| OCR Text |
Show M Che feto Mayor HHM Bd on C. H. Brodhurt' Succttlful HI ny I The Man The Hour H By ALBERT rAYSON TERHUNE. ICojij right, 1MI7, by George II. Droadlnirnt. i I HHI m H HHI ciiArrKK vn. H rT-lIK boss Is turned down!" HHa I Tilts startling news Hew HHJ I IIkIUhIiik fust to every iimrtcr HHJ A of the orKnnlzntloi) mid In Its HHJ wake xprend n trnll of Incredulous HHJ nmnze. livery member, from nlderinnti HHJ to "heeler," knew why IIorrlj,'an hud HHJ Hindi! llciiuctt mayor. That the hitter HHJ should turn ngnlust hit benefactor HHJ seemed not only black Ingratitude,' but HHJ gomellilug akin to insanity, for. It np- HHJ parciitly Kpellcd polltlcnl Htilcldu for HHJ the young man. HHJ While neither of tho dlsputaulfl had HHJ repeated the details of the quarrel, yet HHJ those details with many another were HHJ already passing from mouth to mouth HHJ In the mysterious fashion whereby the HHJ closest kept secrets are divulged and HHJ enlarged on. In the llnancial world. HHJ too, the veto came ns n bombshell. HHJ llorough Street railway stock fell with HHJ a thud that feliook more than one colos- HHJ sal fortune. Ilennett central point of HHJ the whole upheaval was the calmest HHJ , man of all who were Involved. lie had HHJ chosen Ills course, and tic was follow- HHJ lng It with n dogged quiet far more HHJ dangerous than any loud mouthed bins- HHJ ter. lie had laid out a campaign, nnd HHJ that campaign he rigidly followed. HHJ Ills first-step was to send for Perry HHJ Walnwrlght early In the morning fol- HHJ lowing tlio clash, ultli Uorrlgan and, HHJ under strict pledge of secrecy, to ex- HHJ plain the whole complicated affair to HHJ that very bewildered young man, HHJ "You're all right, Alwyn! You're nil HHJ the goods!" crowed Terry In gcuulno HHJ ndmlratlou. "Hut why didn't you HHJ backhcel Horrlgan and throw him HHJ downstairs?" HHJ "I think I did," said Ilennett dryly. HHJ "I think I'm still doing It. That's why HHl I sent for you today." HHJ "Want mo to lick him for you?" nsk- HHJ (hI Perry In delight. "lie's n bit over HHJ my weight, but I wouldn't mind pant- "No," Interrupted Bennett, niimiwl t the lad's vehemence. "I wmit you to piny the melodramatic brother anil 'protect your sister." "Bay," snorted Terry, 'all the lightness light-ness gone out of his manner nnd Ills young frame stiffening ominously, "d'you mean to say tuo cur Is frrtulng up any game on, Dallas? 1" "811 down," ordered Alwyn, "nnd try to use what little human Intelligence you may have. I've got to have your help, and what use arc you when nil you can think of In getting thrashed by eomebody? Kit down now and listen to me." l'crry meekly obeyed tho new uoto f command In his friend's voice, and Ilennett resumed: "Your uncle has tried to hamper me by putting nil your fortune and Dallas' Into Itorougli Street railway stock. The news of my veto wll reach the exchange almost at once. That will cause a slump In Itorougli stock. If Uorrlgan falls to carry tho bill through over my head and ho will fall If I can possibly block him that will mean the practical collapse of tho stock. It will mean that you nml Dallas will be almost al-most penniless." "Well," Hiiggesteil l'crry cheerfully, "then you can marry Dallas, nnd llttlo brother l'crry can come nnd llvo with you. Don't worry, old chap. I" "Shut up, you young Idiot, nnd sit down and listen! Here's a check; nlso n. nolo of Introduction to my broker. He's n closu mouthed fellow, nnd he'll keep tho secret. 1 Avnnt you to sell Borough stock short to tho amount of" "To speculate? Geo! I never thought" "I don't believe in speculation ns u rule, but this tlmo It's the only way out. Kell short. Then if tho bill Is defeated de-feated you nnd Gladys will still be as well off as you nro now, even ufter paying me back this sum I've advanced. advanc-ed. If the bill Is passed over my head, tho stock will boom, uud you'll lioth be richer thau ever. Understnnd the Idea? I think I've arranged It so you nnd she won't lose it dollar In either case." "Alwyn," cried l'crry, the full Idea nt Inst penetrating his youthful brain, "you're the whitest ever. The" "Hold on! I do this on one condition." condi-tion." "Oh!" "On condition you promise solemnly that neither Dallas nor any one else shall know my share In It." "Hut" "1'romlse!" "Oh, well, nil right, then. But Dallas Dal-las ought to" "No, she oughtn't. Now clear out. I'm busy. Don't wnst any time going to my broker. I'm holding back the olllcial announcement of the veto ns long as I can. But" "I'm on, So long, old chap. Enter l'crry the Lnmb Into Bear and ltull-vlllc! ltull-vlllc! Let Uorrlgan & Co. Indulge In a timely tremble!" Scarce had l'crry departed on his mission .when I'helnn was announced. "Your houor," he snouted as he first caught a glimpse of Bennett. "You're all ncesl Nothln' to It. Friend llorrl-gnu's llorrl-gnu's bltln' holes In the cellln'. IIo's oh, you needn't look so mum. I'm wise. I haven't spent ten yenrs and close on n million bucks In serapln' together to-gether n private secret servlco system . I'crni U'dliuci'dlit. for nothln'. 'You've slgued tho bill?' squeals Uorrlgan. 'No, jou big Htlltl' says you, 'I've vetoed It. Now go chase yourself before I knock you from under your lint!' says you. Them was the very words, so I'm told." "I congratulate you on your secret bcrvlco men," laughed Bennett. "They seem to have n wonderful faculty for quoting one's remarks literally, but" "But did I come here to ladle out hot nlr to you?" supplemented Phelmi. "No, I didn't, 1 come to tip you off to n meetln' that's hejd last ulght nt Wiilnwrlght's houfec him nn' HoVrl-gaii HoVrl-gaii im' GIbbs nu' some others, tnclood-In tnclood-In Hen Williams, .who's Horrigan's mouthpiece nn' hnudy man In the board of aldermen. Didn't, happen to hear of that meetln', did" you?" "No. I am unfortunate In having no U'crct service corps " "Never mind," returned I'liehin, on whom the satire of tho reply was quite lost. "You can get the benellt of mine. Now, nt this meetln' they did u lot of Jablierln' an' they cussed you up hill nn' down dale. Bays Uorrlgan, 'If that young cub " "Thanks," Interposed Alwyn, "but 1 don't euro to hear what was said nbont me. 1" "All right, then, but thero's something some-thing you do want to hear. They got busy it last nn' framed up a new word- W for the Borough bill that'll maybo throw dust In your eyes If you ain't put on to It In advance. They've cut out tho subway paragraph an' tho express business clause, an' they allow transfers trans-fers at all cross lines. That's the way they'll put the bill up to the nhlcnnen next time. A nice, harmless lookln' document It'll be, an' perhaps the board Ml swaller It lf"- "But do the alterations In the bill also eliminate the 'perpetual franchise' clause?" "Ah. there's the point! They don't. All the other things you kicked against have been wiped out, but tho 'perpetual franchise' clauso stands." "And the $2,000,000 cash offer stands, too," added Bennett. "I still fall to see why I should present Mr. Wnlnwrlght's company with a franchise for which another man Is willing to pay the city $2,000,000. and I shall fight the bill to the very end." "Good boy. your honor! An' Jimmy rhelnn's with you. We'll mnko Uorrlgan Uorrl-gan look like" "Ho needs fourteen votes to carry the bill past my veto.. He has his thirteen thir-teen aldermen, under Williams' lead. But only thoso thirteen voted for tho bill In Its orlglnnl state. Unless Uorrlgan Uorrl-gan and Williams can find a fourteenth nldcrman to" "Unless ono of the men who voted against It before can bo brought to vote for It next time Uorrlgan loses," answered Phelnn. "He'll mnkc It his business to buy a fourteenth man, an' I'll mnkc it my business to find out who he tries to get an' to help your honor keep that snmo fourteenth man straight. That's how It adds up so far. Well, I'll be Joggln'. I'll keep you posted, post-ed, nn' between us we'll make Horrl-gnn Horrl-gnn give n llvln plcturo Imitation of n man without a scalp before we'ro through with him." 'Little of I'holnn's exultation was reflected re-flected In the new mayor's face ns the alderman bustled out.- His duty lay clear before him, and that duty he would follow. But ho alone realized tho cost. Ho had so counted on the promised talk with Dallas Walnwrlght the preceding evening. On the hopes of that Interview he had staked his all. In It he was to have received the half pledged rewnrd for his months of toll nnd achievement. Yet In view of his present relations toward Walnwrlght he could not. of course, visit tho financier's home. The doors of the house that contained the woman he loved had been barred to him. And Dallas what must she have thought of his failure to call? CIIArTEK VIII. 'VE found out who their fonr-I fonr-I tecnth man Is, your honor." wills-I wills-I pered I'helan In high excitement. A "It's Boberts-BIchard 1'. Bob-oris Bob-oris of the Third. He's tho alderman that Horrlgan's trying to put tho Indian In-dian sign on. We've got to nail him If we cnn." "You're sure It's Uoberts?" ' asked Bennett In the same undertone. The administration ball was In full swing. Mayor nnd nldcrman had chanced to meet for n moment In n big, crowded reception foyer Just off the ballroom. "Am I sure It's Roberts?" echoed I'helnn. "Am I sure? Might as well ask mo nin I sure Chesty Dick llorrl-gan llorrl-gan Is crooked. I've got the facts down straight. Them secret service chaps of mine" "If they get Uoberts they will be able to pass the bill" "They ain't goln to get him If Jimmy Jim-my I'helnn's band don't turn out to Ik? nil. deuces nn' trays. "An"' "Keep nn eye on him and don't let him go nway without my knowing It. I must see hlm tonight and learn positively posi-tively how ho stands In regard to the matter. He has a reputation for being honest. If only" "Here's Alwyn, Mrs. Bennett," came l'crry W'nlnwrlght's voice from the doorway. "In here. Say, your honor, your honorable honor's honored mother moth-er has been looMug everywhere for you. And now that I've reunited the long lost mayor nnd his anxious mamma mam-ma I'll chase off and find my partner for the next waltz. 1 wish It was Cynthia. Ever dance with Cynthia, Alwyn? Poetry of motion and nil thnt. I.Ike u swon or or a oh, good even-lug, even-lug, alderman. I didn't see you? Are you dnnclng tonight?" "Danclu'?'' repeated Phelau In high disgust. "Do I look it? It's bad enough to be harnessed Into this open faced suit that feels like I was goln' to slip through of It every minute, without tryln" to dauce too. At n show of this kind I feel like u pair of yellow shoes nt n fun'rul. So long, your honor. Even', Mrs. Bennett. There's the music startiu', sou," ho added to Terry ns he started for the barroom. "I heard It," said the hid, "but I'm In no wild hurry." "Thought you said you had a partner part-ner to look up." "I have one of Judge Newman's daughters. Ever s'eo her? I thought not or you wouldn't have wondered why I wasu't In a hurry. Better Into thnn"- "Aro you having n good time, mother?" moth-er?" Bennett was asking the little old lady ns ho found a sent for her. "Yes," she answered. "Aren't you?" "Of course I am. Why do you nsk?" Tho foyer was thinning out lis people peo-ple trooped to the ballroom. For tho moment mother and son were alone together. "You aren't having ii good time, Alwyn," Al-wyn," sho contradicted gently. "You're unhappy nbout boiuethlng. Tell me." "Nonsense!" ho denied, with n forced laugh. "I" "You nro thinking of Dallas, my boy. Is anything wrong between yon nnd her' What has happened?'.' "Nothing," ho nnswered sullenly. But tho mother was not content. Her heart ached for tho grief her son was trying to hide. "Something has happened, Alwyn," she declared, "and I wnnt to know what, so that I cnn help you, Youdove ier. And that day sho came back from Europe I felt sure she loved you, "What Is holding you two apart?" "Nothing that cnn be helped." "But you ncvr go to see her or" "How can I? You know my attitude toward her uncle. How can I call on her whllo she Is In his house? I exposed ex-posed his relations toward tho "Borough Street railway franchise bill. I am fighting him and bis Iniquitous bill with every means in my powerl Dallas Dal-las lives" "I hadn't thought of that. You poor boy! But surely" "And something more. Her money and Perry's are Invested In Borough stocks. By beating thnt bill I seem outwardly to be willfully wrecking their fortune. I told you the plan I arranged ar-ranged with Perry to avert this, but she doesn't know of that. Anil" "Why don't you tell her, then? Or let mo tell her?" "Becnuso It Isn't her gratitude I want. I want her to love me." "But don't yon see In tho meantime whnt a weapon you nro putting Into Mr. Walnwrlght's hands? Suppose he tells Dallas of your enmity to him and lots her know you are seemingly trylug to Impoverish her nnd her brother? Ho might prejudice her terribly ngulnst" "I've thought of all that. I must Im content to wait. Next Friday tho revised re-vised Borough bill comes up before the aldermen again for the final fight. When It's settled ono way or tho other I can go to her and explain. Meantime" Mean-time" "Meantime she Is here tonight with Mr. Walnwrlght. Hnve you seen her?" "Only for a minute." "Did she treat you with the same friendliness, the samo Interest, jis of old? Don'.t think I'm Inquisitive, dear. I only nsk nil these questions because I love you." "I know," he answered, pressing her hand as It lay ou his arm. "yet I can hardly answer you, for I hardly know. In her presenco I nm not at ease because be-cause I can't tell her everything, nnd she seems 111 nt case because she knows there's something I don't tell her. Oh, 3 f . j. It's n wretched vTII position .for us 'hv&jjb "?' Vfc don't you clear k "HH exposing your 1' VwV'Vh " n c ' e nH a ijl 1 blackguard nnd jV OSHB l ,lm (lostro'luB " ,r!-- nn,I Terry's. ""SriSr Will you innrry "S me?' These are -" the facts; but, "27iCHU'ii(iori'ttoH thank God, It's clcnr ft iijif" only till Friday. After that I can go to her and make It all clear." Before Mrs. Ilennett could reply Perry Per-ry returned to tho ballroom, Cynthia at his side. "Then why not give me the next one. too?" the hid was pleading. "If ono twostep's good, two twosteps nru twlco as good. Please" "But see," expostulated Cynthia, showing hlm her card. "The next Is .Mr. GIbbs'. I've told you thnt twice." "I wish GIbbs all the" luck in tho world," observed Terry benevolently, ns he deposited Cynthia on n funiculi beside her chnicriu, Mis. Ilennett. "I wish hlm so much good luck that If he'd slip nnd break. both his legs I'd pay for n cab to take hlm home." , "Look out, please!" begged Cynthfn. "IIo's coming." "The next is ours, I think, Miss Garrison," Gar-rison," said GIbbs, entering from the ballroom with Dallas on his arm. "I hope we'll have better fortune than Miss Walnwrlght nnd I. My step does not seem to suit hers tonight." "No, I'm nfruld the fault was mine," protested Dallas. "Tin a little tired, I think. Mny I sit hero with you a few minutes. Mrs. Bennett?" .sho added add-ed as GIbbs bore Cyuthln a'wny for their dance. "You don't seem very fond of Mr. GIbbs, Perry," observed Mrs. Bennett, noting young Walnwrlght's scowl of Impotent wrath. "Not foud enough to make me walit to live In the samo world with hlm. Mrs. Bennett, j-ou'ro too pretty to be Just n chaperon. Come nnd dance this twostep with me. Please do!" He nodded with vast significance toward to-ward Dallas and Bennett, and the lit-.i.. lit-.i.. ..i.i i.i.. ...i. .,... ....- .. ue Did iiuiy, cnicmng wo men, accepted accept-ed with alacrity. "I'm so glad even to get this minute with you," began Alwyn when ho and Dallas were alone. 'It's so long since" "Since you came to see me? Yes. but that Is your fault. Alwyn, why'unven't you culled since I eumo home?" "Don't you know why, Dallas?" "No." "Are you certain you don't know?" "I I don't know absolutely," sho faltered. fal-tered. "Oil, there nro so many things I don't know absolutely!" "What Is ono of them?" "For one thing, you and I used to be such good friends nnd" "That Is past." said Alwyn firmly. "Thero can bo uo talk of mero friendship friend-ship between you nnd me, Dallas. I must bo everything or nothing to you. Tonight I can't speak ns I want to, but I ecu In n very few days. Trust me till then. You know I nm fighting Mr. Walnwrlght's Interests and" "Yes," sho replied bitterly. ".My undo un-do gives mo no chnnco to forget thnt." "Don't think I'm fighting hlm for my own amusement! I must oppose him or elso glvo up u fight thnt I set out to win. And I mean to win It!" "Thafs the same old fighting spirit I used to try, so bard to awaken In you," said Dallas, a fnlnt note of ad- T - H . i I miration .n her rich voice. "I told you once It always took n blow to aroue you. That blow has evidently been struck." "It has been struckl" ho acquiesced, with a snd ghost pf a smile. She enw the haggard lines about his mouth, the tired look In his eyes, and a lump came Into her throat. She leaned lean-ed forward Impulsively, but before she could speak he had unknowingly thrown nway the golden moment by continuing: "I must win this fight even though it affects others besides Mr. Walnwrlght. Even If" "What others do you mean?" "Oh, 1 can't explain now. After Friday Fri-day I can. On Saturday may I come to see you nnd tell you everything?" "Why not now?" "There are obstacles that" "Tell me what they arc!" sho begged. "I enn't. All I can tell you now Is that I love you. I love you above all tho world, sweetheart, nnd" But fnto In the dual guise of Uorrlgan Uorrl-gan and Walnwrlght intervened. The financier and tho boss, seeking some quiet spot for a chat, strolled through tho foyer, whero Horrlgan ou sight of Bennett halted with n glower of dislike, dis-like, which ho took no pains to conceal, con-ceal, . to be continued. |
