Liberty Express, Volume 13, Number 33, Liberty, Union County, 17 March 1916 — Page 3

A TALE

(feRAtIDOLPHciW 2Qg CHESTER

"That's the idea." assented Allerton -Restrictive legislation. The icople are strong for that Just now, anyhow. Dlgglesby's idea is to call the net A bill for the protection of municipalities against the monopolistic penetulty of street car companies.'" "Great!"" approved Sledge. "It sounds fierce if they get It I don't myself.

urlAr i crt ah. Friendly Chat on. tho

Peaceful

Sabbath.

ARLEY, as president of the

King City Street Hallway company and as chairman of the impromptu convention of

street car magnates, was so full of business that he felt stuffed like a sau

sage, to nis niina tne runa tuey mi a

but 1 know It's against the nionopo- j raised to fight Allerton' Iniquitous leg-

lies." -It's almost harsh with them," dryly commeuted Allertoo. "The bill will restrict the car companies to a painful degree. It will make a penal offense on the part of the officers to bond a company for more than its capitalization." Sledge chuckled. "The bankers convention will in dorse that," he said. "The blir will prevent street railway companies from running open or summer cars when the thermometer Is be

low 40 degrees F. It will prevent the running of winter cars without double glass protection for the motormen. It will be made illegal to have more than one strap In every eighteen inches of space. It will be made illegal for a full car to run by a signaling pedestrian, and It will be made illegal, altbongh this will be scattered In three or four places in the bill, and surrounded with a lot of ambiguous language, for any franchise to be granted for as long a ierlod as fifty years." "That's the talk," nodded Sledge. "Restrictive legislation." "I thought you could get along with forty-nine years and eleven months," stated Allerton. "Moreover, I think we can frame the bill to protect the ieople." "Can you slip it through T

"Dleelesbv thinks so. although he

the next morning and found the senator Ju the luxury of pajamas, easy slippers, mid lounging robe amid an extravagant coti'uion of Sunday papers. At his rfclit hand was a taboret, on which bubbled nn electric coffee percolator, and at his left hand was a featherweight nerving table, on which was a comfortable supply of cigarettes. In front of him sat Hen Sledge. "Hello. Marley." greeted the senator "You're Just In Ume for coffee." "Had mine hours ago." returned Marley, nndllng his return to Sledge's grunt. "Then it's time 'again," Insisted the senator pleasantly, ringing for another cup. "Or would you prefer a cocktail?" "A little of your exclusive rye. I think, if you Insist on anything," accepted Marley, drawing a chair Into the cozy little circle. "You're trying to save that rye or you would have offered IHn the first place." "No; only trying to promote sobriety," bantered Allerton. "I suppose, however, that a memory of that good Kentucky stock is what brought you out here on this peaceful Sabbath morning." "Hardly." denied Marley. "Frankly

I suppose I came on the same errand as my rival and competitor here." "What's that?" asked Allerton. with a glance at Sledge. "To find out what the dickens you mean by that Infamous street railway bill of which you are the disreputable parent." Allerton gazed at him blankly for a moment and again glanced quizzically at Sledge. There was a low rumble down In Sledge's throat, but neither his face r;or his eyes betrayed any sentiment or emotion whatsoever. "I mean to protect the honest worklngman. to save our houses and firesides and add honor and glory to the American flag." responded Allerton solemnly. Marley accepted that merry quip with the courteous chuckle which It deserved. "Outside of that and drying the tears of the widows and orphans, what do you propose to accomplish by It?" he persisted In like vein. "If I didn't know you were above spltework I should think that you had It In for the street car interests."

went home, looking fajrzed about the ' Again the senator looked at him wltn

eyes, without having done much more a puzzled air, then he turned to Sledge, than tms inmo froth v resolutions and "Doesn't he know anything?" be

raise the feeble fund referred to and queried.

investigate by electric light whatever aw: rumoieu fcieage. the keys of the city would unlock; and J "I answered Allerton coolly. "I President Marley, staggering under the ; supposed you all knew that before the burden of his position, was very much bill was passed it would be amended worried. ! to conserve the Important financial lu

lle confided his fears to his future terests.

the Sunday dinner, came Just in tlme'not overly pleasant thought.

to sit down at the table with the fam

Ily. and he was so preoccupied that Molly was half vexed with him. "Now, who has wou part of your marbles?- she chlded blui, attempting to conceal her annoyanc e with him under the guise of gay raillery. "Pert already looks like u married mail." laughed Fern. "I'd be fright

ened half to death. Molly. Think what

"He'd have bluffed me long ago," confessed Fern. "I'd have been so scared to death that by this time I'd be sending out afternoon tea Invitations on his business stationery." , "You spiritless wretch!" chlded ' Molly. "It might not be so bad. after all." ; returned Fern, persisting, now that

bell look like at a breakfast ou the : süe liaJ startC(1 ,n revealing the eu

islatlon was woefully inadequate, and

the men who should have been most Interested were strangely optimistic. He suggested to several of them that they appoint a committee to yee Allerton and arrange some sort of compro

mise, but here again be found an unexpected lukewarmness. Nobody seemed ' to think that Allerton could be "reached," and as a matter of fact every time he broached that subject he found his fellow magnates evasive. The newspapers need not have blazed i

! so much about the probable corruption

fund, because there positively was none. The subscription secured was i

99 Wf M

only for the conduct of a publicity campaign and to pay for the services of a perfectly legitimate lobbyist, who would explain the reasonable rights of the street car men.

On Saturday morning the visitors all

first of each mouth.'

"He'll never see the meat bill," dedared Molly. "1 intend to begin with allinouy." "1 hope I can pay it." responded Bert.

catching the all too Jovial spirit of the assemblage and pretending to gayety blmsrlf. "i think my first step toward making a living, however, will be to move out of this state where I can buy i and pell a piece of property without asking permission of some alderman or ward thug." j

"I think we'll all go," suggested Mar-1 dangerous!

ley, who had been looking studiously Into his soup. "What has happened to worry you, Bert?" "Since Sledge smiled?" queried that neatly mustached young man In order to head him off from that reproach. "I think I have good cause this time. I took a drive out IJncoln road this morning, and they're going ahead with their amusement park project." "Impossible." asserted Marley, straightening in outraged dignity, "while the Ring City Street Railway company has a Lincoln road franchise, which would prevent our competitors from obtaining one. It has not announced any intention of building In that direction and will not do so." Bert laughed quite without mirth. "You remind me of that good old standard story of the map who was

arrested for some trifling offense.

sent for his friend and drained the circumstances. 'Why. It's confounded nonsenseT exclaimed the friend, holding the bars and looking through the grating of the cell door. 'No policeman on earth can throw you into Jail for that.' " "Why, he was in Jail at that very minute." protested Fern. "I think that's supposed to be the point of the story," guessed Molly. "Of what Is It apropos, Bert?' ."Of the impossibility of building an imujemeut park on Lincoln road," be answered. "They're digging a lake out there. They've erected the scaffolding of a roller coaster. They've built a big woikshed, which is later to be turned

Into a Tannenbaum hall, which Just

' tire depth of her depravity. I sup-

pose 1 ought to be ashamed to ac

knowledge it. but I like Sledge." "You may pack up your things and go home," laughed Molly, not really blaming her for the sentiment, however. "You're positively hopeless. Fern." "All right," insisted Fern. "1 don't think there'd be any more fun than taming and managing a big brute like him."

"Throw her out," begged Bert "She's

son-in-law after he had seen the last tired, hard working magnate on a train headed for home and remorse. "I don't think these men appreciate.

Marley pondered that statement

awhile, and then he laughed. "Of course," he said- "It's only polit

ical claptrap. Intended to make the

voter think you are eternally on the

now1 Is stacked with gaudy parts of a thrc(k story merry-go-round. It may be utterly impossible for them to build an amAement park out there, but they're

.&&oWJ , - . . . f ontroillnr BtrM ; voter minK you are eie agrees with me that about six months ; 8 au0m" he wmpTaS " VI ; Job in his Interests." after it's done somebody will explain it ; ,",,?". , comrIameu- i ... wouidn.t Dut lt In u in a , i if : lerton s bill looks like a menace to all 1 wouiuni put " n

so that the voters will understand It.

and the man who fathers it will have

lerton's bill looks like a menace to all

my Interests, and I am a little bit sur-

tii nam chiseled fllonfrslde Benedict Psea mat Meuge, since nxs entrance

Arnold's.

t into the game on a big scale, does not

" Tie's dead," commented Sledge, with keen philosophy. "Exactly," coincided Allerton, with a philosophy whicJi, though unexpressed, was still keener. "There's only one political post of any worth which would be open to him after the prejudiced public had Its erroneous Judgment permanently fixed." "The senate," guessed Sledge. "The United States senate," firmly repeated Allerton, looking Sledge squarely In the eye. "That's the one place in which political opprobrium cannot reach a man." Sledge studied long and carefully ajid made some painstaking readjustments.

In order to make a place for one man '

seem more concerned about it." "It was Sledge who arranged to hare these fellows come together," Bert re minded him. "Yes, admitted Marley, ' "but 'he seemed to have such feeble Ideas aboSit what to do after be bad them here. It wasn't like bis usual vigorous methods." "Then he has something up his sleeve." decided Bert "I wish that fellow would drop dead. I'm afraid of him." "You've been talking to Molly." laughed her father. "No; I've been talking to Sledge," denied Bert "I had Just as lief have

a rattlesnake devote its life to the am-

he bad to do considerable shifting on' buIon of 8inklng a fang ,nto tbe calf

his political chessboard and eventually

push a pawn off the edge. "I'll see what can be done about that." he promised. "That matter being clearly underStood as well as the others we mentioned the legal representation and the amount of stock I am to acquire 1 think the bill a feasible one and the legislation to be exactly such as is needed by the changing requirements of our modern civilization."

"Applause." observed Sledge, devel

of my leg a to have Sledge fussing in with me. If I can find a buyer for It I'm going to unload my stock in that amusement park while tbe public still thinks it will be built" Marley frowned his crushing displeasure. "You are expressing very small confidence in me," he reproved. "I don't see why your nervousness about Sledge should extend to an operation which depends on my Judgment alone. The

ping an unexpected turn for repartee' Kidgewood avenue extension Is to be

Will Dlgglesby fight the bill himself ?" "No; he'll put Bailey Cooper on the Job." grinned Allerton. "This will be about tbe last time he can be used that way too. That young spellbinder is getting too wise. Digglesby'a almost afraid of him now." "Can't we get him?" asked Sledge. "No chance." regretted Allerton. "He's too young yet" "Don't risk him," warned Sledge. "Leave it to Dlgglesby and Buckey."' ndvlsed Allerton. "They know Bailey like a book. They know what bethinks when he locks himself In his room, and he'll tear Into this bill as if he were fighting the devil himself, face to face. After be gets through the real argument will begin, and anything anybody else says against It will sound flabby. After that we'll bury the bill in committee until there's something exciting In the house, 6pllt in the fifty year franchise amendment and pass the thing some rainy afternoon when nobody's In the house but lnvUnl friends." "How long will lt take?" inquired Bledge. "About as long as it will take you to round up and organize tbe best paying street car corporations in the state." Sledge looked out of the window In silence which seemed almost moody. "So long," he said, and left by way of the halt

built as fast as It can be pushed

through. I have already ordered the rails, the franchise cannot be disputed, and even if Sledge were to parallel the Itldgewood avenue line it would only bring more patronage to your park." "Not mine." corrected Bert hastily "I'll get my money out of it as quick as I can, and I'll put that money where Sledge can't reach lt" "You're scared blue." charged Marley contemptuously. "IIow did you vome to get tangled up with Sledge?" "I met him down at the city hall. lie was wearing one of his fool red roses, and I think be saw me looking at lt. Perhaps I did grin. At any rate, be stopped and asked me when I was to be married to Molly." "What did you tell bim?"

"Christmas. Molly, yesterday after-1 tnan Tom Bendlx.

exactly that

way," soberly reproved Allertoo, Justly offended by this coarse method of impugning his motives.

"I apologize," said Marley. "I should . have said 'the bill displays that you . constantly have the interests of your j constituents at heart We were rather r

exercised aluut it but we. should,, not have been, for th your long service for the public I do not think you have ever promoted or fostered any legislation which would be destructive of capital." "Certainly not," agreed Allerton, who never let down his pose in the presence of a man who had not proved his right to sit within the sacred circle. "Without the proper and legitimate fostering of enterprises requiring extensive financial support there can be no national prosperity." "That's sound enough doctrine," commended Marley. "What are the amendments which are to soften the blow?" With kindly patience the senator explained to him tbe amendments, one by one. being careless enough, however, not to mention the fifty year franchise clause. At the end of an hour Marley. much relieved In his mind, took his departure, regretting that Sledge was not ready to accompany him. "It's strange how easily a man in control of important investments takes fright" he acknowledged, as he arose to go. "We can be put on the run with a penny's worth of firecrackers. Not long ago our friend Sledge, here, had me stampeded, but I checkmated

i the old villain. As a matter of fact.

the only result of bis campaign against me was to put me in control of my own company, and now, I fancy, 1 have the thing so well tied up that I can't be hurt. I beat you at your own game, eh. Sledge?" and he chuckled down at his defeated oppressor with forgiving triumph. Sledge looked up at him and smiled. Ills thick Hps parted, displaying his teeth. The under side of his upper Hp showed a sharp roll of vivid scarlet and his cold gray eyes combined to give that facial distortion an expression of malignity startling even to Al

lerton, who knew the man even better

noon, warned me not to tell any one.

and particularly Sledge, that lt is to be Thanksgiving." "What did he say that scared you so?" "Nothing," confessed Bert "He only smiled. I felt as if I had been in a cold rain." "Same smile Molly described," Marley laughed, though he was quite out of patience. "I cannot understand Molly's taking a whimsical fright based on nothing, but I didn't expect It of Jon. Bert I have myself found Sledge

Meanwhile Bozzam and Timbers were to be rather decent in tbe last few having their troubles. Two big, husky j days, and I am only annoyed because

Marley was conscious of that strange sensation which those who had run foul of Sledge had described as an actual physical chill, like tbe sudden opening of a window to the cold rain, and tbe smile upon his own face froze. He was conscious that his Hps were still in the contour which his bragging chuckle had given them, and he felf the embarrassed awkwardness In reItorlng his features to then normal ex.resslon. which a man does who has committed some atrocious social blunder. The horror and tbe menace and tbe

men who looked as if they might be 1 he does not seem to see the necessity ! malignity of that smile Increased upon

nini as he drove into the city. In front

primary leaders Jostled them one day

and told them they had better leave town. When they protested mildly the huskies snarled and finally gave them twenty-four hours to pack up. They packed.

of using his Influence with Allerton to

stop this street railway bill. I think I shall see Allerton myself tomorrow. He comes home every Saturday night." Pursuant to that happy idea, the president drove out to Allerton'a house

of the telegraph office be abruptly stopped, and hurrying in sent this message to bis up state syndicate: Wire best offer controlling interest Bert Gilder, a necessary adjunct to

Mfaly glanced quickly at her father.

He m"tloned that his untouched soup mif'jt be taken away and toyed In nervo! embarrassment with an almond. "I've already done it" he half shamefacedly explained. "ffv'd your stock? she eagerly inquired. . "N rfnlid" l.f tieaft tort - rfM

however, stop at the telegraph office on my way back from Allerton's this j morni'ist. and I wired tbe people who have been after my stock to name their besf offer." . . "Good." she responded. "Will youtake it, whatever it is?" "I can't bind myself to that," he repliei. . "I must confess, however, that, whatever the offer is. I shall be tempted." "Allerton must have given you very little satisfaction about that bill." surmised Bert "Quite the contrary," stated Marley. "The bill is absolutely harmless. It is nly a bit of political flapdoodle, intended to convince the voters of the state that Allerton is constantly on tbe Job." "Something must have happened to yake you change your mind so quickly," pondered Molly. "Whatever it was I'm glad of lt You must have met Sledge," and she giggled. "Sledge must have smiled at him." laughed Bett, keeping up the Joke. "I have excellent reasons," Marley concluded, with becoming business gravity. "The future of street railway Investment in this city is too uncertain." "Father," said Molly suddenly in the midst of the silence which followed, "If Mr. Sledge finds you have sent that telegram he will do whatever he is going to do before you can turn around." "He'll have to move quickly," answered her father with a superior

smile, his self approbation returning on the slightest provocation. "I sent my people that telegram today so they would have lt tbe first thing Monday morning. They were very eager while they were here to acquire possession, and I shall doubtless bear from them by 10 o'clock." "I wish I could sleep until 10 and when I wake up find that it's all right," Molly worried. "If you and Bert are not entirely out of all business deals In this town by our wedding day Sledge will see to it. If he has to move heaven and earth to accomplish it that we none of us have a dollar, and by that I mean absolute pauperism in the best ind most thorougly melodramatic sense." "He has the most absurd way of making love," commented Fern. "It's like tbe old cave dweller plan of killing off the family, batting tbe fair maid In the head with a club and letting her wake up In her new home." "Not Sledge. He does his lovemaking with red roses," laughed Molly, "tons and tons of them. This is a different preposition. He has reduced everything in llfs to dollars and cents, and he thinks that if he can only break Bert and father there'll be no wedding bells for us. Bert and I will each be compelled to seek a more lucrative match." She glanced smilingly at Bert and iimrlgml sn hta tana a llHrm ornratl.

slon, which plunged her into deep and j

CHAPTER XIII.

Molly's Anxiety Well Founded.

OLLY'S anxiety was by no

means feigned, for the next morning, at 10 o'clock, she called up her father at bis of

fice and asked him if he had received an answer to his telegram. In rather a worried tone he replied that be had not. but that he would let her know as soon as he bad done so. . She wandered about the house. r,ult

ill at ease; then, unable to content herself, suggested to Fern that they make ready for a drive. When they were ready she hesitated a moment or two In front of the telephone, but conquered

that temptation. Instead, she made i their first ston at her father's office.

Ie ' and. with a curious degree of consider

at Ion, waited in tbe little red reception room to be announced. She was told to come right in, and found Bert with her father. Marley silently handed her a telegram. It read: Our Mr. Coldman will aee you In two weeks from today. "Two weeks," she worried. "Can't you possibly hurry tbem up?" Marley handed her another telegram: Impossible to arrange earlier date "Hunt's resignation was in my malt this morning." stated Marley. with forced quietness. "He has taken a position as secretary with Sledge's company, and I suppose half my office force will follow him." "Two weeks," speculated Bert, then he added impatiently: "Confound lt, Marley! I'm in a pretty pickle if we can't clear our skirts of this thing! I borrowed the money to buy up Moodson's stock from some friends of mine, and on my unsupported note. To lose would mean the absolute end of my social standing, here or anywhere." "We'll see that you get yours first," offered Marley, whose respect for his son-in-law to be was only superficial. "I didn't mean to urge my personal

i J

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"I don't see how unless Molly marries Sledge," suggested his father. claims above yours, liert hedged, his Impatience, however, only slightly modified. "The fundamental fact Is that we must gain time." "I don't ßee how unless Molly marries Sledge," Buggested her father, with a laugh. Molly started to laugh also, but found Bert looking at her speculatively. "She doesn't Deed go that far." he used. Molly looked at him In sharp Incredulity for a moment; then, without a word, she turned to leave the room. "Where are you going?" asked her father. "To see Sledge." she responded. "1 think you told me that be Is always at the bank between 11 and 12 In the morning." "Molly." commands Bert sharply, recalled to his senses by her bearing, "you mustn't see him. I forbid It." "1 am taking your advice, but I re fuse to take your orders," she calmly Informed him, surprised, to fiud In herself an Inclination to giggle over her use of that splendidly ringing remark. "Molly will shield you from all harm." she added, and she was snickering when she rejoined Fern. "What's the Joke?" asked that young lady. "I'Te been dying all morning to hear somebody giggle." "You're to chaperon me while I go over and make love to Sledge," Molly gayly Informed her. (To be continued.)

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