Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' 1 ' '' ' ' " ''''' 's ** ♦*♦*♦#*♦♦**♦♦**♦♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦**♦*******♦«♦♦*♦♦♦****«***♦ ‘fire REFORMER By GHAMfS M SHELDON. kdkr of “k tfisSteps.” Robert Hardy’s Seven Days.-ftc. copyright, mil, by Cbarlet if. Sheldon mnmm CHAPTER XI. "Are you a tenement hoiue impcetorl" FTER awhile Miss Andrews said: “You say ‘no.’ Do you not mean p. ‘yes?’ ” John Gordon lifted up his head. The dusk had deepened, and he could see only the outline of her face. “You have not answered my ques tion, Miss Andrews. Did I do her an Injustice when I made it a test of her feeling that she come down here? Ought I to have asked her to do that?” “Would it be any harder for her to live here than for you or for me—or”— she spoke hurriedly—“or for any of us?” “She was born and has been reared In great luxury. Of course coming here .would mean a complete change from all that.” “I do not see how you could have asked anything less,” the voice came calmly. “The woman who loved you Would expect nothing less.” John Gordon did not answer at once. “Then you think Miss Marsh does not love me?” “I did not say that. I think she be lieves she does.” “But do you believe she does?” “It is not fair to ask me!” she ex claimed, with agitation. Then she laugh ed in her u.mal happy manner. “Excuse me. Mr. Gordon. I fear I am not com petent to answer all your questions The realm of love is a realm of myste rious contradictions. I am sure of only one thing. The test you made was not too great. It was the only test possible. I would warn you, however, as your senior by—ton years—that you do not too hastily judge of your feelings.” "But supposing,” Gordon went on nervously—“supposing I had begun to feel attracted toward”— He could not see her face at all now and could only feel that in some way What he said was unwelcome. He did not finish, and in the silence Ford came Into the room and lighted the candles. Miss Andrews rose and went over to the table and asked Ford some ques tion about the day’s work, and when dinner was announced a few minutes later she went out and took her place at the head of the table as usual. When John Gordon came out and took his seat, he saw the placid, earnest face heightened perhaps in color, but bear ing the usual quiet seriousness that dis tinguished her. The talk at table turned upon Tommy Randall and his plans. It was the con sensus of opinion that nothing could be done except in the way of enforcing the building ordinances. And every body agreed that from past attempts the probability was very small that Tommy could ever be convicted. “For my own satisfaction,” said Gor don after they, had discussed every phase of the remarkable situation, “I want to see the mayor and have a per sonal interview with him. Let us strike at headquarters.” Miss Andrews smiled sadly. “Mr. Gordon, youth is always rash.” Gor^ don colored as if he understood her to mean it in a double sense. “But go and the see the mayor. I’ve no objec tions. Need I say I have seen him sev eral times to no purpose? Has a parti san machine any place in its mechan ism for human mercies?” Gordon felt abashed. “I did not m an to hint that I could do anything. I simply wanted to put the city govern ment to the test in a plain matter of human right and justice. It will be more for my own satisfaction and ex perience than anything else.” “Go your ways. You will get the ex perience without fail,” answered Miss Andrews, with a look which contained a depth of sadness out of her own ex perience that haunted Gordon all the evening. Nevertheless the next day he went down to the city ball and asked to see the mayor. After a delay of half an hour be was admitted. As be entered four men came out of the room. They (Were talking excitedly, and Gordon could hear the name “Julius Cham bers.” “So Julius Chambers is making him self talked about at headquarters,” Gordon murmured to himself. “I must know that man.” He was ushered into the mayor’s of fice by the doorkeeper and faced a slightly built, rather aristocratic look ing man. carefully dressed. Gordon had seen him on public occasions, but had never before met him personally. “You are the son of the late Rufus Gordon, eh? Yes. Knew your father quite well. He was a stanch supporter of the party and a man to be depended upon. Sorry to know of his financial losses just before his death.” The mayor was a soft, easy spoken man, with a slight hesitation at the end of his sentences that gave a listen er the idea of mental indecision, not borne out by his-political career. “What can I do for you?” he said suddenly. Gordon was not prepared for it. The tone was suddenly hard, brisk, businesslike. “A good deal, Mr. Mayor, if you will.” “That’s the usual statement, Mr. Gordon. That’s what they all say. Of course you’ve come to get something. They all do.” The mayor spoke with a tone of resignation that struck Gordon as unusually Impersonal. “Yes. sir; I did come to get some thing, and 1 have no apologies to offer for it, because it is something that any good citizen ought to get, and that is justice.” “Be specific. Justice is not delivered here in wholesale lots.” “Is it delivered at all?” Gordon burst out. The mayor coolly eyed him. “That depends. State your errand, young man. Others are waiting.” “Do you know Tommy Randall?” The mayor raised his eyebrows. “I know a part of him. Nobody knows all of Tommy.” “He is one of the biggest rascals in this city." “This is not news.” The mayor looked resigned. “Yes, Mr. Mayor; It is news to this administration. What is this man, Tommy Randall? He is not an officer of the city, he is not authorized to take part In its affairs, yet he dictates”— “Be specific. Others are waiting. State your errand, young man.” The words came hard, incisive, like the bit ing of cold steel on steel. Gordon sud denly pulled up, and in five seconds he was as cool and clear headed as the impassive political figure sitting there at his desk. In a swift, forceful manner that characterized him when driven to it by a hostile listener he pictured Randall’s proposed violation of the building ordi nance, the long, heartbreaking fight for childhood that Miss Andrews had been making, the gift of the settlement and Randall’s contemptuous defiance of all humanity in his plan of restoring the regular causes of the people’s misery. He must have stated it wonderfully well, for the mayor was really Inter ested. Once he interrupted. “Say that again about the window space required in proportion to floor area. Do you mean to tell me there are 3,000 dark bedrooms in the Waterside district?” “Three thousand two hundred and seventeen, sir. And children rot in them like”— “Go on,” the mayor said in a low tone. When Gordon was through, the may or was contemplatively silent. “You’ve come to the wrong place, Mr. Gordon. I can’t do anything to Tommy Randall. What you want to do is to lay a complaint before the city building department. The whole busi ness is under their jurisdiction and properly should come before them. I regret exceedingly to hear what you say about the tenements. I had no idea matters were so bad. Of course the housing problem is a vexed question In all large centers of population, and all reformers, I believe, are agreed that no problem presents so many”— “Do you claim, Mr. Mayor,” Gordon interrupted, but his blood always boiled up in him when a man lied to him, “that you do not know about the tene ment house conditions in Waterside district? Has Miss Andrews told it so badly that you have forgotten it?” The mayor’s face was dark. He raised his eyes to Gordon, but lowered them again. “You have come to the wrong place to prefer your complaint, sir. Go to the city building department Is that all your errand?” “It is,” replied Gordon, and he rose, turned his back on his honor the mayor and without another word walked out of the office. Gordon had such supreme contempt for a deliberate liar that he used to say it choked him to breathe the same air with him in the same room. At the noon meal he told the story of bis Interview with the mayor. Miss Andrews looked at him quietly. “The same old story. And now”— “Now for the city building depart ment” “It’s the regular routine. After that the state board of health, then the state factory and tenement house inspectors, then”— She spoke with her usual deliberate patience, and Gordon colored. “I know. I am simply following a better person than myself, but”— “But you are man,” she said wistful ly. “You may succeed with some of them.” John Gordon looked doubtful. But in the afternoon he went down to the city hall again, and after a long and vexa tious delay he managed to get a hear ing with one of the officers of the city building department. The superintend ent was In Europe. But a deputy lis tened to him with an air of polite resig nation, us if he were losing valuable time. When Gordon was through, he said: “Oh, Mr. Gordon, that’s altogether outside our jurisdiction. You’ll have to carry your complaint up before the shite boa<rd of health. I can furnish you with the necessary blanks on which to make complaint. Are you a regular tenement house Inspector?” “Yes.” “Then possibly you will be required to file your complaint with the factory and tenement house inspector’s com mission. Sometimes the complaints are made out to one body, sometimes to an other.” “They have complaints, then, do they?” asked John Gordon ironically. “Oh, yes, yes,” the deputy replied hurriedly. “Sorry we can’t do anything. But the whole affair is outside our de partment. Glad to have met you. Good day, Mr. Gordon.” Gordon went right over to the room of the state board of health. After the usual delay he was ushered into the office of a nervous little man who said, without turning from his desk at which he was writing: “Be so kind as to state your business, and be brief, as time is precious.” “So is human life!” said Gordon, who had refused the chair at which the officer had nodded when his visitor en tered. The man at the desk jumped as If he had been unexjiectedly hit on the buck. Then he turned around and looked at Gordon. “What did you say?” “You said time was precious, and I said, ‘So is human life.’ Both state ments are true, but I think mine is more important.” “Ah, yes; possibly, possibly. Will you state your errand?” Gordon began, but he had not gone far when the man at the desk inter rupted. “Are you a tenement house inspect or?” “I am.” “Regularly qualified?” “I am.” “Then you ought to carry this com plaint to the board of state factory and tenement inspection.” “W’hat comes after them?” asked Gordon. “What?” “What is the next public body to which I shall be referred after the fac tory and tenement inspection body de nies its responsibility in the matter?” The man gravely stared at Gordon. “Don’t let it keep you aw’ake to night,” said Gordon, In deep disgust as he went out, and as it w'as too late to cull on the state factory and tenement inspection body he went back to Hope House, where he made an attempt to give a humorous account of his after noon’s experience, but dismally failed, as he could see by the look on Miss Andrews’ face. He went down to the city hall next day and found that the state factory inspectors met at regular sessions on the 1st of the month. From all the knowledge he could gain he concluded that the delays he would have to en dure before that body would consider his complaint would be so annoying that Tommy Randall would have his double decker all built and inhabited before the red tape had all been un wound from the complaint filed with the department. He came back to Hope House and bad a conference with Miss Andrews. “I am perfectly satisfied as to this administration,” Gordon said, speaking with repressed indignation. "They are ail a set of political thieves. What do they care for humanity? So far as I can learn there has never been a con viction during the whole of the present administration for violating tenement house ordinances. There have been numerous complaints filed at different times, but they have all been treated with the most insolent contempt or po litely entered in some department, there to lie untouched. But there Is one course open to us now, and I’m going to take it” “Of course I know what you mean. You can carry a complaint directly to the city attorney, have Tommy arrest ed and bring the case into the police court. Do you know how many times we have had Tommy arrested?” Gordon shook his bead in surprise. “Within the last eight years, for one thing and another, Tommy Randall has been arrested as many as fifteen times, with no result except failure on our part to convict. Do you wonder that we women in Hope House have given up arresting Tommy?” “It seems to me the person to arrest is the mayor,” growled Gordon. “Be fore God, he is guilty if ever man was.” “Arrest Tommy and bring the case in Julius Chambers’ court. According to the statute law, the jurisdiction of Chambers’ court extends to all cases in Waterside district. Chambers has nev er had a case of this kind. From all that we know of him so far he is not afraid of Randall nor in any way In debted to him.” Gordon gravely assented. He was sit ting in the library, where his view through the window extended down Bowen street to the end of the burned district. He could see a group of work men laying out foundations toe Tom my’s first double decker. The sight suggested a plan to Gor don, and he went out and walked over tp the place. Tommy Randall was at the farther end of the lot, but as Gordon came up he walked over to the street and said with cheerful insolence. “Flue day for building, Mr. Gordon,” Gordon went down to the end of the lot The basement excavation had been made, and the masons were at work on the foundation wall. Gordon came back to where Randall still stood. “Of course you know your rear end line for this building runs fifteen feet farther south than the law allows?” Tommy Randall was chewing a bit of pine splinter. He spit out the piece,^ then turned toward John Gordon. “Is this your building that’s going up? Don’t you worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” Then to Gordon’s surprise Randall came up close to him and said in what was intended for a bluff, hearty man ner: “Say, Mr. Gordon, what’s the use of quarreling with me over this little matter? Of course I know that tech nically the ordinance isn’t lived up to, but it is practically a dead letter any how. None of the contractors ever pays any attention to it. What difference does it make anyhow? I mean to put up a good building, and the people know my rents are fair. No one ever complained that Tommy Randall ever screwed ’em for rent w’hen it was hard to get. Live and let live is my motto.” Gordon looked him in the eye. “Mr. Randall, you know or ought to know that this double decker you are putting up here is a death trap and that the law distinctly provides for this space at the rear of the lot to give the tenement dwellers sufficient light and air at that end of the building. After you have got your building up it will be a fire trap like old No. 19. You de liberately violate not only the ordi nance in regard to rear space, but you are planning to violate other provisions of the building acts In regard to light ing areas and metal staircases. I’ve seen your plans, and they are nothing more nor less than copies of plans of No. 91. I’ll have you arrested unless you change the ground plans of this building.” “You will, eh?” Tommy spit out another piece of splinter and contemptuously started down toward the masons. “It ain’t the first time I’ve been arrested, but the fellows that does it remembers it longer’n I do.” Gordon went over with Ford to the city hall, and together they swore out a complaint before the city attorney. That officer eyed Gordon rather curi ously, and while his assistant was making out the warrant Gordon asked a few questious. “This case will come in Judge Cham bers’ court?” The assistant looked up and paused in his writing. The city attorney eyed Gordon again. “Judge Chambers has jurisdiction in the Waterside district. It ha« been cus tomary, however, to follow the prec edent established by the new building act of ’97 and call these cases in the district court” “Jury case?” “Yes.” “Am I right in saying that the com plaining witness in cases of violatiou of city ordinances has the right to ap pear and cause the party complained of to appear in the police court that has jurisdiction in civil cases over the dis trict in which the violation occurs?” “That is the law.” The city attorney slowly and seemingly with reluctance spoke. Gordon went one step further. “Then this warrant will cite Randall to ap pear before Judge Chambers. If cases that come under the provisions of the building act of 1897 are appealed from the police court of Judge Chambers, do they go to the court of appeals or the court of special pleas?” The city attorney hesitated. “The court of appeals. There is no choice in the matter.” Gordon was silent. The city attorney eyed him again with interest. “Are you a lawyer, young man?” “No.” “Do you know Tommy Randall inti mately?” “No. Do you?” The city attorney evaded the ques tion. “He’s a bright one, Tommy is; very bright. Very bright, don’t you think?” “Will this w’arrant be served at once?” Gordon asked, in his turn ignor ing a question. The attorney placed the warrant In the hands of an officer, with instruc tions to serve it on Tommy Randall at once, and as gave the order it seemed to Gordon that everybody in the office, from the city attorney down to the policeman, eyed him with a sort of pitying contempt. He walked out of the building boiling with wrath at the insolent attitude of every person in the city administration with whom he had come in contact during that week’s experience. “But Chambers seems to be unpop ular around here,” he said to Ford. “That’s hopeful for us, isn’t it?” “How unpopular?” “Didn’t you notice the city attorney’s hesitation when Chambers’ name was mentioned? And while you were talk ing I overheard a little talk between two men at the other end of the office. Chambers’ name occurred several times, and It was never spoken of in any complimentary terms. If he is un popular with the city administration, isn’t that a good sign for us?” “Yes. It’s a glimmer of hope, but only a glimmer in this awful municipal darkness. We'll follow It, though, and hope for the best” Gordon was not present when the of ficer served the warrant on Tommy, but he learned afterward that the two regarded the matter as a good Joke and adjourned to the nearest saloon to have a drink over it together. When next morning Gordon appeared with Ford in Chambers’ court in response to the warrant which set 9 o’clock as the time. Tommy was there In good spirits and nodded familiarly to Gordon as he came in. When the case was called, the three went forward and Gordon noted with deep interest the man who presided and of whom Mrs. Penrose had said. “He does not fear man or devil.” He was almost youthful in appear ance. His smooth face had a delicate, scholarly look that a pair of gold bowed spectacles emphasized. He seemed strangely out of place in that police court When he spoke, it was in a voice so soft and refined that Gordon was disappointed. His heart sank and at once the glimmer of hope he had al lowed his heart to entertain flickered and went out “Who are the prosecuting witnesses in this case?” Chambers said, and Gor don and Ford stepped up. Gordon made his statement, and the judge eyed him through his spectacles. Then he turned to Tommy Randall. “Have you any defense, Mr. Ran dall?” “I plead not guilty. My attorney will take the case,” said Tommy, with a smile. Then, to John Gordon’s surprise, a man got up from the front bench and laid a bundle of papers on the rail in front of the judge. / DO YOU GET DP WITH A LAME BAClC ? / — ... . —■■ ■ f Kidney Trouble Makes You Miserable^ This story will be continued in next Friday’s issue of The Ledger. Prominent Mason Dead. Columbus, Ga., May 13.—Colonel J. M. Mobley, a distinguished lawyer and one of the most prominent and wide ly known Masons in Georgia, died Sun- day morning about 8 o’clock at his home in Hamilton, Ga., above Colum bus. He was past grand master of the Masonic order of Georgia, and has been prominent in fraternal circles all of his life. Almost up to a few days before his death he took an active and prominent Interest in Masonic af fairs. Funeral Drivers Strike. Toledo. O.. May 13.—'During the fu neral services over the remains of Mrs. Mary Kamm here today the driv ers of the carriages struck and re fused to work because the hearse was driven by a nonunion man. The of ficiating undertakers filled the strik ers’ places just as the casket contain ing the remains was being taken to the hearse. Maloney Made a Marquis. Rome, May 13.—Cardinal Satolli re cently applied to the pope to confer a title of nobility on Martin Maloney, of Philadelphia, Pa., because of his large church offerings and his efforts to further Catholicism, and the pon tiff has issued a brief creating Malo ney a marquis. A Sure Tiling. It is said that nothing is sure except death and taxes, bur that is not al together true. Dr. King’s New Dis covery for Consumption is a sure cure fur all lung and throat troubles Thousands can testify to that. Mrs 0 B. YanMetre, of Shepherd- town. W Va.,says, “I hud a severe case of Bronchitis and for a year tried everything I heard of. but got no re lief. One bottle of Dr. King’s New Discovery then cured me absolutely. ” It’s infallible for Croup, Whooping- Cough, Grip. Pneumonia and Con sumption. Try it. It’s guaranteed by Cherokee Drug Co., duggists. Trial bottles free. Reg. sizes 50c, $1. W’oman is a guitar, the sweetness of whose tone depends upon the player. CureH Kr/.eiim, Itching HumurH, IMinplen and CarbuuclcH. - Cost Nothing to Try. B. B. B. (Botanic Blood Balm) is a certain and sure cure for ejzema, itching skin, humors, sctbi, scales, watery blisters, pimples, aching bones or joints, boils, carbuncles, prickling poin in the skin, old eating sores, ul cers, etc. Botanic Blood Balm cures the worst and most deep-seated cases by enriching, purifying and vi talizing the blood, thereby giving a healthy blood supply to the skin. Heals every sore and gives the rich glow of health to the skin. Builds up the broken down body and makes the blood red and nourishing. Especially advised for chronic, old cases that doctors, patent medicines and hot springs fail to cure. Druggists $1, with complete direction for home cure. To prove B. B B cures sam ples sent free and prepaid by writing Blood Balm Co. Atlanta.Ga. Describe trouble, and free medical advice sent iu sealed letter He who has a handsome wife or a castle on the frontier is never without fear. A Little Karl KUer now and then, at bedtime will cure constipation, biliousness and liver troubles. DeWitt’s Little Early Risers are the famous little pills that cure by arousing the secretions, moving the bowels gently, yet effectually, and giving such tone and strength to the glands of the stomach and liver that the cause of the trouble is re moved entirely, and if their use is continued for a few days, there will be no returq of the complaint. Sold by Cherokee Drug Co Fresh men usually tell stale stories. Towels Without Cost. Every forty-eight pound sack in which “Clifton” flour is packed will make two good towels, the regular towelling goods being used in the manufacture of the sacks. Ask for “Clifton” in the towel sack. W. J. Wilkins & Co. To the School Teachers of the County. The regular examination for teachers will be held at the court house on Friday, May the 22nd. Hereafter there will be no public ex- aminatio'n in May, but the two regular ones will be held in Feb. and Oct. J. L. Walkbr, 5-12-15-19 Co. Supt. of Schools Almost everybody who roads the news-\ papers is sure to know of the wonderful cures made by Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp-Root, the great kidney, liver and bladder remedy. It is the great medi cal triumph of the njne* teenth century; (dis covered after years of scientific research by Dr. Kilmer, the emi nent kidney and blad der specialist, and is wonderfully successful in promptly curing lame back, kidney, bladder, uric acid trou bles and Bright’s Disease, which is the worst form of kidney trouble. y Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp-Root is notVec- ommended for everything but if you have kid ney, liver or bladder trouble it will be found just the remedy you need. It has been tested in so many ways, in h jspitai work, in private practice, among the helpless too poor to pur chase relief and has proved so successful in every case that a special arrangement has been made by which all readers of this paper who have not already tried it, may have a sample bottle sent free by mail, also a book telling more about Swamp-Root and how to find out if you have kidney or bladder trouble. When writing mention reading this generous offer in this paper and send your address toi Dr. K i 'mer&Cc.,Bing- raniton, N. Y. The' egula’ fif‘y cen; and ioi wr sues a.-e scid oy Tloiiif. ot Swainp-.-yOt. ' moc. creggjsts. ,Dr. Woolley's PAINLESS AND Whiskey Cun SENT FREE t > nu users of morpiitno. opium, laudanum, elixir of opium, co caine or whiskey, a large book of par ticulars on home or sanatorium treat ment. Address, B. M. WOOLLEYCO., 104 N. Pryor Street, Atlanta, Georgia. F U Silberman Bros. Largest Fur House in America. Branches All Over Europe. Highest cash price paid for all kinds of raw furs. Hold your shipment until you get our price li‘t. ll’rite /or it to-day. We mail it tree. R S SILBERMAN BRG£., 122to 128 Michigan St.. Chicago, III. ICE AND MEATS. I am now prepared to deliver Ice and Meats together or separate. I am still selling some fine Beef and Pork, and my Sausage is double ground, fresh each day. Domestic Fruits, Lemons, Oranges, Bananas, Country Produce when it can be had. Fresh Fish Fridays ar/^Sat urdays. Canned Goods of all varieties. Heavy and Fancy Groceries, Cigars and Tobacco. Fat Cattle and Green Hides wanted. Mr. B. F. Green takes a delight in wait ing on the ladies. Come or call ’phone No. 60. Burnett brick block. Yours for business, w. ivigouiiv:v. I also sell fine Kansas City Beef. KIDNEY DISEASES are the most fatal of all dis eases* cm C V’O kidney cure it 1 iULli O Guaranteed Remedj or money refunded. Contains remedies recognized by emi nent physicians as the best for Kidney and Bladder troubles* PRICE 50c. and $1.00. FOLEYSHONBMAR for chUdrmnt Mafo, •term. So opiatma Things We Like^ Best Often Disagree With Us Because we overeat of them, indi ces in follows. But there’s a way In esoipesuoh consequences. A dote of e good digestant like Kodol will relive yon at once. Your stomach la simply toe weak to digest what you eat. That’s all indigestion U. Kodol digests the food without the stomach’s aid. Thus the stomach rests while the body is strength ened by wholesome food. Dieting is un necessary. Kodol digests any kind ef good food. Strengthens and invlgontea. Kodel Makes Rich Rad Bleed. Pnpand only by X. C. DaWirr h Oo., Ohioan TaatlbottI.oo»tolnsSHtlmss>hslOo etsa Administrator's Sale. V*' By virture of order issued out of the Probate Court for Cherokee county, S. C., this date, I will sell at public out cry at the corner of Limestone and Fred erick streets, Gaffney, S. C., on Saturday, May 16th next, at 2 o’clock p. m., the fol lowing articles of personal property be longing to the estate of Charles Petty, deceased, to-wit: Wardrol>e, Bureau, Bedstead, Wash- stand, Feather Bed, Mattress, Rocker, Bed Springs, Gold Watch and Chain, Diamond Ring and other person .1 abides. Terms of sale—cash. T. C. Petty, Admr. Est. Chas. A. Petty, dec’d. May 8-15. POlEYSHfflfEY^TAR