Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

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THE MARKED COURSE. By Lincoln CHAPTER I. The capacious dining room of the great Hotel Randolph fairly shone with the glamour and splendor of an impressive banquet scene. Hundreds of frivolous and animated men and women gaily intermingled midst the great social whirl and enticing splendor of the elaborate ceremony. The orchestra played gaily and the lights sparkled like glistening jewels, all depicting an event dedicated to the great politician. Mayor Edward Crawford. It was indeed the supreme moment of Edward Crawford’s political career. A member of the state legislature for two terms and mayor of the great city „f for one two year term and now an active candidate for re-election it was this feast of honor that his political and personal friends and supporters bad given to him. At the foremost place in the assemble, at the head of the long table sat the lion. Edward Crawford, his keen eyes glowing with satisfaction and his mind recalling vividly how cleverly he had brought it all about. Politics, he thought, was a game,—cleverness and trickery the essential fundamentals to success. He had built up a huge political machine, well-balanced and smooth running, no thought of a clog or a miss in the delicately adjusted mechanism had Quarberg ever entered his mind. Ilis attempt to concentrate on the social call of the moment was unsuccessful, and his mind settled to the past, he recalled just how he had run his previous campaigns, how eas-ilv his abundance of wealth had successfully counteracted any opposition the field offered. Then his thoughts bumped into the present campaign. Evidently it would be a harder run for him than he had previously had. A brilliant young attorney. Dick Buckley, had announced himself a candidate and Crawford knew that he had not run the political affairs of the city in the right way, this could not help but enter his mind now, he recalled all the graft and vice that had been worked through under bis administration, but no one suspected this and Crawford’s political pull was a good one. It was his turn to speak now, the great throng fairly yelled for the speech of the evening. Crawford was prepared and with the coolness and confidence of one who was experienced he rose to speak. Xow all noise in the great room ceased, the very air which hut a few seconds liefore had rung out with a noisy hub-dub had now taken a more quiet tone, all bustling passed away, the orchestra ceased playing, and it seems the very lights grew brighter. It was the most tense and in- 3

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The Staff...............................1 The Marked Course ......................3 The Adventures of the Montgomerys......11 A It ace with Death .................. 14 The Mission of the Little Pink Valentine... 15 The Night’s Adventure.................. 10 The Inventor of Peace..................17 Editorials.............................21 The Voyage of Prinee Henry......... 24 Local News.............................20 Speech of Sen. Robert M. LaFollette ... 20 Athletics..............................31 Demosthenian........................... 34 Nautilus...............................30 Music .................................37 Commercial ............................40 Alumni.................................41 Exchange...............................42 Humor .................................40 Funny Side of Life.................... 50 .

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2XXM M teresting moment of the entire evening l’o two young fellows way off in one corner it was more interesting still. They weie conversing in a low monotone when the speech had been well begun. “He’s got a powerful pull, Harry, and it'll take a clever campaign to best him.” “But, remember, Xed, the course is marked, and though possessing a powerful influence, Crawford has not gotten it honestly; he has actually purchased it, and this great throng of people honestly believe Crawford to be the man he is pretending to be. Once in grip of the truth these people will be won in a body and the man that exposes him is the one whom they will put in that office, and I know that Dick Buckley is the fellow. We’ll have to admit, though, Xed, that Crawford is clever; and a wizard at trickery, and the only way to beat him is at his own game, but we’ll do it honestly and not in the dirty underhanded way that he has. “He’s bringing up the opposition now Harry. Listen! The two-faced knave! He calls Dick an inexperienced and green young lawyer just out of college and fresh with ambiguous ambitions. Harry, before we’re through with that fellow he'll beg Dick to let him out of the city. Our campaign begins tonight and the course is marked and planned, our weeks of wrork on plans to beat this fellow at his own game begins tonight, and we know, we’ll get him. Dick Buckley will be the next mayor, or I'll run for president.” “And I’ll be your campaign manager, Harry.” “If Crawford knew what was going on at the other end of town, he would drop dead. But, says, where’s Jim Da I hey?” “He’s not here. Just as I thought,— Crawford’s got him out watching our plays. This is likely to prove interesting before morning.” “We should care about Jim Dalbey. We’ve got more than one fellow watching our interests.” By this time the speech was drawing to a close. The excitement was intense. Crawford closed his speech by simply referring to his plan of campaign, “I trust in my past work and your support for my re-election,” he said, “Further campaigning for me should lx unnecessary but any charges that my young opponent brings against me I assure you will be answered.” “Yes, he’ll do a lot of replying,” one of the young fellows in the corner whispered to the other. It was Harry Morton, a broker, and his chum was Xed Jackson, a big clothing merchant of the city. They had not received a formal invitation to the banquet, but for certain reasons, they had intruded anyway, no one knowing the circumstances, “lie’ll l c glad to remain silent when Dick’s whirlwind campaign begins.” “Yes, and as to trusting to his past work for his re-election; that’s just what is going to defeat him.” The banquet was over. A big touring car awaited outside to convey the politician to his home. It was well past midnight, but the busy metropolis was far from resting in quiet. It seems that mobs of men were scattered throughout the throng of men and women that issued forth from the Hotel Randolph. The big car drew up to the curb before the stately mansion. Crawford was just alighting when he was suddenly confronted bv an excited and nervous man. “Why, what’s the matter. Jim?” “Dick Buckley’s got a mob together down on the lower end of the city, be (i there all evening and he’s just raising the dickens with us. He’s got a sniff of everything, it seems Ed, and claims he will expose you as a grafter, briber and God knows what all. He’s got a lot of information from somewhere, Ed, and I’m afraid he’s going to explode it.” “We’ve got to do something, Jim, and do it quick.” Crawford said. “I’ll teach the young pup to break into the political game. He’ll find it’s no kids’ game. We’ll 4