Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1908 — THE NAN OF THE HOUR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE NAN OF THE HOUR

She New Flaym * iutd <m GJLbrondhursfa Successful Plt&r

BY ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE

I: CHAPTER XIV. THE first committee room that lay to the right of Horrlgan’a office—in the same relation to ft as the antechamber to the left —was usually given over to dry official business. and its musty walla must almost have experienced a distinct shock about this time as Dallas Wain* wrlgbt entered from the corridor behind. She was accompanied by Perry and by Phelan, who, passing through the corridor toward the aldermanlc chamber, bad collided with the brother and sister at the committee room door. ’•THere's a good sight for sore eyes, Miss Wainwright," the aiderman was saying with bis best air. "But is it flair to ask what brings such a bunch of sunshine into an old p'lltlcai shell like this? I'd as soon think of seeing Horrigan at mass as to find you here." “1 want to attend the aidermen’s meeting,” exclaimed Dallas. “1 have a special reason. So I made Perry bring me. But at the door they told us the gallery was so crowded that we couldn't"— •’’’“Never you mind the gallery, miss,” interrupted Phelan. “It isn’t meant for the libes of you anyway. You Jast sit here a few minutes, an' I’ll catch an attendant somewhere an’ make him hustle up a couple of good chairs for you on the main floor, where you can pipe everything just like you were in your own op'ra box coppin' off • awad of high C’s.” •Thank you so much, aiderman,” replied Dallas. "I hope we’re not putting you to too much trouble.” “No trouble at all. An’ even if it was I’d come a-runnin’ to meet it I’m Jthe original trouble eater. Besides, the 'best in the house is none too good for Hie lady who was so int’rested in my •ntings. So long! I’ll be right back.” * “What a queer chap he is!” mused Perry, as Phelan hastened away on his mission. "If I could take a six weeks’ course in slang and hot air from that man I’d be able to sew buttons on the whole English language." ' “I don’t think you need very much taition,” observed Dallas. "But it was kind of Mr. Pbelau to look after us. I like him be”— “Because he's standing by Bennett bo pluckily in this tight?’,’ “Mr. Bennett is nothing to me.” “No?” asked Perry In innocent amaze. “Then I wasted a lot of good cigarette money cabling to you about his campaign when you were across the big wash last summer. For a man who was ’nothing' to yqn you sure took large swads of intelligent interest. Look here, little girl,” he went on, less flippantly, “what’s the matter? Has anything”— “No!” she broke in, with a miserable effort at courage. “Nothing’s the matter. I’m perfectly happy. Why shouldn’t I be? An engaged girl Is always”— “An engaged girl!” he shouted in high glee. “You don’t mean to say you and Alwyu”— “Of course not. I am engaged to Gitybs.” “Good Lord!” gasped the lad in honest dismay. “If that's meant for a - joke, it’s the punkest ever! Did”— “It Isn’t a joke, Perry, and It’s very rude of you to talk so. 1 am engaged to Mr. Gibbs, and”— “But—how—when did the atrocity come off, and”— “I became engaged to him the night of the administration ball. 1 didn't want to tell you yet, because 1 knew you don't like him. I’m—l’m” “You’re happy?” “Certainly 1 am!” she retorted defiantly. “So happy that 1” “That you are having a fight to keep from crying this blessed minute!" be finished. “Say, Dallas, it breaks me ail up to have you so miserable. I think a whole lot of you. More’n of any one else but Cynthia. And 1 want to help you out of this measly mixup. Won't you?”— ‘There is nothing any one can do” she murmured sadly. "I have chosen my course and I” ' “Cheese it!” whispered Perry in hurried admonition. “Here comes Bennett. and Phelan’s with him.” The young mayor came in, talking to the alderman as ‘This room’s disengaged.” he waa saying. “I’ll write it here and give It to— oh, I beg your pardon,” he broke off, recognizing Dallas and Perry. “1 didn’t know”“I’ve got two good seats for you.” announced. Phelan. “Right where you can see an* bear the whole sbootlu* Snatch. An’ I guess before the meetin’s •over it’s liable, to geL*A interestin’ as

a double ‘'‘Uncle Tom" show in a tent. I’ll show you the way as soon as You’re ready. There’s no rush. Things ain't begun to sizzle up yet.” Bennett had crossed to where Dallas stood irresolute and. under cover of Phelan’s talk with Perry, said to her, with a certain unconscious stiffness; “I fear 1 was too taken aback i>v arour announcement the other evening to remember to congratulate you. but please believe me when I say I wish you every happiness in the new life you have chosen.” ’ "Thunk you very much," faltered Dallas. There was an awkward pause; then she said: ; “You came in here to write something. I’m afraid we are detaining you. You must be busy with your fight against the Borough bill. You are quite determined to continue it to the end?” “To the bitter end!” he answered ml it;'ily “Even though that end can li i!d nothing but bitterness for ?.A.” . .cl anguish in„his face moved Dallas more than she dared confess even io'berelf. “I am sorry,” she said softly. •’lt is the course 1 have chosen," he answered, with a shrug, “and if it leads to eternal darkness instead of the sunlight 1 expected I must follow it none the less.” k’That is sheer obstinacy," she cried, ttling against her own heart’s passionate plea. "You ,have laid out a plan to ruin Mr. Gibbs, to deprive Perry and me of my own fortune,

to enriea yourself by selling Borough stock short and then vetoing the bill so that the stock would collapse. You have done all this, and yet you talk of folio w 1 n g your abominable course to the end!” “Dallas,” he said very quietly, "you don’t understand, and you refused to trust me to explain, so I can

say no more. But one day you may learn the cruel mistake you are making." ; “Mistake?” ! “I don’t mean that you are mistaken in choosing Gibbs instead of me, but (that you are wrong in your judgment of what lam doing. I hope you will ■understand some day. It will be too late to change anything then, but at (least I shall be set right In your eyes. [And that means more to me than you can ever know. Goodby.” j He left the room abruptly, and Dallas stared after him, her brain awhirl jwith conflicting thoughts. ! “There's a man in ten million, miss.” volunteered Phelan, breaking in on her teverie, “an’ from the looks of that bran’ new dinky, three-k spark on S'our finger 1 guess you’re wise to the fact.” ! “I am engaged to Mr. Gibbs,” replied Dallas coldly. ! “What the”— gasped Phelan, checkEug himself just in time. “I’m sure orry for you. miss,” he went on. with Ji sincerity that precluded any offense, .“for frieu’ Gibbs is going to have something so heavy fall on his bank roll by the time were through with This Borough bill that he’ll be able to use his wad for a book mark without crinklin’ any? of the leaves. Why. be’U”—

“Come, Perry,” interrupted Dallas. l"Shall we go to the meeting now?” I Confused, she turned to the door leading into llorrigan’s room instead jof that opening on the corridor and (found herself face to face with her {uncle, the boss and Gibbs. ' "1 beg your pardon," she began, surprised. "I didn’t know"— 1 "Dallas!" exclaimed Gibbs and Wainwright in the same breath. Ilorrigan scowled at the interruption as all three men rose to their feet. : "What brings you to a place like this?" asked Wainwright in displeasure. “Perry and I,” indicating hei'«brotbjer, who had followed her into the room, “are going to attend the meeting of the itoard of aldermen." "But,” protested her uncle disapprovingly, "It is hardly the sort of”— j "My fortune and Perry’s and that of 'the man I am to marry are all bound (up In the Borough bill,” she answered (fearlessly. “I have a right to be present when that bill’s fate is decided." I “Good nerve!" applauded Horrigan. f’You’re n thoroughbred. If there were (more like you”— . “Mr. Ilorrigan,” reported. Williams, (hurrying in from an antechamber, "the police have come, and”— | “All right," answered the boss. “Give [the sergeant his orders.” ■ “I—l hardly like the responsibility,” muttered Williams, "and”— "But you’ll take it. I’m backing you. By the way, get seats for Miss Wainwright and her brother. Get {them close to the anteroom door, so if there’s a row she can come Imck here.

If there are no vacant seats there, dear a couple of people out and make place for”— “But we have seats," protested Dallas as Williams sped on his errand. r'Alderman Phelan”— 1 “Aiderman Phelan will have trouble .finding a seat in this city when l*m done with him,” snarled Horrigan. “Better take the seats I offer, Miss Wainwright. They’re safer.” . "But,” protested Wainwright, “If there’s to l*e any danger she mustn’t be there. I can’t have”— • “I will be on hand to help her It there is,” Gibbs answered him. 1 "H’m!" grunted Horrigan in somewhat uncomplimentary doubt. 1 “I will, too”’ spoke up Perry. I Horrigan nodded approval. ' “You’ll be all right then,” said he. •’And now”— > “You spoke of the police being in the Aldermanlc chamber." said Dallas. “What for?” ‘To check any trouble the gallery may make,*’ answered Horrigan. “This man Bennett’s stirred the people 'up with a lot of his anarchistic reform ideas till they’re crazy. Some one’s liable to get a broken skull, and then Bennett will have himself to thank. Maybe when the police have hammered a little sense into folks’ beads With their nightsticks, the victims will begin to understand just what sort of a man Alwyn Bennett is. Remember now, Gibbs, and you, too, young Wainwright, if there’s any sign of a row bring Miss Wainwright back here at once.” "All right.” agreed Perry, a little rueful at the prospect of missing a free fight. “Let’s go in there now. I’ve never been to an aidermen’s meeting before, but 1 ran up against a catstrike riot once, so 1 guess I’m on to most of the subtle rules of elegance that govern such shows. Coine on. people, If you’re coming.” “Your niece is a thoroughbred.” repeated Horrigan, with rare approbation, as the anteroom door closed behind Dallas and her two escorts. “So she's' to marry Gibbs, is she? I’m sorry for them both.” “Why?" asked Wainwright sharply. “Because it won’t take her a year to find out that he’s a yellow cur. And when she does she’ll either kick him out or lead him around on a chain. Now, the fellow a girl of that sort ought to have married is Bennett. He’s an obstinate fool, but he’s a man. I thought you said once he was stuck on her.” “He was. He still is* “And she took Gibbs Instead?” cried Horrigan, a world of incredulity in bls rough voice. “Women are a queer lot! Why’d she shake Bennett, if it is a fair question?” “I let her see Gibbs was a heroic martyr.” said Wainwright, with quiet significance, “and that Bennett was”— “Ob, I see!” chuckled Horrigan. “Stili, there might be something made out of Bennett's love for her even yet.” “What do you menu? “I’m not quite sure. I'll have to think it over.” “Roberts has come!” exclaimed Williams, entering from the corridor. “He’s asking for you. Shall I bring him in here?” “Yes,” replied Horrigan. “By the way,” he added to Wainwright as Williams departed, “I’ll have to ask you to clear out for a few minutes. I’ve got to see Roberts alone. Now for the tussle that’ll decide the whole fight!” (To be''coat!aued.)

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"Dallas,” he said very quietly, "you don’t understand.”