Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-04-03
A FIGHT FOR MILLIONS.
By john ]. N'orsSIsa
lcopyrishi. iss&. by American Prsss AsssiA-
CHAPTER TX

the Vrle>Tiufs Wuo Turntu py tuc pup'
lie buildings In the forenoon.
II Was Raymond's rule. AZ 10 10 with
pther political leaders les cautious even
than he. TO exact from every sppointcs
q resignation with blank date. When
that official gets refractory. the date is
hliei out ON his resignation and ssnt
In by the leader to the proper officer.
With u goes recommendation Of IN.
other man for the Office. This IL an
appointment practically. II only rr-
auires the form Of an announcement
through the legitimate authority. who
Acknowledges, without protest or mur'
mur. the power behind the throne.
Raymond held Mortimer's resigns-
tion. The time had arrived to use IL.
lie walked into the Office of the regis
trar Vt arrears. The deputy. now acting
registrar. was effusive In his greetings.
Raymond smiled significantly st the
jeputy. who followed him Into the pri.
cate Office. where Raymond acted ~ II
Il was his own. lie sat down At the
desk. pulled out his wallet and extract
ed Mortimsr's resignation. lie unfold.
ed II on the deck. took a pen out of the
rack backing the inkstand and filled In
tho date. On the back II ON. VI his
own car,is he made memorandum.
Il. X. Black TO succe-d Philip Morti.
mer." lie inclos-d the resignation and
the card In an envelope and adiressed
II 10 the mayor.
Here. Black" handing the deputy
the Ietter. send that over by special
mcsssnger You are the new registrar
~ arrears Tomorrow. when you re-
cei,e the appointment from the mayor.
I will suggest the man whom ] would
like you To name as your deputy"
A suggestion. but u meant CON-
msndi The deputy simply bowed ~.
seu, Their. was no sentiment IN the
matter. Each knew what was required
of the other. Words were superfiuous
They shook hands II WAS the only eI.
PRESTON of fcongratnla,ion fiom the one,
Of thanks from the other. Black knew
that tomorrow Raymond would name
the deputy. and ere the officials ap-
pointment was handel over ask his
own resignation for use In an ener'
gcncy-,ha, Is. Raymond would ask II.
IL Black was 80 obtuse n not 30 ave
Raymond tho trouble AMI himself sbasc-
ment by having Il ready when Ray
nond called.
Tho evening papers announced the
promotion OF Black. Politicians read
the news and were surprised. What
new deal WAS oni The people-the
dear people--saw nothing In u calling
for particular comment. One Official
stepped down and out. another assumed
the duties ~ the po-ition. advanced 40
cording to the exalted rules VI civil serv-
Ice. The mayor Was an aristocrat. lie
had wealth and social distinction.
There could be no deals traced 90 any
action Of his, no degrading suppliance
20 any class of politicians
30 reasoned the people, u they pom.
derei ON the paragraph long enough to
brng their minds into the byways OF
politics. Possibly not one out of .
thousand % them y ew that the glamour
Of public life had darrlel the mayor
and that be- carefully avoided running
counter to the party machine over
which his re-pectability was thrown.
lie was not committing political sui.
eide. Durirg his term he had signed
but one resolution of the common coun.
ell. that Tor the renovation of q conta.
giou. disease hospital during asmallpor
scare. The popular outcry was for
promptitudc. and he was for popularity.
Every other resolution passed he had
permitted 60 become q law In the oper.
alton of time without his signature
That was . practice that enabled him
10 Justify himself and TO declare. u
wrong or fraud were ever charged. that
he had not sanctioned u. II Was the
practice Of his predecessors, Il Is the
policy Of his SUCCESSORS. and will con.
tinue to prevail as long as there IL
premium ON Hypocrisy and the people
are quiescent.
BLACK. +" said Raymond, after read.
ing Of thu appointment In the tirst edi.
tion OF the papers, for which he had
waited at the Office Of the registrar. ~
want you 10 hunt up the fles IN rela.
ton TO the property Assessed 10 George
Leland. Ny memory IL that the time
In which Il can 10 redeemed IL about
10 expire. A friend Of mine is interest
ed-you understandi Hunt mp the date
and have u for me tomorrow.
1t expires on July % next. II 10
now April ~. Something over three
months yet"
How do you knowi''
II went over the books today"
why dill you take particular notice
of those blocks assessed TO Lelandi
They extend into several wards. and
ron must have overhauled as many
books.
Il did. In an apologetic tone u
couldn't help H."
Couldn't help u, man; explain
YOURSELF demanded Raymond. begin.
ming to be nettled.
You don't think was inquisitive.
Mr.. Raymond. do your" was tho cring,
ing query Hs his promotion sppesred
gliding beyond his reach. Indeed ]
wasn't u was Mangan Of Tho Bugle
who made mo do It."
Mangan!"
YES. you know him. That fellow
who Ia always making 4 fuss In the city
and county Offices. knew he was aft.
er something. ! used every endeavor
TO put him out. threatened him with
arrest. bat he only laughed at me."
"And then,"
Why. he said he would 90 over TO
the supreme court and get . manda.
mus. that Il would make hne storyi
The books were public property. he
said. and he was going 10 examine
them. Il would avert Ea ,lal to let
him See them. and handed them to
him.
That's II. sh, Well. you were wise.
Black"
Black had been bent fawningiy. He
Strengthened. quick a. = Jsck-in.the-
boz when released. Jumps mp to the
limit Of tho spiral spring that propr's
him. Il was but for . moment. The
cheeriness left his face. he doubled mp
% 10 his MUSCLES had been contracted
and be was In agony. But the palm
was moro mental than physical.
"i forgot to tell you. bs whiningly
| .ssa "th.t Msngsn known who holds
the certihcatea"