Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 303, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1911 — The RING and the MAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The RING and the MAN

With some incidental DELATION B IfiE WOMAN

By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY

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SYNOPSIS. A foolish young tenderfoot becomes fascinated with the bold, artful wife of a Drunken prospector In a.western mining town. They prepare to elope In a blinding blizzard but are confronted by the maudlin husband. He Is shot by the, wife, but the chivalrous boy pins a note to the body taking the crime upon himself, in their flight to the railroad station the woman’s horse falls exhausted: the youth puts her on his own and follows hanging to the stirrup strap. Seeing he Is an Impediment, the woman thrusts her escort Into a snow drift and rides on. Half-frozen he stumbles, lntb the railroad station just fa the train bears the woman away, twenty-five years later, this man. George Gormly, Is a multi-millionaire In New York. He meets Eleanor Haldane, a beautiful and wealthy settlement worker, and co-operates with her In her work. Gorinly becomes owner of a steamship fine and finds himself frustrated In pier and track extension plahs by grafting aldermen. backed by the Gotham Traction company. An automobile accident brings the Haldanes to his country home- Gormly announces that ho will be mayor of New York and redeem the city from corruption. Mr. Haldane In a long desired interview with Gormly. makes an Indirect proposition to compromise the fight which the latter has been waging hn the newspapers against the Gotham Traction company, and which Haldane Is suspected of being the head. Qormly boldly announces his plan of campaign to Haldane. Gormly rides to Haldane’s place, carrying word Of the auto accident. The next morning he refers to .the ride of the night before as mild compared to one he experienced In his boyhood days. The papers announce his candidacy for mayor. The political declaration of the merchant prince produced a * tremendous sensation. The minority party, seeing in him a possible Moses, make overtures looking to the indorsement of his candidacy by the ’ outs. Gormly. however, rejects all proposed alliance. A meeting of the Sachem Society or the "Ring,- Is held at the Haldane Home., Many political dignitaries and henchmen are present and ways and means are advanced to dampen Gormly s mayoralty aspirations and sidetrack his candidacy... The younger - Haldane Is proposed as an opposition candidate; the whole machinery of the city’s detective force Is to be used to dig up something damaging to Gormly. Haldane, Jr., refuses the nomination and announces that lie will support Gormly. The reigning party then decides to name a iron-parti-san ticket for the purpose of dividing the Gormly forces, and at the same time, rush through a Freight Traction company franchise, without which the Sachem Society would be helpless. The press heretofore unanlmouflw favorable to the merchant candidate, now under pressure,, divides and the campaign waxes warm. A resolution is Introduced granting a gratuitous renewal of the traction franchise. Gormly offers ten million dollars for the franchise. The excited populace threaten to mob the aldermen, when addressed by Gormly.

CHAPTER X-—Continued.

“Now, sir,” said Gormly, “you see what our masters the people think. They wish me to put to you a question. If such a measure comes before you, will you veto it or will you not?" . The mayor was in a dilemma, a fearful one. He was quick enough to see that his whole''political future, the future of his party, practically depended upon his action. If he did not declare his purpose to veto the bill, he and his party were doomed. If he (ook some other course, they would still have a fighting chance. The mayor rose to the occasion. ' “Gentlemen,” fie said, "my action shall be dictated by yourselves.** “Answers Answer! No speech!” roared the crowd. "Every man is entitled' to his chance," said Gormly, “and I beg you to hear.” “I will pledge you my word,” continued the mayor, “that so far as I have power the issuance of this franchise shall be determined by the election. If I am so fortupate as to receive a majority, I shall take It as a sign that you Indorse the policy which, with an eye single to the public Interest, believes that It demands (he granting of this franchise to the Gotham Freight Traction company, which has already served you so well. If on the contrary, my distinguished opponent shall prevail, the matter will be left for his determination.” ' "Ton won't sign the bill If it comes to you then?” asked some one in the

crowd. - ... . . '{! “I. Will not, apd I FHI use what influence I hare to see that It Is not presetted to me,” waa the answer. N ‘'Nothing,” said Gonnly, “could be fairer than that. The Issue Is clearly and sharply drawn. If you want to perpetuate the power of the Gotham Freight Traction company, you have only to re-elect the present mayor. If you want to resume your own control of affairs, you have only to elect me. I don't ask you now which It shall be. I don't want any more cheering. I want you to go to your homes and go to work. Good night” He sank down in the. automobile, covered with perspiration and trembling with nervous excitement Amid tumultuous cheering and applauding, the crowd opened a line through which the big automobile iflbwly moved, over toward Broadway and then sped upward through the Connell turned to the mayor, “Shall I drive these dogs out of the iQuare? Curse ’em!" he cried. „ Nothing' would have suited the mayor better; hut policy would not permit “No,” he said, “Just picket the approaches to the city hall. Let the people alone. They will disperse now." Indeed they were already beginning to break away. "Wall, you've gone and done It now, for. sure,” safil Connell, giving the necessary orders. “tJaless you get elected, the Gotham Freight Traction obsnpsuy’s busted *oK “We’re all 'busied.’-as you say." said

Warren gloomily, “unless I am elected.” , . “““ The mayor turned away and walked Into the city hall. Rutherford met him at the door. “I want to congratulate you,” he said, “on your course?* , “Do you approve of It?" ~ “Approve! It was the nerviest sort of a thing for you to do, but the only thing. That damned Gormly had you dead to rights; but you took the wind out of his sails.” “I don’t know,” answered the mayor, nervously. “What will liiffey and Benson and the rest say?” T don’t know,” returned Rytheri ford; “but whatever they say, It was the only thing on God’s earth to do, and they ought to be .glad that you had the nerve to do It Now, we’ve, got to win the election.” y. “Yeß,” said'the mayor; “bnt how?” Outside the city hall a slender, quiet, but shrewd looking man edited his way carefully through the rapidly dispersing crowd until he caught sight of Connell standing on the steps scowling at the multitude, black rage in, his heart . _ “Well.” said the chief, as the man came cltfse to him, “any news?"

. : have a-clue,” waa the answer. “Come in here!” said the chief, laying his hand on the other man’s shoulder, and In his excitement and eagerness almost jerking him Into the city halt CHAPTER Xl. Miss Haldane Listens to a Declaration. For some distance the automobile sped onward. Before one of the big wholesale buildings on lower Broadway, now entirely dark, It suddenly stopped in obedience to a signal from the tonneau. A. hand waa laid on Gormly’s shonlder, and a voice he knew and to which he thrilled spoke to him. - “Mr. Oormly," said Mias Haldane, “that Fas the most magnificent, splendid, dramatic scene I ever witnessed or participated in.” Oormly rose to his feet instantly and faced about. ”You -were there, Miss Haldane!” he exclaimed. ' * r,* “Didn’t you see me?” asked the girl, a note of disappointment in her voice, “And didirt you see me?” put in Miss Btewart opportunely. "Well, girls,” said Livingstone Haldane, “how long are you going to keep up stopping here?” ”1 waa about to suggest,” said Miss Stewart, "that Mr. Oormly and I change places- 1 don’t want to talk to you particularly; but I know that Eleanor wants to speak to Mr. Qormly, and—” \ The words, were not. out of her mouth before Oormly had leaped to the street and opened the door. He assisted Mias Stewart UT the place he had vacated, and took her place In the big roomy tonneau. As soon as the exchange had been effected. Haldane started un the street again.

“#7“ ti -7“?, 7 , 7 " I Vito sure now that I was aware of your presence, Miss Haldane.” said 1 know that ■dons. If yen such a contradiction—that you were listening—dare I not say sympathetically T—carried me through?’ « “It was glorious. You played upon those people.as I might play upon—” “Me/’ said Gormly softly. “ppon an instrument of music,” continued thff girl. “I think your election is sure.” . “I think so too?’ was the answer; “but I am not Indulging In-any overconfidence, and there is to be no weakening of effort until the last minute.” ?_V“. , They had by this time reached Fourteenth street Although it was long after tjie ordinary time for the issuance of the latest editions of the newspapers, newsboys were already crying accounts of the episode on the streets, and papers were being bought eagerly on every hand. * - “Mr. Gormly,” she turned suddenly full upon him, "why hare you said to my brother that I must not come to the store any more to consult you on business matters?” “My dear Miss Haldane,” said Gorxniy. “I did that for your sake.? “But why?” •f. , *1 have ascertained that I am being shadowed by practically all the detectives of 'the city hall force; that I am watched constantly; that all my visitors are noted; and I did not wish to involve you In any notoriety whatsoever, Therefore, although I had no knowledge that you would come or that you wanted to come, I thought it proper to advise you through your ■ brother not to do so?*-

“Of course I wanted to come,” said the young woman, earnestly. ■ “I have read every scrap pertaining to the campaign. I have done what I could among such friends as I was able to Influence to get them to aid yon. It was .through me that Uvingstone proffered his services. I even ttfed my father, but I have been unable to make any Impression upon him; and I wanted to hear from you directly how things were going.” “1 realise. all that you have done; and you can’t imagine, Miss Haldane, how great a deprivation it waa to me to send, guch a message, and how' hard a course It was to decide upon." “1 made Livingstone bring us both down here tonight But I never dreamed that I was going to be the spectator of such a scene as x that which has just happened. I don’t believe there waa. ever anything more dramatic or splendid In the history of American politics. Why, It was like a new Declaration of Independence! When that multitude surged back and forth, crying, yelling, threatening, and muttering, I followed.every emotion in my own heart. I never waa so thrilled In my life. I am glad to have lived through this, to have seen It, to have been a email part of It” “You can’t Imagine.” said Oormly, “how great a part of It you have been. I win net say that 1 am doing It all for you now; that would not he true or fair. But you were my inspiration In the beginning, your words, your presence. Mias Haldane, I have something to say to you. “First of all,” be began, “where are you taking me?” “Anywhere you want <B go. You eald you had no engagement, you know.” Miss Haldane leaned forward and touched her brother. He stopped the car again and turned about “Mr.

Gormly wants td know wh«re' we art "I thought we’d swing over past toe perk and go oat Riverside Drive. We can get a decent bite to eat in some quiet place along the rrver road, and a spin will do us all good. Is that agreeable to you?” ...... ~ •T am in your hands,” answered' Gormly gratefully. “And indeed I think I should like it very muck. I had no idea how 1 tired I was and you don’t know how few opportunities I get like this for an hour's quiet enjoyment." ' ' “Leave It to me,” said young Haldane. Til turn you up at your apartment In proper time and in good shape. Tonight you are going to enjoy yourself and drop the campaign for a little while.” Whether or not Gormly would have engaged in the battle if he had had foreknowledge of this alliance between the father of the woman he loved and the powers he was trying to overthrow, is a question. As to his present attitude, he had begun his campaign with mingled feelings. It had been at first In a certain sense and for a short time a campaign for the winning of Eleanor Haldane; but larger issues lpd speedily relegated that as a motive Into {he background, and now the campaign made every possible appeal to his honor, as a man, to his sense of duty as a citizen. And while Eleanor Haldane bulked large before him, he knew that no matter What might be the result of the cam, paign so far as she was concerned. He must of absolute necessity press on to the end .of it. He wanted to win for her; builf it became necessary, he would Win without her, and for the people’s sake. It would make his election probably certain to reveal to the public the vast corruptive influences behind the traction comphny and the Sachem -society. His agents had been thorough in their work, and they hid discovered what nobody suspected; that, the syndicate of which Haldane was the head practically controlled all the public utilities and afforded all the financial . backing for the Sachem society and its immense corruption fund. Gormly had meant to carry on his campaign to the end, and then tell her that he IoVCd her and ask her to be his wife. He saw swiftly that with all the complications before him this , would be an entirely fruitless proceeding. Indeed, if. under m6re -favorable circumstances he could have won her affections, it was probable that now such an endeavor would be unavailing. He had been wondering since the knowledge had come to him how he could get speech with her without too great publicity, and behold fortune had given->him the chance. At whatever hazards he intended to avail himself of it. “Miss Haldane,” he began, after they had been running along for some time in. silence, "I said that I had something to say to you. I don’t suppose either the time or the circumstances "gre propitious, hut necessity compels me to spy it now.” “I shall be very glad indeed to listen to anything that you have to say to me," was the answer. “Thank yon. I meant —it was my, purpose—l intended—when I had won the first step to ask you if you would not help me with the rest of the battle."

“Help you. Mr. Gormly?” "Yes, Miss Haldane, I purposed to ask you to be my wife.” “Your wife!” exclaimed the glrL "It surprises you doubtless. Po* elbly it dismays you.” "It surprises’ me, certainly.” “And yet you must have known, you must have seen—you are woman enough for that—that I cared a great deal for your opinion.” "I will not deny It, Mr. Gormly,” returned the girl. "Tftngs you have said, not so much that perhaps as the way you have said them, have led me to think so. But I really never Imagined—Ton see there is so much difference —" “I know that I am alihoat old enough to be your father,” returned the man gravely.’ ‘1 am no boy. Therefore, I am the more sure and convinced of what I say, and you can be the more sure also that I —love you.”

“It la a great honor that you pay me,”, began the woman. “Walt!” said the man. ”1 am not through. I did not intend to tell yon tonight. As I say, I waa going to wait until I had something worth while to offer; but things that I have learned have made it necessary In my Judgment to Inform you of this fact at once.” . ’* - “What things, Mr. Gormly? Is some one making charges against you or discovering things-about you?" “Not one. It la not of myself I a—thinking.” “Of whom! Of what then?” "As I said before,", returned the man, “I can say no more. It seems to ,me that now my honor demands that I put you in possession of the state of my feelings. 1 am dot asking you If you care anything for me. I realize that you could not. It la easy for me to have fallen In love with you. In deed I don’t see how I could have helped It; but the case with you Is different And I want you to know, whatever happens in these closing days of the campaign, that; I do truly and devotedly love you. Great God! Miss Haldane, J haven’t used these words to a soul since I was a boy. You can’t know what they mean to me, what 1 would like to have them mean to you. Some day, tt may be soon, I shall ask you to be my- wife; but now an that I want to Impress upon you Is that whatever happens to me or anyone, I am pledged to you in my heart forever- Nothing can make any difference in my 'feelings You understand that?” „ >; * .“I understand entirely.” she said (to bs coNTiNuanj

"You See What Our Master the People Think!"