Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-31
HIS STRANGE REVENGE

The adage, "Still waters run reep,"
H a bromide. but It Describes Jeffer
sons character pretty thoroly. Jetter
son was the silent, timid, self-cop.
seious little secretary OF the president
Of y great corporation which Is said to
own a certain state.
Harridge. the district attorney, de.
scribed Jefferson by the epigram. AZ
ter the men had FLASHED, the district
attorney. who used to pride himself
on being able to read mems souls.
found that not even his insight had
been kte enough to probe the mys.
FERROUS, secre pools which lay, deep
and quiet, be heath the little secreta.
fy's ap0logetic exterior.
hartridge had battered his own soul
= Into lump OF steel. He was young
man with a bright future He had am.
bition, personality, aggressiveness.
and determination, without any Of the
conscientious scruples that might
have held him from the fulfillment Of
his dreams. These dreams carried
him to the Governors chair, at least,
and, maybe, to the United States
Senate. His aim was high, but his
soul groveled on the ground. He ac-
quired much of the point of view of
the criminals whom he sent daily to
Jail in the course of his duty.
He had become willingly the crea-
ture of the corporation. because, in
that way, he thought, his ambition
could be more quickly realized. Hand
In hand with corrupt judges, he work
ed for his owners, and did his work
we'll He became cynical, more de-
termined, and more unrelenting, until,
finally he grew to be like the bronze
statue of Justice with her eyes band
aged, which stood over the courthouse
"a menacing, hardened figure, blind
10 everything, even to justice and fair
play.
Then came Jefferson to spoil 1t all
jefferson the silent, timid, self-con.
sci0us little secretary with the large
family and the small salary, and a
soul in whose depths the waters ran
still and deep.
One day the corporation overstep-
ped itself, and meddlng grand jury
indicted its president and some Of its
officers. A certain little newspape
which, altho a corporation itself,
fought other corporations valently
and noisily for its calculations sake,
began to scream columns about perso.
nal guilt and imprisonment.
Hartrldge found himself in a pre-
dieament. or course he hid to nolle
the indictments against his owners,
30 he determined. as the easiest way
to do ii safely, to have Jefferson give
false evidence on the witness stand.
But Hartrldge had reckoned with
out Jefferson. The little man, when
b. WAS called to the district attor.
ney's Office, stood stuhbornly against
him. There was a stormy scene. Hart.
ridge hammered his desk with q Draw
ny flst. while Jefferson stood nervous.
u twisting his hat between his hands.
Haftridge ragged and threatened and
Cajoled, but Jefferson refused TO take
his orders
At the end OF the interview, Jeffer-
son went home and told his wife that
he was out OF a Job, and that foolish
little woman, strange to say, threw
her arms around his neck and laughed
and wept on his shoulders. and GATED
him her brave, strong man. But, of
course, that hasn't anything to do
with the story.
Jefferson testified truthfully on the
stand. and because he did so, was In.
dicted himself shortly afterward for
perjury.
When Justice demands a victim, Il
pust be given her quickly. Long be.
~ FL