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Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, September 19, 1908, 2:30 EDITION, Image 11

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EVENING BULLETIN, HONOLULU, T. II., SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 1908.
K 5 J
BY
A LHKHT
AYSON
ERHUNE
COFVltJSHT.iseyr av
a&ORSB KBROAWtnST
CHAPTER XII CONTINUED
(From last Saturday)
, "Ilusli! For God's sake, bush!" pout
ed Alwyn. ".My mother sleeps only n
; few rooms beyond. I"
"What tin I care?" roared Horrlgan
In triumph. "Let everybody hear!
Tho whole world Ij going to hear It tin-
y less that Borough franchise bill goes
'"through. Heat that bill and ccry pa
per In the country will have that leport
to publish. Stop your light against us
nnd tho report Is hurled. That Roes!
See? Now, do
rs yon plcnru
nlxiiit the hill.
You're n line
man to preach
about graft, you
are! The icry
roof oicr your
hcnd.the clothes
on jour linik.
were bought
with graft
moi'cy!"
Ilenuet turn rcc
ly heeded tho
coarse Insult,
nor did be note
llor rlgn n's
grunt of good-1
by nnd the
"77ic dollies mi jf.ur
bitch iicrc lidutilit
icitkijitiU inumif"
eluuiiof his de
parting fcit on
tho slnlrs. The young iiinn sat. lust,
hopelors. horror gripped, his ojes run
ning mcUinnlcnlly over the closely
typewritten pages of the engineer's re
port. Outsider as ho wns in matters of
practical business, Alwyn could see
thnt Horrlgnn had In no way exag
gerated, the document's contents. He
knew, ton, that the firm of engineers
ho li.nl drawn lip the rejiort wera
tho foremost of their sort and above all
shadow of suspicion.
I.lttlo by little the numbness lifted
fiom his brain, and In lis placo crept n
hnnlhlu couvlclloii of the truth. Ills
father tho gallant jounoldler who
bud won a natloii'H applauso In the
civil war tho man who, poor and un
aided, had built up u fortune ngilnst
keenest competition nnd hud earned n
repute for sterling probity which had
eer been tho delight and model of his
son this wns tho tnnn whom a low
blackguard llko Ilorrlgau now had tho
Tight to rc He a man apparently no
better than tho boss himself thnn any
dishonest heeler In tho organization!
And. as If it wcro not enough that
tho Idol of n llfctluio wcro hurled,
crushed and defiled, from Its bright
pedestnl, tho family nnmo must next
bo dragged through tho mlro of polit
ical filth nnd 111 rcputo nnd tho dend
man's memory forever blasted. Either
that or his son must wlthdrnw from
tho gallant fight ho wns waging against
civic conniption, for that Horrlgan
would carry out his threat and blazon
forth to tho world tho story and proofs
of tho elder Bennett's shanio Alwyn
hnd no doubt. With oil his faults tho
boss was n man of his word.
"Stop your tight against us," Horrl
gnn had said, "and tho report Is
burned."
Yes, tho boss was n man of his word.
Even Bennett ndmlttcd Uint. Ho would
fulfill his promise In cither event.
Listlessly Alwyn began to review
tho case. On tho ono sldo a perhaps
Quixotic, ilght.for nn nbstract principle
n fight whoso rownrd was political
dealb, loss of tho woman ho adored,
family shanio that might crush his
frngllo old mother to tho very grave.
On (ho other wenlth, honor, love, tho
governorship, n future happy and glori
ous. Wns ho not n fool to hcsltnta? Hnd
ho not salved his consclcnco sufficient
ly by vetoing tho Borough franchise
bill? Had ho tho right to bring this
iiuw sbamo upon lib mother's gray
head? Whero lay his highest duty?
Tho soft rustling of silk and a hand
laid In light enress upon his head
aroused tho mlscrabto man from his
reflections.
Bennett looked up to seo his mother
standing bo-ldo him. Hlio had thrown
on n wrapper nnd In slippered feet hud
(stolen noiselessly Into tho study.
"I was awakened by voices," sho ex
plained. "I thought I heard some one
talking excitedly In here. Is anything
tho matter?"
"Nothing, nothing dear," ho answer
ed gently, .drawing tho little old lady
affectionately down to a seat on his
knee and smiling manfully iuto her
Bleep flushed face; "nothing Is the mat-tcr,-.Ouly
iLlm8lllossea.lU!
I"
7
f57r Now PJayor
Based on GJI.Broadhurst's Successful Play
THE MAN
OF1
THE no
"A business call at 2 o'clock In the
morning!" nho exclaimed. "Dear boy,
you nro working too hard. Your father
never brought his business worries and
work home. Mo always left them at
tho oincc. Can't you do tho same?
You'll wear yourself out."
".My father" began Bennett, but
tho name choked him.
"You nro growing to ho so much llko
him," went on Mrs. Bennett fondly.
"A'nd It makes mo so happy that you
nre. Your splendid fight against that
Infamous Borough bill, for Instance.
How proud ho would hovo been of
that! It Is just tho sort of thing he
himself would hare done in your place.
Ho was surrounded with wicked and
dishonest men Just as you arc. But
tlirough It nil ho remained true, hon
orable, Incorruptible. What a grand
hcrltago for my son! Ho Alwyn!"
sho broko off, alarmed, "why do you
look at mo that way? I never saw
such n look In your eyes before. Are
you 111? Has something happened that
you nro keeping from mo?"
"No, no," evaded Bennett. "I only"
"You had a caller hero before I
,-nmo In," pursued the' mother, refusing
to nhnndon tho clew to which her wo
ronnly Intuition had led her. "He
brought you bad nows?,Tcll me, dearl
I'm your mother, and I lovo you."
"You aro making my course more
difficult for mo by asking such ques
tions, mother," bo nusvtcrcd wretched
ly, "and I"
"I only want to help yon, Alwyn. I
can't bear to sec you miserable. A
woman's wit nnd a mother's lovo nro
often a combination that can solvo
problems beyond even the wisest
man's powers of logic. Let mo help
yon."
"I was trying to make up my mlud,"
vaguely replied Bennett, sorely din
tresscd by her pleading, "whether a
nmn ought to follow his conscience,
even If It lends to heartbreak for thoso
he lores, or whether ho ought to let
consclcnco go by tho board for onco
nnd protect tho happiness of bis loved
ones."
"Altrvnt ITnw pnn voil tiesltatn n
ccomj over such a question. Ono must
,,, rI-llt no m-HCr whnt tho conso.
quence."
"I don't know about that," bo said
moodily.
"You know It perfectly well. It Is
what your father would havo advised
and But, Alwyn, you surely aro not
making yourself unhappy over a mere,
supposititious caso?"
"Well," ho continued, 'Met us take a
'mcro supposititious case' If you llko.
Suppose, for Instance, that n man hold
ing a position of trust hnd hnd a fa
ther whoso memory ho honored and
revered as I do my own father's"
"Yes?" prompted Mrs. Bennett a ho
paused.
"Suppose some one tempts him to be
tray his position of tnist, oven ns I
hnro lately been tempted, nnd threat
ens In caso of his refusal to inoko
public certain fncts which would proro
his dead father to havo been a scoun
drel. Now, what should tho man do?
Should ho let his fathers sacred mem
ory bo trampled In tho mud, let his
duty go by default and save"
"It would bo an nwful responsibility
to dccldo such a question," said Mrs.
Bennett, with a llttlo shudder, "but
tbcto could bo only ono reply."
"And thnt Is?"
"Ho must do his duty, bo the results
what they may."
"You really think so?"
"There can bo no doubt Right Is
right and"
"It shall bo as you say," groaned
Alwyn.
"What?" queried Mrs. Bennett, star
tled at tho despair in bis voice "Do
you mean It is an actual case? Some
friend of yours, perhaps?"
Bennett nodded.
"Oh, tho poor, poor fellow!" she sym
pathized. "What n terrlhlo position
for him! It was he, perhaps, that I
beard talking to you in hero just now.
No wonder bo Bccmed excited! Tho
sins of tho fathers elmll bo visited upon
tho children oven unto tho"
"It Is something less hard on tho
children than on tho wires," mused
Bennett, halt to himself.
"Tho wives? Your friend has a
mother living? That makes It doubly
hard. Oh, my son, every day I thank
Clod In all humility that my husband
lived so blameless n life nnd left so
honored a name! How grateful you
nnd I both ought tu bo for"
"It Is easy enough to dccldo for somo
nno you havo necr seen," retorted
Bennett almost rudely, "but suppose
tho dishonest man In, my story had
bren father and"
"I refuse to suppose anything of tho
sort!" Interrupted his mother Indig
nantly, rMng to her feet. "I wonder
thnt yon cun speak so! How can you
suggest no horrible n thing?"
"Just n thoughtless, tactless speech
of mine. Tlmt's nil," lied Alwyn. "It's
very Into. You'll have n headache, I'm
nfrnld. Won't you go to bed?"
"Yes. It Is late, and I'm keeping you
up. (lord night, dear. I wish your
frJtid"-
Baroness Speck von Sternberg, wid
ow of tho lata diplomat, will soon visit
tho United States to rcmovo hor of
foclB In tho Ocrman embassy. She
will he granted n pension by tho Cler
man government.
1 --(----
M F Mh rwHl
RluTcliecked herself suddenly, with a
little gasp. Bennett, glancing tip to
' Ctnthln Gnrrfjon.
her, saw that her eyes were riveted on
' n bit of pasteboard lying on tho corner
! of his desk Ulrcctly beneath tho rend
! lug lamp.
It was Horrlgan's en id.
Slowly tho mother's gaze shifted
from the curd to her son. From her
face the color bad K-cn crushed by
loino swift emotion that left It very
ld. pale and Minken.
"Mr. Horrlgnn!" she murmured. "It
wns ho who was your visitor tonight?
Surely he iMi't the sort of n man to
euro nbout his father's reputation for
honesty. He"
"ou'ro tired, mother," Interrupted
Bennett In haste. "Won't yon"
"Walt!" sho limited. "Ills visit here
Alwyn!" her vnko rising to n wall of
panic stricken appeal. "Did did that
mau dare to hint anything against
your father? Tell mo tho truth! I
have n right to know. Did ho?"
Alwyn bowed his head lu rllcncc.
. "Tell me wjiat he saU "
"II said," muttered Bennett, nlmost
Incoherently, "ho said my father made
bis fortune by graft!"
"Anil you thrashed him nnd threw
him out of tho house?" she 'rletl, her
old eyes ubluze.
"No."
"Alwynl"
"He ho proved what he said!"
"It Is a Ho! A wicked, abomlnnhto
He!"
"It is the truth, mother. Would I
hare told you such n thing would
Ilorrlgau hnro left this room nllre If
It wcro not true?'"
A silence dreadful in Its Intensity
fell over tho room. Alwyn dnicd not
look at his mother. At Inst she spoke:
"I must know more. I refuse to be
llevo ono word. You spoko of proofs.
What nro they?"
Without n word, Bennett handed her
tho report loft by Horrlgnn. For a
time sllcnco brooded over tho study,
broken only by tho occasional turning
of n pago of tho report. Then, nftcr
what seemed to Alwyn an eternity of
waiting, tho document slid to tho
floor. Bennett
glanced nt his
mother. S h o
w n s standing
rigid, her face
cold nnd hard
ns granite.
"Horrlgan has
ferreted this
out,"4 ho said.
not daring to
draw nearer
or proffer com
fort to tho wo
nian whom the
boss disclosure
had turned to
stone. "Ho hns
hoc ii rod tho
"I tin not mk'ltr, I
command. Vorlohll"
proofs aud snys he will publish them
broadcast unless I withdraw- my oppo
sition In tho Borough franchise mat
ter. If I let that hill pass, Friday ho
villi burn tho report, nnd"
"Thcro Is only ono thing to do," In.
terposed tho mother, speaking with
slow decision, her voice as cold and
colorless as her face. "Itlght must pre
vail, no matter what"
"Mother!" rrled Alwyn, trembling.
"You advise mo to- You advise mo"
"I do not m!lsc, I command. Do
right!" '
CHAITEU XIII.
T
HI! momentous Friday had ar
rived; the day wherenn tho fa
mousor Infamous Itoruugli
Street rallwuy bill In Its
amended form wns to coino up for the
aldermen's consideration.
Iery paper hi the city devoted col
umns to tho sltuiitlun. Hvcrywhcro It
wns known that the "hoy mayor" was
fighting with all his might tho hill he
had already etoed, Kipmlly well was
It understood that IIoitIk.iu was mak
ing the battle of his whole eaieer In
behalf of the measure. If he could hut
ludji his "solid tliL'tccu".ulduruiu.to
nLJS
slaml flr'in nnil coiilT liinlniali'i Ills hold
on Roberts for tho fourteenth, all
would bo plain snlllng mid tho bill
would pars by n two-thuds volo In
spile of the mayor's veto.
More than tho mere hill nnd his
price for It were Included hi Horrl
gan's reasons for his prr"nt activity.
Ho recognized thnt his ptestlgc as boss
was nt stake that In case of (allure
his hold on the organization would be
considerably weakened, crhnps ntmost
so much fllinl.cn as to permit l'helnii to
fulfill his onco absurd threat to tear
him down from his eminence. For the
whole organization was Mewing with
breathless Interest tho mel between
Horrlgnn nnd the yotithft i mayor the
boss had "made." In such circles n
beaten man commands scant respect.
Tho board of aldermen were In ses
sion In tho city hall. Off the nnto
clinmbcr of tho great room whero they
met wns n small, smuh furnished
npnrtment, first of n series of similar
rooms that stretched nwnv, with con
necting doors, to the fnr end of tho
main corridor. This plnrr, with the
room adjoining, had oik Ik-cii the
comptroller's office. Of late, however,
that clllclal had changed Ills quarters
and tho room nenrest the antechamber
had been appropriated In Horrlgan
himself ns a sort of tuioillclnl snug
gery, wlicro ho could sit nt case and
transact business nt I-n quarters
whenever the organization's secret In
terests demanded his preseuco at tho
city hall.
Here, his whereabouts known only
to his lntlinnto and persnunl lieuten
ants, the boss wns wout In lt nt ease,
llko some fnt, rubicund spider In tho
center of n web of Intrigue, nnd Issuo
Ills orders or plans of campaign, Somo
of theso wcro carried by word of mouth
through tho nntcroom Into tho nldor
innulc chamber. Others he transmit
ted by means of n telephone that stood
ready on tho center ta'ble, k'foro which
his great easy choir was always placed.
Around this tnblo ns the hosrd of al
dermen wcro nbout to convene on tho
fateful Friday of the lloroiigh bill's
final consideration sat tlireo men
Wulnwrlght. (Jlbbs nnd Horrlgnn. Tho
former, In splto of his htilillunl steady
coolness, wns plainly uneasy. Olhbs
made no effort to deny his anxiety.
Ills eyes were bloodshot, his manner
tbstrnctcd and his nerves evidently
strung to breaking point. Horrlgnn
alone of the trio hnd abated not ono
Jot of tho colossal calm nnd brutal
power that were part nnd parcel of
the mnn'fl mighty character.
"When will our bill come up, do you
suppose'" asked Glhbs, breaking a
brief silence.
"In halt an hour or so probably,"
answered Horrlgan, glancing nt his
wntch. "I thought It wns better for
ns to get hero ahead of time."
"Half an hour," fumed Olbbs, "and
neither Ellis nor Uol'rts hero yet!
8upposo they don't get hero on time?"
"They will," grunted Horrlgnn plac
iv. -
"Do you think It Is possible cither of
tiem has come yetS" went on Glbbs,
with a glance at tho antechamber door.
"No."
"How do you know? 1'crhnps"
"Williams would hate told me. He
knows whero I'm to he found."
"You're suro Ellis and Roberts will
show up?"
"Yes." ;,
"How soon?"
"In good time."
"But supposo they don't?" Insisted
Olbbs nervously. "What then?"
"Why, If they don't, then they won't.
What do you suppose?" snapped Hor
rlgan. "What's the matter with you,
anyhow? Are you looking for n muse
am Job as tho 'human question mark? "
"Glbbs Is naturally nervous," explain
ed Wnlnwrlght. "He's not so old at
this gnrao as you and I, Ilorrlgau, and
wo must mnko allowances."
"Nervous?" grunted tho boss. "I
should say he Is! .lust look nt thnt
cigar I gavo him. He's becu chewing
It ns If it wns a ssusage. That's no
way to treat a fifty cent cigar, man!
Here, try another, and seo If you can't
smoke It Instead of eating a freo lunch
off It. Nothing like a good smoko to
steady your nerves. If"
Tho antechamber door opened, and
Williams hurried In.
"I got Ellis!" ho reported. "Ho's
here, and" with slgulllcant emphasis
"ho'll voto rlht!"
"Good!" assented Horrlgan. "1
thought he'd conic to time. Now, for
Roberts and tho thing's done."
"Tho gallery In thero la Jammed," ro'
ported Williams, Jerking his head to
ward tho aldcrmnnlc chamber. "I nev
er saw such a mob hi tho placo be
fore."
"That's whnt comes of all this news
paper publicity," growled Horrlgan. "If
It wasn't for tho papers tho people 'd
never make any trouble for us. But
they rend tho news nnd then they get
silly Ideas nbout their 'rights,' and n
lot of them come here to see they don't
get swindled. Lord! If tho papers
would only suspend publication for ono
month, I'd guarantee to put tho whole
stnto in iny vest pocket. They're al
ways butting In to spoil tho organiza
tion's honest profits. How nro tho
crowd In the galleries bdinvlug?"
"They're quiet," answered Williams
uneasily. "Too quiet. That's what
bothers mo. They seem to bo watting
for tho Borough bill to"
"If they rnlso any row, rush a mo
tion through to clear tho galleries," or
dered Ilorrlgau.
"Nothing short of tlio polleo could
cleiir nway that big crowd."
"Then we'll bine the polleo In to
help."
"But," argued Wllll-nns. "ilint would
mean n riot, nnd n lot f peoplo would
get hurt. All tho newspapers tomor
row would"
"Never mind thnt. 0" nhend nnd do
ns you're told, lu the llrst sign of dis
approval from tho galleries hare tho
motion passed nnd tuiii the police loofc.
riitofiflibiy.' . .
"All rfgfiT," nequlcccd Williams du
biously and withdrew.
WahiWTlght epened Ills mouth to pro
(est. but Ilorilgnii was nlrcady Imsj nt
the telephone.
"Hello!" ho called. "I wnnt 000 F
!XX) F. Yes yes. Is that tho captain?''
ho went on n moment Inter. "Then
send hint to the phone. Tell him Mr
Horilgnn Hello, captain!" nftcr nn
other pnue. "Yes, It's Horrlgan. At
city hall. In the nldcrmnntc chamber .
there's n mob. nnd wo'ro likely to need j
the police to quiet 'cm. Yes. No, not
'diet' them, you fool! 'Quiet' thein'
Yes. Scud us n sqund nt double quick,
mil let the sergeant report to Williams.
Let the boys bring their night sticks,
and tell 'em they're to tnko no back
talk nnd not to lie nfrnld to slug If it
cotnes to that, nnd I guess It will. I'lck
out the right sort to send. Yes. Of
courso I'll back up anything they do.
Sure. Rush 'em. Good by."
"But" licgnn Wnlnwrlght ns Hor
rlgan hung up the receiver. The boss
cut htm short. "I'll let that gallery
crowd seo It nln't safe to Interfere with
my work."
'Utiit," protested Wnluwrlghr, "sure
ly 'it will not bo necessary to"
"To break heads? It probably will.
Why not?"
"I'd rather use diplomatic tactics."
"Diplomacy's n gamo I never took
the trouble to learn."
"But those peoplo you're nbout to
antagonize control votes"
"Yes. The people tuny control tho
votes, but we count them. Seo tho dlf
fercneo?" "But 'oesn't the law penult tho pub
lic to attend these meetings?"
"Ouly so long ns they bchnvo them
selves. If n few of 'em get clubbed
they won't lio so ready next time to
butt In whero they aren't wanted.
They"-
Tho tinkle of tho telephone bell cut
short tho boss" public spirited remarks.
Ilorrlgau unfiling tho receiver.
"Hello!" he hntlcd. "Who's- Oh,
Roberts, eh?"
"Is It Rolwrts?" cried Glbbs excit
edly. "No," snarled Horrlgan In ponderous
sarcasm. "It's the cznr of Russia tele
phoning to borrow n nickel. I called
him 'Roberts' just to flatter him. Go
on, Roberts! What's that? Yes, this
Is Mr. Horrlgan. Want to seo me, do
you? What for? No, thcro Isn't," ho
went on nngrlly after a moment's lis
tening. "You and I settled nil that.
Coino nnd do your share of the Yes,
I tell you It's up to you to make good."
Another pause, during which Glbbs
nnd Wnlnwrlght glanced nt each other
In suspense. Then tho boss continued,
In n louder voice, over tho wire:
"Well, como to my room In tho city
hall, then, If you've got to see mo. But
there's no need for It. It's nil settled,
nnd there's nothing more to ho said.
I'll bo here. Don't keep uio waiting.
I What's thnt? No! I won't oumo
to you! You'll come tonc.-oml you'llj
AAn... nn An nnt.ntn nntnf.t' T.nn Hn.nl
IVIUV f,i mu uuuti" ljuiitt, UUUII uu.it
4
If you don't No, that's all. Hurry
up!"
"Wouldn't It bo wiser." suggested
Glbbs. "to humor the man by going to
him, ns ho suggests? Then"
"No, It wouldn't!" retorted Horrlgan
as ho kept tho telephone. "If I'd gouo
on tho principle of 'humoring folks.
I'd still lio working nt eighteen per sell
ing ferry tickets. Tnko my tip, friend!
Never go to a man. Mnko him come to
jou. That's business. And It gives
you a 00 per cent better chance with
him. Now, then," pulling a paper from
his pocket, "I told you nbout the re
port I had Morris & Chcrrlngtou dig
out showing up Bennett's old mail.
Hero It Is. Llko to look It over while
we're waiting?"
"I.lttlo enough good It seems to havo
done!" returned Wnlnwrlght as tho
three heads bent over tho document.
"Ho's still lighting us, tooth mid nail."
"Yes," ngrced Horrlgnn grimly, "hut
It's n satisfaction to know It Isn't only
us he's lighting. He's cutting his own
throat too."
CHAITER XIV.
T
HE first committee room thnt
Iny to tho right of Horrlgan's
office In tho samo relation to It
ns tho nntcchnmbcr to tho left
was usually given over to dry offi
cial business, and Its musty walls must
almost lune experienced a distinct
shock nbout this tlmo ns Dallas Wnln
wrlght entered from the corridor be
hind. She wns accompanied by Ferry
mid by l'helnii, who, passing through
tho corridor toward the uldcruiuntc
chamber, had collided with tho brother
and Mstor nt tho committee room door.
"Hero's a good sight for sore eyes,
Miss Wnlnwrlght," tho nldermnn was
saying -with his best air. "But Is It
fair to nsk what brings such n bunch
of sunshine Into nn old p'lltlcal shell
llko this? I'd ns soon think of seeing
Horrlgan at mnss as to tlud you here."
"I want to attend the Aldermen's
meeting," exclaimed Dallas. "I hare
a hpcclal reason. So I mado I'crry
bring me. But nt tho door they told
us tho gallery was so crowded that wo
couldn't"
"Never you mind the gallery, miss,"
Interrupted Phelan "It Isn't meant
for the likes of jou nnyway. You
Just sit hero a few minutes, an' I'll
catch an attendant somewhere an'
mnko him hustle up n couplo of good
chairs for you on tho main floor, wlicro
you can pipe everything Just llko you
were lu your own op'rn box coppln' oft
n swnd of high C's."
"Tlinnk you so much, alderman," re
plied Dallas. "I hopo we'ro not put
ting you to too much trouble."
"No trouble nt nil. An' tron If It
wns I'd como n-ruuuln' to meet It. I'm
tho original trouble cater. Besides, tho
best In tho house Is nono too good for
tho lady who was so lut'rcstcd In iny
outings. So lougl I'll bo right back."
"What n queer chap ho Is!" mused
Ferry, as l'helnii hastened away oii
his mission, "T ii.,uld take, n six
week's' courco 1n slang "nnd ' fiot nlr
from that man I'd bo nhlo to sew but
tons on the whole EnglMi language."
"I don't think jou need very much
tuition," oldened Dnllas. "Hut It was
kind of Mr. l'helnii to look after lis. I
like hlni Ipo"-
"llecaiiso he's standing by Bennett
so plueklly lu this fight?"
"Mr. Bennett Is nothing to inc."
"No?" nked Ferry In Innocent
nmnze. "Th"ii I wasted a lot of gmsl
cigarette money cabling to you about
hU campaign when jou were ncros
tho big wash last summer. For n
man who was 'nothing' to you you
suro took largo swnds of luteltltrciit In
terest. Look here, little girl," he went
on, les flippantly, "w hat's tho matter?
lias anything"
"No!" she broke In, with n inlscrnb'o
efTort nt murage. "Nothing's the mat
ter. I'm perfectly happy. Why shouldn't
I bo? An engaged girl Is always"
"An etignged girl!" ho ihouted In
high glee. "You don't mean to say
you mid Alwyn"
"Of courso not. I nm engaged to
Mr. Glbbs."
"Good Lord!" gasped the lad in hon
est dismay. "If that's meant for a
Joke, It's the punkest over! Did"
"It Isn't ii Joke, I'crry, nnd It's very
rude of j on to talk so. I am engaged
to Mr. Glbbs, nnd"
"Hut-how when did tho ntroclty
como off, and"
"I K'cnme engaged to Mm tho night
of tho administration ball. I didn't
wnnt to tell you yet. because I know
you don't like hlni. I'm-tt'in"
"You're hnppy?"
"Certainly I nm!" she retorted de
fiantly. "So happy that 1"
"That you are having a fight to keep
from crying this blessed minute!" ho
finished. "Say, Dallas, it breaks mo
all up to havo you so miserable. I
think n whole lot of you. More'n of
any ono ebo but Cynthln. And I wnnt
to help you out of this measly inlxup,
Won't you?"
"There Is nothing any one can do."
sho murmured sadly. "I havo chosen
my course nnd 1"
"Cheoso It!" whispered Terry In hur
ried ndmonltlon. "Here comes Ben
nett, and I'hclan's with hlni."
Tho jouug mayor came In, talking to
tho nldcruinii ns he came.
"This room's disengaged," ho was
saying. "I'll wrlto It hero and sr It
to oh, I beg your pardon," ho hrto
off, recognising Dnllas nnd Ferry, "I
didn't know"
"Fro got two good seats for you,"
announced l'hclnn. "Right where you
can seo an hear the whole shootln'
match. An' I guess before tho meet Ill's
over It's liable to get ns intcrcstln' ns
a doublo "Uncle Tom" show In n tent.
I'll show you tho way ns soon as
I'on'ro ready. There's no rush, Thing.
Ain't begun to sizzle up yet."
Bennett bad crossed to where Dallas
stood Irrcsoluto and, under cover of
i-iclan's talk with Terry, said to her,
with a certain unconscious stiffness:
"I fear I was too taken aback by
your announcement tho other evenlnf
to remember to congrntulato you, bat
please liellevc mo when 1 say I wish
you ever' happiness In tho new life
you have chosen."
"Thank you very much," faltered
Dallas.
There was on awkward pause; then
sho said:
"You camo In hero to wrlto some
thing. I'm afraid we arc detaining
you. You must be busy with your
fight ngalust the Borough bill. You
nro quite determined to contlnuo It to
the end?"
"To tho bitter end!" ho answered
miserably. "Even though that cud
can hold nothing but bitterness for
me."
Tho set anguish In his face moved
Dallas more than sho dnrcd confess
oven to berclf,
"I nm sorry," she said softly.
"It Is the course I havo chosen," ho
answered, 'With a shrug, "and If It
leads to eternal darkness Instead of
tho sunlight I expected I must follow
It nono the Ices."
'That Is sheer obstinacy," she cried,
battling ngalnst her own heart's pas
slonnto plen. "You have laid out a
plan to ruin Mr. Glbbs, to deprive
I'crry and mo of
my own fortune.
to enrich your
bclf by selling
Borough stock
short aud then
vetoing the bill
so that the stock
would collapse.
You havo done
all this, and yet
you tulk of fol
lowing your
abominable
courso to tho
cud!"
"Dnllns," ho
said very quiet
ly, "you don't
" understand, nnd' I
"ilnllnt'hetnldreri you refused to
qulctlu. "1ul don't ,rU8t ,,, ,0
undcrilfiiiif." ,,,., so l au
say no more. But ono day you may
learn tho cruel mistake you aro mak
ing." "Mistake?"
"I don't mean that you nro mistaken
In choosing Glbbs Instead of me, but
that you are wrong in your judgment
of what I nm doing. I hope you will
understand some day. It will bo too
Into to change anything then, but at
least I shall bo set right In your eyes.
And that menus more to mo than you
can ever know. Goodby."
Ho left the room abruptly, and Dal
las stared after hlni, her brain awhlrl
with conflicting thoughts.
"There's n iiinu In ten million, miss,"
oluutcered l'helnii, breaking In ou her
reverie, "an' from the looks of that
bran' new dinky, thicc-k spark on
I your linger 1 guess you'ro wlso to the
fact."
"I nm engaged to Mr. Glbbs," replied ,
lall coldJs,
5S Jam.
St
"Whar tho" gasped Fbelan, check-in-
i,iilf lust In time. "I'm sure
sorry for you. miss," lie went on. with
a sincerity Hint precluded any offense.
"fnr frh.ll' (lIMlS Is going tO baVO
something so heavy fall on Ills bink
roll by the time we're through with
this Borough bill that he'll be nble to
use his wnd for n book mark wnnoiii
erlnklln' nny of the leaves. Why.
he'll"
"Conic. Ferry," Interrupted Dallas.
".Shall we go to tho meeting now?"
Confused, she turned to Hie door
leading Into Horrlgan's room Instead
of thnt opening on the corridor and
found herself face to fnco with her
uncle, the boss and Glbbs.
"1 beg your pardon," sho began, sur
prised. "I didn't know"
"Dallas!" exclaimed Glbbs and Wnln
wrlght In the same breath. Horrlgan
scow led nt the Interruption ns all three
men rose to their feet.
"What brings you to n place like
this?" asked Wnlnwrlght lu displeas
ure. "Ferry nnd 1." Indicating her broth
er, who had followed her Into the
room, "are going to nttend tho meet
ing of tho board of aldermen."
"But," protected her uncle disapprov
ingly. "It Is hardly the sort of"
"My fortune nnd Ferry's nnd that of
tho man I nm to marry are nil bound
nn In tho Borough bill," sho nuswered
fearlessly. "I have n right to be pros'
ent when that bill's fate Is decided."
"Good nerve!" applauded Horrlgan
"You'ro n thoroughbred. If thcro were
more women like you"
"Mr. Horrlgnn," reported Williams,
hurrying In from nn antechamber, "the
police have come, and
"All right." answered tho boss, "(live
the rergeant Ills orders."
"I- I hardly llko tho responsibility,'
muttered Williams, "nnd"
"Hut you'll take It. I'm backing
you. By the wny, get seats for Miss
Wnlnwrlght and her brother. Get
them clove to the nntcroom door, so If
theie's n row she can come back here.
If there are no vacant sentB there,
clear n couple of people out nnd make
place for"
"But we havo seats." protested Dal
las as Williams rped on his crrntid.
Ahlcnnnn l'hclnn"
"Alderman Fbelan will h.n e trouble
finding a seat lu this city when I'm
done Willi him." snarled Ilnrrlgm
"Itetter tnko Hie rents 1 offer, Miss
Waliinrlgtit. They're safer."
"Hut." protested Willnwrlght. "If
there's to be nny danger she mustn't
be there. I can't have"
"I will bo on hind to help her If
there Is," Glbbs answered him.
"IFm!" grunted Horrlgnn In somo
whit uncomplimentary doubt.
"I will, too!" spoke up Ferry.
Horrlgnn nodded npprovnl.
"You'll lie all right then," snld ho.
"And now"
"You khi1(o of the police being In the
nldermnnlc chamber," safa Dallas,
"What for?"
"To check any troublo the gallery
may make," answered Horrlgan. "This
man Bennett's stirred the people up
with n lot of his anarchistic reform
Ideas till they're crazy. Some one's
liable to get n broken skull, nnd then
Bennett will hne himself to thnn!;.
Maybe when the police hac ham
mered it little (eiise Into folks' bends
with their nightsticks, the victims will
begin to understand Just what sort of
a man Ahvjn Hennett is. Remember
now, Glbbs, nnd jou. too, young Wnlu.
wrlght. If there's nny slgu of n row
bring Miss Walnw right back hero at
once."
"AH right." agreed Ferry, n little rue
ful nt the prospect of missing ii frco
light. "Let's go lu there now. I've
never been to nn aldermen's meeting
before, but I ran up against n car
strike riot ouce. so I guess I'm on to
most of the-Mibtle rules of elegance
that govern suih shows. Come on.
people, if )ou're coming."
"Your niece Is n thoroughbred." re
peated Ilnrrlrnn, with rnre approba
tion, ns the anteroom door closed be
hind Dallas nnd her two escorts. "So
she's to marry Glbbs, Is bhe? I'm
soiry for them both."
"Why?" asked Wnlnwrlght sharply.
"Because It won't take her u jear to
find out that he's n yellow cur. And
when she docs she'll cither kick hhn
out or lead him around on u chain
Now, the fellow n girl of thnt sort
ought to havo in.irrle.l Is Bennett,
lie's nn obstinate fool, but bo's n man.
I thought you snld once hu was stuck
ou her."
"He was. He Htlll Is."
"And fhe took (llbbs.lnstcnl?" cried
Ilorrlgau. n world of Incredulity In his
rough uleo, "Women nre u queer lot!
Wh'd she rhnke Bennett. If It Is a
fair question?"
"I let her fcee Glbbs wus n her-ile
mattyr." said Wnluw right, with .ju'i't
.Wnltlciimv, "mid that Dennett iuis"-
"Oh. I mv'." chuckled ll"Mi,an.
Stilt, thorn nil-tit lie kouietli1 '- made
out of l'.enuett'H line for lierewn jet."
"Whit do jou iiA'itn?
"I'm not quite sine. I ''"? t
think It over."
"Roberts hns come'" exclaimed Wil
liams, -melius from the conldor.
"He's asking for jou Shall I bring
him lu hoc?"
"Yes," replied Itorrlgan. "By Hie
way." he added M Wnlnwilght as Wil
liams depjiled. "I II havo to ask ymt
to clear out for a few minutes. I've
got to see I!ol-its alone. Now for tho
tusslo tlut'll ibs'iib' II"" "hole tight!"
(Con tinucd Next Saturday)
nSftJnSS!
.,,!,, ,,...",,, .MMT-
URINARY
DISCHARGES
imi.iRVHn in
24 HOURS
Kac!Cir N1
ulf nnfr,'QV)
the niiMfr
At.LUftl'OUUrt.
;

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