The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-01-30
NkA By Adrian
STRING l. Potter
PROMISES
Copyright, 1901, by A. L. Potter.

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i 1t was good to be back in the club
house. good to receive the smiling
greetings of the ebony servitors in the
halls and the cloakroom. good to hear
the clink of glasses and the shouts of
laughter from a distant cardroom.
So thought Dick Dean as he paused
In the reading room and gazed with
satisfaction at the rich furnishings In
the mellow lampllght His trip abroad
had done him a world of good. He was
ready to take up the old life with new
+ vigor. Suddenly the light died out of
his face. Who was that speaking?
Whiteleaf? Yes, that was Wfiiteleaf,
the banker.
"Jonas Norden will be the next may
or of this city, gentlemen. He was
promised 1t last fall, and today the d.
rectors of The Daily Times voted to
support him as the candidate In the
coming caucus"
Dean stood motionless, his eyes fixed
OIL the curtained doorway leading into
small committee room, an ominous
: hSht hdoAibS ilOii hIo b00poNb ~ Csc
Whiteleaf was the acknowledged party
boss
THAT will be merry music for Dean
to hear when he lands" remarked a
second speaker. HE told me just be-
fore he sailed that you had promised
him your support during the coming
campaign"
well" drawled Whiteleaf, things
have changed. The welfare of the par
ty and-er-that North Benson fran
chise call for a different chap than
Dean for our candidate for mayor.
But, mark my words, Dean will take
his medicine like little man. He'd
never desert the gang. Besides, | did
not promise; just limited that he was in
line for the lightning to strike-a sort
i of pink string promise. He'll land an
office some day. He's young"
Yes, but suppose the buzzing bee de-
mands honey"
The curtains parted, and Dean stood
before the astonished politicians.
HE does demand it, gentlemen.
am here to exact of Mr.. Whiteeaf the
fulfillment of that promise-pink
strings or no pink stringsp'
! Whiteleaf was the first of the quar-
tet to recover his composure. He was
mentally calculating just how much of
! the conversation Dean had heard.
Glad to see you, Dick. Didn't look
! for you before the middle of the
month. What will you havep
Nothing" replied Dean. ignoring the
outstretched hand, until you have ex-
| planned the meaning of the speech
| unfortunately overheard"
Come. come, my boy, don't be hot
headed. You have had enough expert
ence in wirepulling to know that all is
fair in love, war and politics.
"A promise given and received In
good faith should stand in love. war or
! politics. When l withdrew from the
nomination in favor of Jenkins two
i years ago, you gave me a promise. Do
| you intend to redeem it?''
Whiteleaf quailed before the angry
young man and glanced uneasily at his
colleagues.
''Think of the welfare of your par.
ty''-
"Will you redeem that promise" In
terposed Dean inexorably.
Whiteleaf lost his temper.
"I'll do as | darn please~
That's all | want to know" replied
! Dean, with a calmness that should
have warned the red faced banker of
impending catastrophe Then he walk
ed back to the cloakroom, donned his
/ I'd int hn oh
driZZling night.
A moment later he met young polit-
ical worker in his party. They had
been schoolmates. Now one was rich
manufacturer. the other a wage earn
ing mechanic. Daniel Porter was lead
er of certain faction of the party. so
the manufacturer halted the mechanic
and as their hands met the rich man
said:
Dan, I'm out for the nomination this
fall. Are you with meY
Every minute. on conditions"
"Can you swing the boys into line"
Eyes, if you'll do business
"What do you mean~
Square yourself on certain points"
"Name them"
1.-THE city laborers want fifteen cent
day raise in pay. the boys want Colo
mel Handyside for city marshal, and
they want NJ. j. King appointed on the
board of license commissioners. and. of
course, you'll be expected to remember
your friends when it comes to other ap-
pOintiye officers. That is about all my
end of the combine wants"
And that is about all there is to be
had, isn't it," asked Dean. with a
smile
ooh. there's a few more things we
may think of later. How do the ones
mentioned hit you?"
81 am favorable to the city granting
its laborers more pay. Colonel Handy
side would make an admirable mar
shall There can be no doubt as to Mr..
Kings qualifications for n seat on the
license board, and | should most Ger
tainly. If elected favor my friends NJ
far as possible"
Say. Dick you're just like all the
rest of the silk stocking politicians
How so. DAM"
Porter tossed his cigar stub into the
gutter squared his shoulders thrust
his hands into his trouser pockets and
answered.
Gust this way A fellow like me,
g.. all foxry