Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1908 — THE MAN OF THE HOUR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE MAN OF THE HOUR

BY ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE

&h& New Nay or Baaed am (SJOißraadhursTs Successful Play

' CHAPTER VII. «rpUE boss is turned down!" I Tills startling news flew I lightning' fast to every quarter A of the organization and In its wake spread a trail of incredulous amaze. livery memlier, from alderman to “heeler,” knew why Horrlgan had made Itennett mayor. That the latter should turn against his benefactor seemed not only black ingratitude, but something akin to imthnity, for Jt apparently spelled political suicide for the young man. While neither of the disputants had repeated the details of the quarrel, yet those details with many another were already passing from mouth to mouth In the mysterious fashion whereby the closest kept secrets are divulged and enlarged on. In the financial world, too, the veto came as a bombshell. Borough Street railway stock fell with • thud that shook more than one colossal fortune. Bennett—central point of the whole upheaval—was the calmest man of all who were involved. He had chosen his course, and he was following It with a dogged quiet far more dangerous than any loud mouthed bins ter. He had laid out a campaign, and that campaign he rigidly followed. His first step was to send for Perry Wainwrlght early In the morning following the clash with Horrlgan and, under strict pledge of secrecy, to explain the whole complicated affair to that very bewildered young man. “You’re all right, Alwyn! You’re all Jhe goods!" crowed Perry In genuine idmiratlon. “But why didn’t you backbeel Horrignn and throw him downstairs?” “I think I did,” said Bennett dryly. *T think I’m still doing it. That’s why 1 aent for you today.” “Want me to lick him for you?” asked Perry In delight. “He’s a bit over my weight, but 1 wouldn’t mind pasting”—

“No,” Interrupted Bennett, amused At the lad's vehemence. “I want you to play the melodramatic brother and protect your sister.” “Say,” snorted Perry, all the lightness gone out of his manner and his froung frame stiffening ominously, ‘d’you mean to say the cur is framing ;up any game on Dallas? I” “Sit down,” ordered Alwyn, “and try jto use what little human intelligence you may have. I’ve got to have your 'help, and what use arc you when all (you can think of is getting thrashed by Somebody? Sit down now and listen o me.”

Perry meekly obeyed the new note of command in Ills friend’s voice, and (Bennett resumed: ' “Your uncle has tried to hamper me toy putting all your fortune and Dallas’ into Borough Street railway stock. •The news of my veto will reach the {exchange almost at once. That will 'cause a slump in Borough stock. If jHorrlgan fails to carry the bill through over my head—and he will fail if 1 can possibly block him—that will mean the jpractical collapse of the stock. It will mean that you and Dallas will be almost penniless.” I “Well,” suggested Perry cheerfully, ’Then you can marry Dallas, and little jbrother Perry can come and live with you. Don’t worry, old chap. I” "Shut up, you young idiot, and sit down and listen! Here's a check; also a note of introduction to my broker. He’s a close mouthed fellow, and he'll kesp the secret. 1 want you to hell Borough stock short to the amount of”-

“To speculate? Gee! I never thought”— "I don’t believe lu speculation as a rule, but this time it’s the only way out. Sell short. Then if the bill is defeated you and Gladys will still be as well off as you are now, even after .paying me back this sum I've advanced. If the bill is passed over my head, the stock will boom, and you’ll both be (richer than ever. Understand the idea? 1 think I’ve arranged it so you and •he won’t lose a dollar In either case.” j “Alwyn,” cried Perry, the full idea kt last penetrating his youthful brain, pyou’re the whitest ever. The”— j “Hold on! I do tills on one condition.” “Oh!”

! "On condition you promise solemnly !that neither Dallas nor any one else shall know my share In It” “But”t “Promise!” < “Oh, well, all right, then. But Dallas ouaht to”— “No, she oughtn’t Now clear out jl’as busy. Don’t waste any time going fee.my broker. I’m holdlQg back.the

['official announcement of the veto as I long as I can. But”— i “I’m on. So long, old chap. Ente< Perry the Lamb into Bear and Bullvllle! Let Horrlgan & Co. Indulge in a timely tremble!” Scarce bad Perry departed on his mission when Phelan was announced. “Your honor,” he shouted as he first icaught a glimpse of Bennett “You’re all aces! Nothin’ to It Friend Horrigan’s hi tin’ holes In the cellin’. He’s —oh, you needn’t look so mum. I’m wise. I haven’t spent ten years and close on a million bucks In scrapin’ together a private secret service system

jfor nothin’. ‘You’ve signed the bill?’ hqueals Horrlgan. ‘No, you big stiff!’ says you, Tve vetoed it Now go chase yourself before I knock you from under your hat!’ says you. Them was the very words, so I’m told.” “I congratulate you on your secret service men,” laughed Bennett “They Seem to have a wonderful faculty for Quoting one’s remarks literally, but”— 1 “But did I come here to ladle out hot to you?' supplemented Phelan. |“No, I didn’t I come to tip you off to a meetln’ that’s held last night at iWalnwright’s house—him an’ Horrijgan an’ Gibbs an’ some others, JncloodSn’ Hen Williams, who’s Horrigan’s mouthpiece an’ handy man In the board jof aldermen. Didn’t happen, to hear of that meetln’, did you?” “No. I am unfortunate in having no secret service corps." > “Never mind,” returned Phelan, on whom the satire of the reply was quite lost “Yjou can get the benefit of mine. Now, ot this meetln’ they did a lot of Jabberin’ an’ they cussed you up hill an’ down dale. Says Horrlgan, ‘lf that cub’ ” , “Thanks,” interposed Alwyn, "but I don’t care to hear what was said about fme. 1”- ♦ “All right, then, but there’s something you do want to hear. They got busy at last an’ framed up a new wordin’ for the Borough bill that’ll maybe throw dust in your eyes if you ain’t put on to it in advance. They’ve cut out the subway paragraph an’ the express business clause, an’ they allow transfers at all cross lines. That’s the way they’ll put the bill up to the aldermen next time. A nice, harmless lookin’ document It’ll be, an* perhaps the board ’ll swaller It if”“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 the ‘perpetual franchise’ clause stands.” “And the 12.000,000 cash offer stands, too,” added Bennett. “I still fall to see why I should present Mr. Walnwright’s company with a franchise for which another man is willing to pay the city $2,000,000, and 1 shall fight the bill to the very end.” "Good boy. your honor! An’ Jimmy Phelan's with you. We’ll make Horrlgan look like”—

“He ne<*<>s fourteen votes to carry the bill past my veto. He has his thirteen aldermen, under Williams’ lead. But only those thirteen voted for the bill In its original state. Unless Ilorrignn and Williams can find a fourteenth alderman to”— “Unless one of the men who voted against it before can be brought to vote for U next time Horrigan loses.” answered Ptiblan. “He’ll make It his business to buy a fourteenth man. an’ I'll make it my business to find out who he tries to get an’ to help your honor keep that same fourteenth man straight That’s how it adds up so far. Well. I'll be joggin’. I’ll keep you posted. an' between us we’ll make Horrigan give a livin’ picture imitation of a man without a scalp before we’re through with him.” Little of Phelan’s exultation was reflected in the new mayor's face as the alderman bustled out His duty lay clear before him. and-that duty he would follow. But he alone realized the cost, He had so counted on the

Promised talk with Dallas Wainwrigbt the preceding evening. On the hopes of that Interview be had staked his all. In it he was to have received the half pledged reward for his months of toll and achievement Yet In view of his present relations toward Wainwrlght he could not, of course, visit the 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? (To be continued.)

Perry Wainwright.