The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-31
The Human
Element
BY FRANK COBB

Jones, the boss Of Lawrencetown.
His cartoons created nationwide
| sensation, and did much to turn the
tide Of public opinion against the
man who had long been supreme
in the city. The one which made
the sensation of the week depicted
Jones in convict garb, ascending the
wall Of building marked Public
Efficiency"
And Jones won the election. Four
! weeks before it occurred Brainerd
seemed to lose his grip. True, he
drew cartoons as of yOre; but they
were mild and milk-like in compari-
son with his vitriolic contributions
to the Eagle during preceding IT,
sues.
The word went round that Brain
| erd had been fixed" He lost his
post, Of course, and no other news
, paper would employ him.
I happen to know what occurred,
because Bralnerd told me when he
came to ask q loan of $500 to take
him to New York.
Brainerd was heart and soul in
his work. He was all for reform
and good government. He went
home to sleep. after planning a new
caneOon that would pulverize all
that remained Of Jones.
He got telephone message In
the morning.
This is Saul Jones. Mr.. Brain
erd," said the voice. Il want to
see you very much. Can you come
to my house before going on to your
Officer"
Brainerd was surprised at the
quiet, ladylike woman who came in
as he waited in the library and an
nounced herself as Mrs. Jones.
MY husband will be down In a
minute" she said. II know who you
are, Mr.. Brainerd, and you can't ex-
pect me to. feel very kindly toward
YOU"
With that she f1ounced out of the
room. IL such an expression can be
applied to the angry swish Of an
angry woman's gown.
Hiding behind wOman's skirt"
he said to himself. wont trounce
him tomorrow
Then Jones came in at the door.
Brainerd had seen the boss at q dis
| tance.
"You are Mr.. Brainerd?" inquired
the boss. "Sit down. l have asked
you to come here with reference
to your cartoon In yesterdays
Eagle"
YES" answered Brainerd, think
ing that his fun was just going to
begin.
How muchT" inquired Saul
Jones, sinking into chair, and rest
Ing his chin on one hand.
Brainerd rose up. II was expect
ing that question, Mr.. JONES'" he an.
sWered. II take 1t that you are Of
fering me sum Of money to cease
cartooning you. Let me tell you
that 1 am not to be bought, sir, for
all the money in Lawrencetown."
AS Brainerd was going toward
the door the boss sprang from his
chair and caught him by the arm.
I'm not asking you to stop at
lacking me-" he said huskily.
"Ah, you young mani" he re-
sumed. 1T is SO easy to crush your
enemy. isn't it? But when YOU
have lived as long as l have YOU
Will come to see that magnanimitv
pays.
You saw my wife? l sent her
IN to you, so that you should be
able to Judge. She knows nothing
about it. She thinks l am the best
man In the world. And it is thirty
years agony God! l didn't think
anybody would have found that ont
against me.
Il was q young fellow OF TWENTY
two. 1t was my first and only crime.
put my employers name on a
check. They gave HE six months
IN states prison for it. And l es-
caped-like a fool. I escaped, wear.
Ing the stripes, too, and had only
three months to serve"
Jones had connected the cartoon
with the secret in his past life, and
he read In it threat Of exposure
which Brainerd had never meant.
and for a crime of which the artist
had been entirely ignorant.
"Well?" asked. the boss. raising
his head. Are you going to break
up my home and ruin my life, young
man, to crafty your hate; or are
you going to let bygones be bygones
and take SCOOP"
That was where Brainerd did the
right thing. If he had told Jones
that he had not known about that
episode, he would have left the man
crushed and Inundated BY his folly
In betraying it. He stretched his
hand out and grasped the boss.
"Mr. jones'" he said, II was 4
young fool and you have taught me
much-needed lesson. There Is no
question Of money-and the Eagle
will never again publish a cartoon
like the Convict
He kept his word.
'You see," Brainerd explained to
me afterward, II was really quite
capable of doing such thing with
deliberate design. If i had known.
But nobody knew, and the man had
been the victim of lis own con.
science. And after I had seen him
In his home, and learned that nil
men are matte more or less out of
the same clay-why, the thing cume
home to me. And somehow could
never put my heart into my work
again. The managing editor thought
had been fixed So do the pub.
lie, guess. I'm going to New York
land. I say l want you to lot me
have a couple of hundred to kecp
things going till ! get startod."