Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1917 — Elon Dorr’s Deal [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Elon Dorr’s Deal

By John Elkins

(Copyright, 1917. by W. G. Chapman.) The “boy mayor” of Merton had been doing things of late rather out of the usual tenor of his way. He had been the idol of his party and respected by the town generally. But some municipal measures he had allowed lately were criticized rather severely. In fact the papers had even gone so far as to suggest a tincture of graft. He had begun to wear a worried look, and his wife Dora, grieved and wondering over -the new turn of affairs loved him too well to question him lest he might think she believed the things that were being said against him. . I The affair that wtls causing the most | comment and criticism was the “United Traction comp&ny” deal by whlchthey seemed in a fair way to get a large appropriation from the city, and the right-of-way through one of the finest sections of the residential streets. Mayor Colt’s party were thinking strongly of putting him up for nomination for a second term; but some of his most staunch supporters began to shqw signs of weakening, and Mayor Colt could not but gee that the tide was setting against him. At this stage of affairs he sent for Elon Dorr, president of the traction company. The mayor’s secretaries and assistants had gone home, and all was quiet around the private office. Elon Dorr, a fat man with a huge neck, and small, piercing eyes, not a pleasant object at any time, but now rather more forbidding than usual on account of the cunning gleam of gloating triumph in the unpleasant eyes, walked

into the mayor’s office with a pompous stride as though already boss of his surroundings, the mayor included. “Well, Mr. Colt,” he said dropping into the largest chair, “I suppose you’ve concluded to come to terms on that measure.” / “No, I have not,” answered Colt. “I don’t think it would be right or fair to property owners or to the best interests of the city.” “Well!” exclaimed Dorr indignantly. “Have you got me here just to repeat what you said at <»tir first meeting? What do you think I’ve been doing since then?” “Getting me into trouble, for one thing,” answered Colt. “Well, didn’t you expect that? You didn’t suppose that everything was going to run like greased lightning, and that, everything yon said went without opposition?”

“No, of course not. But I see now how much of a loss this would be to the city, and I want to propose a different route, and different terms for the appropriation.” Dorr looked away very much as a cat does when she allows a mouse to stray a few inches from her claws, then he turned the small cruel eyes -on Colt. ~ - “Yon’ve allowed the deal to go on, as you promised. Things have got along too far for you to back down now. You can’t do it.” "Yes I can.” -—— — “But you won’t. Yon know the terms. I don’t know what you got me here for, unless you thought I had forgotten them. But don’t you bank on that I mean to do exactly aS I said.” “Yes, but why can’t you run - the road around by the north shore, and “Now look here, Colt; do you take me for an uncooked idiot? I don’t intend to back down one inch. Do you understand ?’’ Colt evidently did understand that anything like compromise was hopeless. "Yes,” he said looking the man squarely in the eye. “I think I do: understand that you mean to put over about the biggest, most infernal grab frou this tewin that ever happened.

And,” he added, “I don’t think I’m going to let you do it.” For one Instant Dorr was silent. Then he looked at Golt with a cool .smile of triumph. “Oh, yes, you are,’’ he said. “You’re just wasting your breath. I’m going now. You’d better call me up about nine tonight at my home, and say it’s all O. K. If you don’t your grill will be red hot tomorrow morning. I can start things tonight.” Dorr left the room, and Colt stood firm, erect. and Calm till the door had closed, and the heavy footsteps echoed down the hall; then he sank down with a groan, burying his face in his hands like one beaten, crushed. After a time he rose and hastened home knowing he was past the dinner /hour and his wife would be waiting. Dora met him With the tender sympathetic smile that meant so much to him. But she noticed the more than usual worn look, his face was pale and drawn, he seemed to have aged five years since morning. He scarcely touched the meal, and as soon as she had him comfortably bestowed in an easy chair, she came to him, drew'his head against her breast, as she sat on the arm of the chair, and said: “Howard, dear, I’ve never asked questions,’ thinking I might only bother you—but tonight I can see there’s something worse than usual. I want to help—l must help you. You must let me!” ———.

“Dora!” he groaned, “I’m fighting an infernal battle. Perhaps I’ll have to tell you. Dearest, could you bear an awful disgrace —with me?” “Disgrace?” she repeated in a dazed way. “Howard! how could it be disgrace?” “You know this traction grab—” “Yes,” she broke in. “I have wondered—” “Of course —of course. Do you sup* pose I would have let that go on, if — if I had not been in that man’s power?" She looked at him too stunned to answer. “It’s come to this: either I sell out the city to this man, or—” “Darling, I can beqr it with you,” she said. “Go on!” “He told me a hideous story about you and a man in Fulton, of the child that was born, and Is there now in the care of an old woman. I couldn’t bring myself to speak to you about ft, dear. I didn’t care for your past. I love you too well to —to hurt you.’ He could not see her face. She was still holding his head closely to her. “What does he mean to do?” she asked very quietly. “Publish the whole story in all the papers. That is the price. Shall I t>ay it?” “No, a - thousand times no! You must not pay that price! But there is no price to pay. The girl he means had exactly the same name as mine. Poor Dora! She’s my second cousin!” “Oh, darling! dearest girl!” he cried. “Let me get to that telephone I” “I wish,” she smiled, “you’d just let me tell him —”• “Tell him what?” “To go to —you know.”

"Oh Yes, You Are.”