St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-08-20
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CHAPTER ONE

Clark Griffith-you might as
well know it now-was an accom-
plished "rug-cutter."
don't mean to imply by that
term that he was a member of the
industrious gentry that produces
coverings for floors. But am en-
ploying popular term in reference
to the young man by which the
public describes a person given to
frequent communion with the god
Bacchus. Or, expressing it more
simply, one who likes their whoopee
violent, regular, and hot.
Now-just in case that you don't
know it-that sort of life requires
money. Plenty of it, if you please.
Well, Clark always had it. All of
which was something of a mystery
. because he was never known to
work. He not only came up at all
times we'll supplied with money,
but in addition he seemed to have
everything that should go with a
condition devoid of financial wor-
ries, beginning right with his natu-
raj qualities. He was gifted with
fine physique which had been
built with years of competitive
athletic competition and of which,
even now, he took the best of care.
His personality was affable, care
free, and engaging. The coffee
and-cream complexion he possessed
was the envy of every woman he
passed by. His clothing, never
gaudy, was a revelation in simple
ity and style. He drove fine cars
and maintained a bachelor apart
ment that was the last word in
comfort, elegance, and taste. He
was a graduate in social service
from a large Eastern university,
and he possessed all the grace and
culture that such a training could
give. Gle had obviously, however,
left all the desire to toll at the
profession behind him. Whatever
else might be said of him, drunk
or sober, he remained the gentle
man.
The jealous males of the COM
munity called him (behind his back,
of course) everything from an
out-and-out pimp to a gangster,
none of which was true. He made
his money in perfectly legitimate
manner, and the fact that not
twenty people in the state knew
how he made it did not alter the
fact that it still was honest if
secretive toll. The truth of the
matter was that he held the posi-
ton of iaison man for a group of
powerful political leaders in the
state. He was absolutely honest
and trustworthy; and, while upon
occasion he could be talkative to
the babbling point, he took all blue
ribbons for his ability to say moth
ing about his private affairs under
any and all conditions. The boys
up in the Capitol and City Hall and
the men who put them there were
all well aware of this highly COM
mendable trait for saying much
and telling nothing, so they trusted
him to the limit. When you possess
the confidence of men who can
make or break mayors, governors,
and congressman you have some
thing, and you are apt to sit in
the golden chair by which much
lucre shall PASCAL of which is
net going by. This implies no dis
honesty; but it is in politics as it
is in war-to the victor the jelly,
and no victory without price.
In the case of Clark, the stuff
was assuredly there. The king
makers saw to it that the swag
came with pleasing frequency. He
was their box office attraction and
was paid accordingly. If the pub
lie could have known one-tenth of
the things that remained secluded
in his shapely head, hell on
stream-ined train would have
broken loose.
The stooges, both black and
white, that existed on the fringe
hated his CUTS. But any effort on
their part to cramp him usually re-
suited in the mailed fist falling on,
somebody's Uranium. And it never
was Clark's, either.
Money may have stopped at his
door, but its stay was short. He
got whatever he wanted and his
wants were usually costly. Espe-
cially where women were con-
cerned. 4
The agility with which he fell in
and out of romance was amazing.
No woman ever held his attention
for long, but while she had it her