Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1908 — She Now Mayor Based on G.H.Broadhurst’S Successful Play THE MAN OF THEHOUR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

She Now Mayor Based on G.H.Broadhurst’S Successful Play THE MAN OF THEHOUR

BY Mlbert [Jayson fjERHUNE eapriuGHT,i9Q7 er bbo/m mmqadhurst.

CHAPTER XIII. THE momentous Friday had arrived; the day whereon the famous —or Infamous Borough Street railway bill in its amended form was to come up for the aldermen’s consideration. Every paper in the city devoted columns to the situation. Everywhere It was known that the “boy mayor” was fighting with all his might the bill he had^xilready vetoed. Equally well was 'ltunderstood that Horrigan was making the battle of his whole career in behalf of the measure. If be could but induce his “aplid thirteen” aidermen to stand firm and could maintain his hold on Roberts for the fourteenth, all would be plain sailing and the bill would pass by a two-thirds vote in spite of the mayor’s veto. More than the mcWe bill and bis price for it were included in Horrlgan’s reasons for his present activity. He recognized that his prestige as boss was at stake—that in case of failure his hold on the organization would be considerably weakened, perhaps almost so much shaken as to permit Phelan to fulfill his once absurd threat to tear him down from his eminence. For the whole organization was viewing with breathless interest the duel between Horrigan and the youthful mayor the boss bad “made.” In such circles a beaten man commands scant respect. • » * * • • •

The board of aldermen were In session in the city hall. Off the antechamber of the great room where they met was a small, snugly furnished apartment, first of a series of similar rooms that stretched away, with connecting. doors, to the far end of the main corridor. This place, with the room adjoining, bad once been the comptroller's oflice. Of late, however, that official had changed his quarters and the room nearest the antechamber had been appropriated by Horrigan himself as a sort of unofficial snuggery, where he could sit at ease and transact business at close quarters whenever the organization’s secret interests demanded his presence at the city ball. Here, his whereabouts known only to his intimate and personal lieutenants, the boss was wont to sit at ease, like some fat, rubicund spider in the center of a web of Intrigue, and issue his orders or plans of campaign. Some of these were carried by word of mouth through the anteroom into the aldermanic chamber. Others he transmitted by means of a telephone that stood readj' on the center table, before which his great easy chair was always placed. Around this table as the board of aidermen were about to convene on the fateful Friday of the Borough bill’s fingl consideration sat three menWainwright, Gibbs and Horrigan. The -former, in spite of his habitual steady coolness, was plainly uheasy. Gibbs made no effort to deny his anxiety. His eyes were bloodshot, his manner abstracted and his nerves evidently strung to breaking point. Horrigan alone of the trio had abated not one jot of the colossal calm and brutal power that were part and parcel of the man’s mighty character. “When will our bill come up, do you Suppose?’’ r.sked Gibbs, breaking a brief silence. “In half an hour or co probably," answered Horrigan, glancing at bls watch. “I thought it vas better f'r us to get here ahead of time.” “Half an hour,” fumed Gibbs, "and neither Ellis nor Roberts here ye*’ Suppose they don’t get here on time?" "They will,” grunted Horrigan placidly

“Do you think it Is possible either of them has eome yet?” went on Gibbs, with a glance at the antechamber door. “No.” “How do you know? Perhaps”— ••Williams would have told me. He knows where I'm to be found.” “You're sure 4311 is and Roberts will show up?” “Yes.” “How soon?" “In good time.” “But suppose they don’t?” Insisted Gibbs nervously. “What then?” “Why, if they don’t, then they won’t.* 1 What do you suppose?” snapped Horrigan. “What’s the matter wltb you. anyhow? Are you looking for a museum job as the ‘human question mark?' ” ■‘•Gibbs is naturally nervous,” explained Wainwright “He's not so old at this game as you and 1, Horrigan, and we must make allowances." “Nervous?" grunted the boss. “I should say he is! Just look at that

cigar I gave him.’ He’s been chewing it as if it w*as a sausage. That’s no way to treat a fifty cent cigar, mtfnf Here, try another, and see if you can’t smoke it Instead of eating a free lunch off it Nothing like a good smoke to steady your nerves. If”— The antechamber door opened, and Williams hurried in.

“I got Ellis!” he reported. “He’s here, and”—with significant emphasis—“he’ll vote right!” "Good!" assented Horrigah. “I thought he’d come to time. Now. for Rylterts and the thing’s done.” “The gallery In there Is Jammed.” reported Williams. Jerking bls head toward the aldermanic chamber. “I never saw such a mob In the place before” "That’s what comes of all this newspaper publicity.” growled Horrigan “If it wasn’t for the papers the peopld ’d never make any trouble for us. But they read the news and then they get ■ illy i !e s about their ’rights.’ and a lot of t!ie::i come here to see they don’t get swindled Lord! If the papers won!.l only suspend publication for one month. id guarantee to put the whole state in my vest pocket. They're always butting in to spoil the organization’s honest profits. How are the crowd in the galleries behaving?” “They’re quiet.” answered Williams uneasily. “Too quiet. That’s what bothers me. They seem to be waiting for the Borough bill to”— “If they raise any row, rush a motion through to clear the galleries.” ordered Horrigan. "Nothing short of the police could clear away that big crowd.” “Then we'H have the police in to help.” “But.” argued Williams, “that would mean a riot, and a lot of people would get hurt. All the newspapers tomorrow would”— “Never mind that. Go ahead and de as you’re told. At the first sign of disapproval from the galleries have the motion passed and turn the police loose. Understand?”

“All right,” acquiesced Williams dubiously and withdrew. Wainwright opened his mouth to protest, but Horrigan was already busy at the telephone. “Hello!” be called. “I want 900 F—--900 F. Yes—yes. Is that the captain?" he went on a moment later. “Then send him to the phone. Tell him Mr. Horrigan— Hello, captain!’’ after an other pause. “Yes, it’s Horrigan. At city hall. In the aldermanic chamber there’s a mob. and we’re likely to need the police to quiet ’em. Yes. No. not ‘diet’ (them, you fool! ‘Quiet’ them! Yes. Send us a squad at double quick, anl let the sergeant report to Wilflhms. Let the boys bring their night sticks, and tell ’em they’re to take no back talk and not to be afraid to slug if it comes to that, and I guess it will. Pick out the right sort to slnd. Yes. Of course I’ll back up anything they do Sure. Rush ’em. Goodby.’’ , “But”— began Wainwright as Horrigan hung up the receiver. The boss cut him short. “I’ll let that gallery crowd see it ain’t safe to interfere with my work.” . “But,” protested Wainwright, “surely it will not be necessary to”— “To break heads? It probably will. Why not?” “I’d rather use diplomatic tactics.’’ “Diplomacy’s a game I never took the trouble to learn.” “But those people you’re about to antagonize control votes”— “Yes. The people may control the votes, .but we count them. See the difference?” “But doesn't the law j»ennit the public to attend these meetings?” “Only so long as they behave themselves. If a few of ’em get clubbed they won't be so ready next time to butt in where thev aren’t wanted They’’ The tinkle of the telephone belt cut short the boss' public spirited remarks Horrigan unSlung the receiver. “Hello!” he hailed. “Who’S— Oh Roberts, eh?” “Is It Roberts?” cried Gibbs excitedly “No." snarled ■ HOrrlgan Inponderous sarcasm. “It’s the czar df Russia telephoning to borrow a nickel 1 called him Roberts' just to flatter him Go on, Roberts! What's that? Yes. this is Mr. Horrigan. Want to see me. do you? What for? No. he went on angrily after a moment's listening. "You and I settled all that. Come and do your share of the— Yes. I tell yon it's up to. you to make good.”

Another pause, during which Gibbs and V>#iinwright giunced' at each other In suspense. Then the boss continued, in a louder voice, over the wire: “Well, coihe to my room iu the city hail. then, if you've got to see me. But the'/c's no need for it. It's all settled, .■uul there's nothing more to be said, ill be here Don’t keep me waiting. I— What’s that? No! I won’t come to you! Yoe'll come to me. and you’ll come on the double quick! Jump now! If you .imi t- No. that's all. Hurry up!” “Wouldn't It l>e wiser." suggested Gibbs, to humor the man by going to him. as he suggests? Then"— “No. it wouldn't!” retorted Horrigan as he kept the telephone. “If I’d gone pn the principle of ‘humoring* folks.

I’d still be working at eighteen per selling ferry tickets. Take my tip. friend! Never go to a man. Make blm come to you. That’s business. And It gives you a 90 per cent better chance with him. Now. then,” pulling a paper from his pocket “I told you about the report I bad Morris & Cherrlngton dig out showing up Bennett’s old man. Here it is. Like to look It over while we’re waiting?” “Little enough good It seems to have done!” returned Wainwright as the three heads bent over the document “He’s still fighting us, tooth and nail.” “Yes.” agreed Horrigan grimly, “but It’s a satisfaction to know it isn’t only us he’s fighting. He’s cutting his own throat too.” • , •

(To be c«ntlßue<l.)