The Press., 1901-06-06

last winter he took little fun with the boys. He has an exemplary reputation in Hartil Dorson does not think him a man of strong character"
 'T think I know how to manage old man Marr," said Swerin. after a mo- ment's pause. Docs he know you, GregY
 ''No; never saw him in my life"
 "Well, I want you to find out all about that street railway line which he represents as attorney. Get its cap- ital, its condition, and the names of its chief owners, and try to find out whether 1t can be bought at a reason able price,"
 Within a week State Senator Marr received letter from a Chicago law yer asking if the Hartil street car line. for which he was attorney. was on the market. If 1t could be bought at a reasonable figure. the lawyer wrote. he might be able to find a purchaser for it.
 It happened that the Hartil Street Car company had never been a profit able investment. Its owners were To- cal capitalists. who had been chiefly moved to build the line by town pride. The best 1t had ever done was to pay expenses. Its owners. as Marr knew. would be delighted to get the property eff their hands. provided only that it might be maintained and kept running.
 He held conference with the men who owned most of its stock before he answered the letter from Chicago. Then he wrote that while the com pany was not anxious to sell out it might consider an offer of $75,OOO. The Chicago man came back with propo- sition to pay $5O,OOO. There followed further negotiations by correspondence Finally Marr was asked to make a trip to Chicago to talk the matter over. Before he left an upset price of $55, 900 was fixed for the property.
 "We'n let it go at 55,OOO," the presi- dent of the company said to Marr as the latter stepped on the train.
 Gregory Uppman met him at the Union station and introduced himself as one of the men interested in the pur- chase of the road. The two went di- rectly to the lawyers office. There the deal was. discussed at length. AS a final proposition the new syndicate made an offer of $55,OOO, to which Marr refused to listen.
 Finally Uppman came to the point.
 'I'n tell you what, Marr," he said. "You use your influence with the con- pany to get them to accept $55, 1000, and we'll be glad to pay you a personal 1iSci Of hn are signed"
 At first Marr was mortified at the thought. 1t seemed to him that to take such a commission would be selling his professional honor. He shook his head. Uppman went on explaining smoothly that commission on large sales of this kind was quite the usual thing. It was not intended in any way as bribe. The property was not worth more than $55, ,OOO. Its owners were getting a good price for their line. There was nothing out of the way about it.
 The more Marr thought of the mat ter the more 1t seemed to him that per haps he would be justified in taking the 5000. He had secured the price fixed by the owners of the line. Sure ly there was no harm in his making a little out of it on his own account. Be- sides, he needed the money badly. If after thinking it over he concluded that 1t would be best not to keep the money, he could turn it over when the price agreed on was paid.
 Uppman took him out to dinner that evening. They dined at a club, and Marr drank more wine than he was used to. By 10 o'clock he had decided to take the. money and settle it with his conscience later. Next day the deal was completed. Marr got his $3,OOO in cash, and the papers were signed for the transfer of the Hartil street car line.
 On the next train Uppman followed Marr home to the far west. Marr went straight through to Hartil. where the street car people congratulated him on the successful completion of his work. Uppman stopped off at Carton and re- ported to Swerin and Senator Gitkinz. Ten days later he and Swerin went up to the state capital to open the sena- tors campaign headquarters. One of the first men Uppman met in the lobby of the hotel was Senator Marr. just come down to attend the session. The legislator recognized him with evident signs of embarrassment. But the poli- tician wasted little time.
 How do you do, Senator Marr" he began. "I'm glad to see you again. Come down to look the ground over a little in advance"
 "Yes, MT. Uppman. but what brings you here just nowY
 "Oh, Pm Senator Gitkinz's private secretary, you know! I've come down to open his headquarters for the cam paign. By the way, senator, we'd like to have you call on us as soon as you can conveniently. Parlor G. second floor."
 Senator Marr blushed, hesitated and looked around as if he had been de- tected in some dishonorable act.
 You're Senator Gitkinz's private sec- retary?" he stammered. 'T thought you were a street railway man."
 "Oh, have little interest in one or two lines, but what Pm chiefly inter- ested in is to get Senator Gitkinz sent back to the senate. I trust you'll call on us today. You and l know each other pretty we'll already, you know. AS friends we ought to stick together, don't you think? l hate these bitter political quarrels, and I'm sure we shall get along together without any trouble. You'll come and see me, won't you"
 For moment the two men fought a duel with their eyes. Then Marr's glance dropped. He felt that he was defeated.
 "Yes." he answered hesitatingly, 'I'n come.'
 When Uppman reported the result of his interview to Swerin, who was sit ting quietly up stairs in an inner room. the latter gentleman smiled grimly.
 "Checkmate!' he said. II thought we had the old man where he couldn't