girls lips were set
and her face was white Not for me-
for those wretched, i'll. poverty
stricken tenants of yours. For them
the law will make YOU 10 something.
Wal YOU come witt roe to the justice
Of TIE ueucc? w;,,.r him to impose
n fine Oh "cu 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 Jaws for the
protection of life and health Will be
enforced"
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
requested the astonished magistrate to
do as Miss Calvin asked He promptly
wrote a check for the entire amount.
~ 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 foundation
of new apartment house.
What have you done with your ten
nnts?" she asked.
Gordon flushed Internationally ann
avoided her eyes. They are being care
for," he said. half grunly.
Every attempt Of Leonard Gordon 10
establish friendly relations with the
city health warden failed. The
young woman treated him with a cool
courtesy that became distinctly lev
when he vcnturcd TO speak TO her on
any subject except the public health Of
Baysville.
Elizabeth was standing on the side
walk looking ~ the helf-nn!shed apart
fnent house that Gordon was erecting
on the site OF his condemned tenement.
Gordon stood on scaffoidng looking
down at her. He waved his hand she
paid no attention. lie took of his hat
and waved II around his head The
glance she gave him was as impersonnl
as If he were a part OF the scanolding
He waved his hat in n wider circle. lost
With cry OF horror Elizabeth ran To
him. He lay white and silent She laid
her ear close 10 his lips The raintest
BREATH touched II. For an instant she
pressed her cheek against his. which
was no whittier than her own. Then she
called the workmen.
A few days later Gordon Leonard
pale and thin. one arm in a sling, on
tered Elizabeth's Office
you are going to marry me-" he an
nounced
Her lip. curled. Marry you. In
deed not;"
You love me"
II do not. I detest you hate you
and the class 10 which you belong. You
are man with no sense OF duty TO-
i, ward the people who live under your
leaky roofs on your unsafe old shacks
Men and women and little children
have died In that wretched old tene-
ment OF yours because sunlight and
fresh air and pure water ,pcrc 5or,,1