Mondovi High School - Mirror Yearbook (Mondovi, WI)

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go into the house, Jim and dope it out.” CHAPTEK II. (In which Crawford makes his move). Ail tlie household had retired. In the Ji.mg room sat the wily Crawford and his mnfidant Jim Dalbey. Clever they Mere, and inttn ely they were softly and ni.ot :)y working out a scheme to frustrate Dick Hueklev’s political aspirations. t the lower end of the city was gath- 1 ,i mob of excited citizens, eagerly lis- l •! !, ; to a speech being given from a r'tfiim made up of a big dry-goods box. I) .k Buckley was the center of the at-m 'ion and in vivid and exciting lan-rai'o lie expressed his intentions of run-ni’ig for m ivor directly opposing the fa-incus Crawfoid. Buckley was a young at-t - and had won the hearts of a good iiianv of the working and middle classes f people. lie was a brilliant young felloe. jieiliaps thirty years of age, had Icon very successful thus far in his law practice and had won many friends. Tt !• 11 been rumored from time to time that Mayer Crawford had practiced numerous mdirhand methods while in office, had built up a political machine of corruptin' and dishonesty, but with his enormous wealth could easily buv influence among the miblie mind. Dick Buckley was shrewd and aggressive, and for the last couple of years in his dealings with different public cases which he had handled lie had discovered that Crawford was a dishonest crook and that if the truth were known Crawford would stand no possible chance of re-election hy anv fair-minded body of people. Buckley believed that the chance of a life-time for winning political prestige was at hand. The man who would expose the unlawful workings of Crawford’s political machinery and disclose to the public open-handed and fear lessly what was being done and had been done was sure of election. This was his first campaign speech and with his honest straightforward earnestness he was ran-idlv winning over a large crowd of fol- lowers who listened with interest to his outspoken denunciations of Crawford’s policy. They were startled by the plain accusations, challenges and defiances of the young lawyer. The scene was an odd one; a decided contrast to the gayer and more brilliant banquet ceremony just held at the Hotel Randolph. But no scene could be more spirited. Buckley’s words were startling and hurled defiance at the very Mayor of the city. It was part of his plan to arouse public spirit and to do it on this night and at this time of night was to his mind the time to begin the attack. A mob had gathered now; both Buckley’s folk wers and some of Crawford’s. Crawford’s followers were amazed at the sharp words of the young candidate and hoped for his immediate check. But Crawford was certainly not inactive. “I tell you Jim, let him go tonight I’ll make a speech tomorrow that will convince nearly every voter in this city that Buckley is crazy.” “Crawford, for once you’re wrong. If lie was green it would be all right, but he’s got the goods and something else has got to be done. All that will save you from disgrace will be Buckley’s removal from the city.” “Then that’s what we’ll do.” A loud crashing noise in the dining room interrupted the conversation. Evidently someone was in there and had run into a table and upset it. “Quick, Crawford, where’s a gun.” Crawford quickly drew out a long threatening thirty-eight and quick as a flash the door was thrown up, a light flashed in the dining room and there just as cool as one might appear under the circumstances was a burglar packing up the Hon. Crawford’s best tableware. He winced under cover of the revolver, but soon a sickening grin was seen to play on his lips. “We’re just in time” broke in Dalbov grinning at the intruder while Crawford held him under cover with the revolver. 5

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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

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‘nfL-ct-, Mi.lf j£ o jS- , “This your first attempt? Tough luck that, better try someone easier next time. You’re getting into pretty difficult stuff trying to best us, eh Crawford? Phone the police.” Crawford hesitated, then looked knowingly at Dalbey. The glance was returned as if understood. Crawford whispered a few words to Dalbey, who thereupon addressed these words to the burglar, “Say “You search him, Dalbey.” Nothing of interest was found on him and he was taken into the living room and asked to sit at the table around which they all grouped, Crawford and Dalbey on one side and the burglar on the other. Observing him under the light the politicians were surprised at the personal appearance of the fellow. He was far from possessing the appearance of a burglar He winced under cover of the revolver, but scon a sickening grin was seen to play on his lips. old man want to get out of this in tiptop shape, and make a haul without any risk?” The burglar had remained silent and subdued but when questioned he bristled and brightened. “Anything to keep from the pen,” he replied and to get a little good hard cash.” was good-looking, not over thirty years of age and far from unintelligent, as the politicians later concluded in their conversation with him. “Who are you and where’d you come from,” Dalbey demanded. “Well, state your business,” the burglar replied. My name’s Jack Brown and 6