Show THE NEW MAYOR ON THE JOB by VICTOR RADCLIFFE copyright by W 0 chapma mayor of tolliver Toll lTer gulch TUB drew up ills his horse asa as a piercing scream rang out beyond the belt of umber lining tho the lonely mountain road he was traversing then noting a cloud ot of smoke through the trees he diverged from the trail got beyond the barrier and made out the little town lf golconda in the distance and nearer at hand on its outskirts a lonely hut but ablaze below and a woman outside wringing her hands and nd shrieking helplessly new mayo mayoralty ratty honors clustered thick and newly about john griffiths at gulch but here her at it dis dibi tance from his bis honre home town and ever chivalrous and helpful he be forgot dl dignity he dashed up ta t the side of the distracted woman within three minutes brought his bis steed bleed to its launches summarily heaped to the ground and shouted forth anyone in the building not no I 1 not nop cried the woman but all my papers are they will be lost we will lie bo ruined oil oh saye thera them save a tiny bit of hu humanity matilt r peppery und and active griffiths saw that but she had haid evidently evoldt antly not been uble to lift a heavy ladder that she lind dragged to the froot where lire are the rs griffiths up lu in the little low attic beyond that window windo xv and slie she pointed pointe iJ lip ill wards in a box on oil top lop or of A Us ba chest xo of no sheadred she added frantically as griffiths made a 11 ment ui ai u i if to rush in through the open lower dror deor its all ablaze in there the ladder oil quick levei mind nn thing but the papers jolin john griffiths had the ladder speed ily lu fit place ile he was not ew smudged so 60 promptly and deftly did lie ile reach the attic secure the wooden box described and an place it in li the pos session ses slon of the anxious trembling and grateful woman I 1 the old but Is gone and im glad of iti she exclaimed it was not tit fit to live in and been for a 11 ion long time that lazy roving husband hus banri of lulus will hale haie a when lie w comes back and im glad of that too the papers saved thank good riess ness I 1 they mein mean a good deal to me for they tire are deeds and mine dalin all that bhaer if a ten dullar dollar mil ta thank you yon but ive done a simple hJ 11 1 SU bea beati belp elp to lo layou you hotoi interrupted erupted can I 1 bo be of J any fl further fearther assif assistance tance no mister but ill never forget your kindness ac a sister in town who will take like ue nie in ull till my lay husband up the worthless wandering kritter ri lter the mayor of tolliver gulch glitch smiled to himself as lie he recognized the di cli fIre little lady as a being with a spoilt of lier her own then lie rode on ills vay ay thinking luLing th of another certain little lady who filled ills thoughts con Ift lually it was a rough community among whom lie hid had found a jewel rare amid ahe incongruous environ ment it was velma dalton the slaughter daughter of the district judge griffiths as a rising young lawyer had won the good opinion of the judge ilie latter represented the reform element clement of the struggling border settlement tl ement it was through ills his influence and support thit that had been elected mayor that position was proving anything but at hd of roses the rough element of the gulch was opposed to innovations novat ions lous defeated at the polls they went shout about cross grained and vengeful there were of tits dis content and belled threats the outcast element however feared the law rind and the dignity ond and determination of the judge had so far prevented ony serious outbreak reached the gulch just aft va dark As he pasted passed the red bea iter tavern lie he caught the echoes of some wild jubilation ile he learned its cause when lie he reached home his landlady looked frightened lind and agitated oil I 1 am PA s gd gad you have got gol houie haftl site ahli exclaimed they T lly lave bave heen beeb here who has been here berer questioned griffiths the committee from hie file rustlers its about renew ing the license of tl the dance hall sir 1 I answered them once spoke griffiths his lips bettl setting J a firmly they have had my ultimatum yes or but they threaten a big row they had giant gabo gabe with will them and ills his gang it seems hired him to come here and upset the town if you dont give way not fib ah judi inch pronounced filas determinedly then sir dont show yourself on the streets the mob Is ugly and bound to do you up it if you dont grant that license Hc lic ense enbe paid no attention to warning warn lne lie he felt it beneath life hg dignity ile he called upon velma that sanle same evening her father was serious slid and site she anxious over the situa tion neither ni laher however bow everi attempted to influence him to recede one step from froin his fixed lug the carrying out of the hie law the next morning proceed rd fd quietly to his office ile he had bad heard if a wild de debauch batih ut at tilt ae tavern und and of f thin imported bravo giant gabi nd tits lilg gang it seems they had bad at ai geared in similar circumstances as hirelings to help the halt balf subdued rowdy element of the towns voting for reform hoping to intimidate tho tha champions of 0 the new movement the of the evening pr cilous were it seemed bleeding bleeping ble off the effects of their deli debauch nuch during the morning just after noon however as Orin itna wa win i crossing the public equate lie saw raw a hooting straggling mob pouring out through the doors of tho the teem at their head was a red shorted shifted br brawny amily fisted fellow over six feet in height aud and viciously inclined grif tits doubted not that this was giant gabe urged Urge t dby by the crowd lie he hustled hustle a at along ong to the spot where had halted 11 lie e squared off in front of him eged on by his tut turbulent bulent cohorts youre 1 oare the taa or they tell met roe I 1 he bellowed well im nominated DOWIDAt ed by to protect their uber ilber ties rattlesnakes 1 eat deml giant gibe gabe glared horribly horri Wy leaped up two feet Is in the air and cracked his heels together he roared reared 1 I bleed afteel over a box bos of it I 1 calmly regarded the mouthy demagogue but planted firmly his glance clance noting very every movement of 0 the raging bully powder and shot my chewing kami gaint you goody goody specimen ofa of a tenderfoot im going to wipe you out with one whack swish giant gabe struck ou out t but dodged doil ged then up op camil came hla 1114 list the burly bully lay in a heap at ills feet none of that you big cow coward ardt 1 A comans nomans ra rasping tones uttered i the he words she shot through the tha browd and as giant gabe tugged at lila fils belt for a revolver grabbed him by y one ear you great hulking bluff bluffer erl 1 abe cried shoot at an unarmed mail loan eh therel and therel there and therel there 1 ii and nd s she cuffed him film iio know who this man la Is she demanded in pointing to the file mayor iles nc s lite lh man mail who saved all our valuable papers when our old shanty burned down march I 1 giant gabe struggled to his feet and aad slouched away from the spot most of if the crowd roared with laughter the tiny woman dominated the great rugged giant as though lie he weve were a pigmy an hour flour later word went out from giant gabe to ills adherents to return to their homes to the rebellious lichine boino town mob gabe sent ot other her word iliac if any further furtner move was made galust the new major he would wude wilde in and clean out the crowd tavern and all SoX so ancy wife of giant cabe s saved aved the lie day and tolliver gulch settled into respectability and its mayor i r in velma dalton |