Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-01-06

He handed him the note, first draw
ing line through ssThe Fifteen"
"Only fourteen now" he said. 'Tgot
rid Of Murphy! I'll run them down and
get even with my fathers murderersy'
Outside they separated Bruce and
Dorothy to go downtown, Stone to
hurry to his Office, his face set In lines
of grim determination. He strobe rap
idly toward his Office. And there he
called a meeting Of the fifteen. Anton
Dow, head Of the tenement house trust,
appeared, angry because Of newspaper
stories about Bruces determination to
get the man higher up in the tenement
evils. Dow knew, as Bruce did not,
that he himself was the man higher
up, and his nervousness was uncon-
cealed.
We've got to strike at him before he
can hit us!' said Stone angrily. Our
whole position is menaced by this one
man. Dow, you are the one chiefly in
terested. You own some property in
the tenement district of a-well,
questionable sort?''
II suppose do,' said Dow. "I'm not
responsible for my tenants
well, trap Larnigan with woman
in one of your houses
"Ye-es-that can be done' agreed
Dow, after a moments thought We'll
plan the details later, Stone"
There was more talk, and then Dow
had to hurry home to lunch. Dow was
a model father and husband. He was
devoted to his wife, and his love for
his two children, Harold and Lillian
knew no bounds.
played with his own children in his
| luxurious home Bruce and Dorothy
| were seeing other children in a house
that was also owned by Dow. But this
house was tenement that Disregard
| ed law and decency alike. There were
| no fire escapes; the heating system was
| out of order, and there was running
water from only one tap on each floor.
| Dorothy and the woman's two chill
dren went to look over the building.
Bruce, sickened, went to the street.
Other children came to talk with him,
] and he sat down on the stoop and
played with them. Across the street
was a saloon, and from this emerged
burly, i'll favored man, at the sight of
whom the children shuddered.
"Hey, youse! Beat it! We don't
want no dude reformers down this way
see" said the fellow, whom Bruce
recognized as a cheap ward politician
named Black.
Bruce smiled, took out pad and
made a note. Black shook his fist in
his face and, turning, made a signal
that set several roughs across the
street in motion. Bruce started to rise:
Black knocked him down, and the gang
came tearing over.
Kick him till he's stiffr' yelled
Black.
/ But sudden and remarkable inter
vention came to Bruce's aid. AS if by
instinct the children flung themselves
upon him, covering him with their soft
bodies. The gang stopped; even their
brutality shrank from attacking the
children. Bruce had time to draw his
revolver and rose, the weapon in his
hand. Black turned and ran; the gang
sters drew guns and looked for shelter.
But the children'S screams had brought
the police, and Bruce was safe for the
time.
From that moment Bruce went to
work with redoubled energy. And Dor
othy, painfully impressed by what she
had seen. had helped by trying to do
what she could for the tenement chill
dren. She knew she could not do much
for the whole city. but in that one
house she improved conditions vastly.
One night she was visiting the Bows,
old friends of her family, and describ-
ed the class she had established for
the children of the tenement house.
And tonight" said Dorothy-'to
night were going to have a Christmas
tree for them down there. Pm going
down now to give out the little pres
ents."
Mother, can't we go and see" cried
Lillian.
"Oh yes-please!' echoed Harold.
Mrs Dow hesitated. But they plead
ed so eagerly that she gave in at last
and Dorothy took them with her. On
the way she stopped and telephoned to
tell Bruce and ask him to join her. His
voice as he answered was excited.
"Ill come if l can-as soon as ]
cam" he said. Dorothy, Pm on the
trail at last, do believe! Tonight I've
got chance to get the evidence
need"
What had happened was that that
. afternoon woman had come to Bruce
] in his Office, woman whose profes
sion no one could mistake.
"Say," she said, when she was with
him alone. you want to get the goods
on all this tenement stuff, don't you,