The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-05-01
INN By Adrian
STRING !. Potter
PROMISES
Copyright, 1901, by A. L. Potter.

It 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 distant cardroom.
So thought Dick Dean as he paused
In the reading room and gazed with
satisfaction at the rich furnishings in
the mellow lamplight. 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 Whiteleaf,
the banker.
"Jonas Norden will be the next may
or of this city, gentlemen. He was
promised it 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
OH the curtained doorway leading into
| small committee room, an ominOus
| light flashing from his deepset eyes.
Whiteleaf was the acknowledged party
boss.
''That will be merry music for Dean
to hear when he lands" remarked
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 different chap than
Dean for our candidate for mayor.
But, mark my words, Dean will take
his medicine like a little man. He'd
never desert the gang. Besides, I did
not promise; just limited that he was in
line for the lightning to strike-a sort
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 astonfshed politicians.
"He does demand it, gentlemen. l
am here to exact of Mr.. Whiteleaf the
fulfllment of that promise-pink
strings or no pink stringsv'
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.
"(ilad to see you, Dick. Didn't look
for you before the middle of the
month. What will you have"
Nothing" replied Dean, ignoring the
outstretched hand, until you have ex-
planned the meaning of the speech l
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
years ago. you gave me promise. Do
you intend to redeem ftp
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 pleasew
"That's all I 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
raglan and went forth into the black,
drizzling night.
A moment later he met a 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 a 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 me?'
sEvery minute, on conditions
Scan you swing the boys into liner
''Yes, if you'll do business
"What do you meanY"
Square yourself on certain points"
"Name them"
""The city labOrerS want fifteen cent
day raise in pay, the boys want Colo
mel Handyside for city marshal, and
they want M. ]. 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-
pOjntive officers. That is about all my
end of the combine wants."
"And that is about all there is to be
had, isn't itY' asked Dean, with q
smile.
"Oh, there's few more things we
may think of later. How do the ones
mentioned hit your
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 seat on the
license board. and I should most GER
tainly, If elected. favor my friends as
far as possible"
Say, Dick, you're just like all the
rest Of the silk stocking politicians"
"How SO, DAMP
Porter tossed his cigar stub into the
gutter, squared his shoulders, thrust
his hands into his trouser pockets and
answered:
"Just this way: A fellow like me,
with little bit of pull with few
hundred voters, runs up against man
like you who wants us to help elect
him. We ask him right out plump to
promise us certain favors, and it's
nine times out of ten case OF yet
with string on it,
Il do not understand how this ap-
plies to me-
well, then, I've told you that we'll
turn out and fight for you if you'll
agree to do certain things, but you're |
unwilling to give us an out and out
promise in return FIR our help for fear
some of your rich club friends will trot
out the hammer. Old Whiteleaf led us
into Jenkins camp two years ago, and
we got it in the neck. Our necks are
full of bumps, and this year we won't |
accept any pink string promises. Ii