The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1915-06-26
he failed to acknowledge It IN his
actions?

~.
That night the busy traffic OF Sid
Dodge's gilded cafe WAS interrupted
in the midst OF Its feverish play BY a
squad OF police. headed by Ellis Mason,
and the entire outfit loaded into q
waiting patrol wagon. Clarice Adair,
the dancing girl and guiding spirit
OF the place, recognized Mason as
the man who, two nights before, had
refused her urgent persuasion to play.
While the police were busy taking
charge OF the place, he went up to
her.
I'm sorry, but you'll have to be
detained. You remember, l said Id
be back soon when / felt luck to be
with me-" he laughed; You see. I've
made clean sweep, as promised.
She looked up at him. all the fierce
vindictiveness OF her passionate soul
finding expression in the concentrated
stare OF her hateglowing eyes.
Yes, you have made clean sweep
OF it this time" she said slowly. In
tensely. Make the most of 1t. The
banker always wins-in the end"
re luiHtu iloIl hti wv
annoyed at her covert threat, and pro-
ceeded In the direction OF the men
under him.
Charles Gibson was pillar OF 30
cety." Ponderous and portly, he WAS
endowed by nature with dignified.
heavy face. and pompous air that his
snow-white hair and ivory-headed
cane did a great deal toward making
impressive. He was fifty-ive years
old and seemed sixty-five His deeply
scanned face and massive jaw were his
greatest assets, and would have
vouched for him had the rest of his
appearance needed endorsement.
His voice, never harsh or strident.
had a peculiar booming quality that
made his slightest utterance seem
fraught with significance. its very
tone commanding the respectful audi
ence that many another voice of great
er volume and more sincerity tried for
In vain.
His Bible class reverenced that
voice and unconsciously acknowledged
its influence by an unusual proficiency
in that part OF its study relating to the
Prophets; his tenants In many Q
squalid, disease breeding tenement OF
the East side feared 1t, and shrank at
its threatening boom. His real es-
tate holdings were enormous and his
social influence correspondingly ire
mendous, his wealth and swing Gre
ating a Difference to his wishes In the
political world that amounted practi-
cally to unquestioning obedience.
He sat at breakfast the morning
after Masons sensational raid. and at
his buffers announcement of Sid
Dodge and Clarice Adair, allowed his
usually impassive face the luxury OF
an amazed expression at the personae
of his early callers. Dodge and Clarice.
after night in a cell. had been re-
leased on heavy bail, and had come
Immediately to ellison to apprise him
of the raid and their arrest.
Leave this to me. You go about
your business you'll hear from me
later" He told them
ellison had engineered Bells cleo
ton and held the mans political des-
tiny in his check book. He knew that
any move from the district attorneys
office had first to be sanctioned by
Bell and was at a complete loss to
realize the motive that had prompted
this astounding break. He wasn't
aware that Bell was out OF town and
found 1t impossible to reconcile Bells
usual obedient docility with this dras-
tic action. He had descended the
front stoop OF his magnificent home
and was proceeding in the direction
or the district attorneys office when
he was hailed by two men approach
ing from the opposite direction. He
recognized them as John Drake and
Albert Lesser active members OF the
Commonwealth club OF which he was
an honorary member. He greeted them
in his usual ELUSIVE, soicitous boom
ing way. and stood for q moment ex-
| changing with them the commonplace
| courtesies Of the unintimate acquaint-
| ance.
I'VE were Just on our way to visit
| YOU Drake said. You've heard, of
| course, OF young Mason's highly com.
mendable raid on the gambling den?"
Yes. indeed. Splendid. That young
| man has great future''-and then,
to himsef-"behind him"
Yes, he certainly justifies our con.
hdence In his ability as fearless