Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-05-19

~ NhS NAh VI SAb NCht huNoo
The general tenor of the bill was ia
miliar enough to McCracken, and he
scanned the headings of the first half
dozen clauses without special interest.
The measure had been introduced by
the local t~rolley-line for the purpose
of having its original franchise ex-
tended, chiefly to Illustrate the designs
of a certain powerful outside railway
corporation DESTROYS of pushing its
lines through Clayton. The local road
had promised three-cent fares within
city limits if the bill passed.
Public opinion was equally divided,
although the inhabitants of South Clay
ton-on the other side of North river
were unanimously in favor of granting
the extension, as the South Side COM
pany intended to lay tracks over the
Main street bridge into their territory.
The citizens Of Clayton itself, dis
gusted with the previous slow-going,
old-foey methods of the local road,
and skeptical of its heralded reforma-
ton, welcomed the possibilities of a
change to the ~up-to-date methods of
the other company. 1t was generally
conceded by the advocates of the bill
that if it passed and was turned down
by the mayor their political strength
was insufficient to pass it over his veto.
Party lines were sharply drawn on the
issue and it was tolerably certain that
whichever way Grover chose would
cost him the votes of the other side at
the next election. 1t was a matter of
much speculation as to which side he
would deem it safest to sacrifice.
At the sixth clause McCracken's gaze
was suddenly arrested and he stared
at the printed page as if hypnotized.
The clause said: "And the aforesaid
petitioning company shall likewise be
granted the exclusive right Of cross
ing North river by means Of Main
street, Stone or other bridges now or
hereafter to be constructed, and Of
laying tracks in such streets of South
Clayton as it may deem expedient."
McCracken reread this clause twice,
doubling the evidence of his eyes, but
each time it's tremendous possibilities
became more and more apparent.
Great Scott" he muttered to himself,
"can it be possible that the city corn
Gil passed the bill with this clause in
it and never guessed what it meant?
Some of them must have realized
wonder how much it cost the railroad
to shut their mouths?"
The reporters thoughts flew instinc-
lively to the Telegram" I've got a
scoop this time that lays over anything
Forster ever did," he thought, jubi-
lantly. "If the trains on time maybe
I can get it into to-night's regular edi-
ton. By Jove!" at a sudden thought,
"Tf Grover signs the bill the 'Tele-
gram can make it hot for him at the
next election. Crab can wait until
the mayors renominated-and there
isn't much doubt but what he will be
and then spring this clause six bust
ness. Grover couldn't make the public
believe he hadn't known about it in
the first place-and winked at the
stealth a thousand years; he'd go to
the political graveyard on the fly, for
people wouldn't stand for a man that
let a thing like that get by him,
whether he was innocent or not.
Growers square, though, if he is a
politician" thought the reporter, with
growing conjunction, land he's got a
record way ahead of most of them.
1t would be a COMPOUNDED shame if he
was thrown down. I'll bet money he
doesn't suspect for a second that the
franchise bill isn't all straight" All
at once temptation, mighty, formid-
able, assailed McCracken and the pa
per slipped UNDECIDED from his fingers
Suppose, instead of giving this away
l go to the mayor, and if he has decided
to sign the bill tell him." he argued
Maybe he won't thank me, but he'll
veto the bill for sure, and when he
comes out with his reasons there won't
be anything in Clayton too good fol
him-he will be morally sure of a sec.
ond term"
Staring from the window of the cal
at the lights whizzing past in the gath
ering darkness, the reporter fought 6
short, sharp battle with himself. Il
he went to the mayor, good-by to his
scoop and all chances of glory and G
possible "raise;" on the other han(
loomed invitingly the probable graft.
tude of a coming influential politi,
, cian-and Molly Grover. Duty as rep
:, resented by the Telegram" fought E
7, good fight, but the odds were too great;
with the grinding of the brake-shoe.
, McCracken's mind was made up, ant
with characteristic promptness the re
Ior,fv cliehted on the platform before
thA 'lain had come to a standstill, col
) Jared ,.he first hackman his eye fell OF
and fai;iy dragged him through thu
side Gucr Of the station toward hi.
{ waiting hack.
"22 Sewali avenue" McCracken an
e nounced, briefly. Hustle now-I'vy
!, got to see the mayor on importan
q business and time is money" Flash
ing a ereenback before the gaze of tn
astonished driver, the reporter dive
Z through the door Of the carriage ant
/. the nearly simultaneous forward jerl
t Of tho hack thumped him over on tn
Q seat.
Q IF I don't catch Grover in, or he
: signed the bill, it's all off" he thought
with inward misgiving; "and it jus
It would have made a bowling sensa
! ton in the evening e%dition--but it's to-
late for that, anyhow"
= Mayor John Grover greeted Nc
Cracker cordially and extended hi
q hand with the "you're-the-one-person
r Observation-Disclosures" air tina
a had made him famous, I'm glad t
I see you newspaper boys at any time,
Z he said, laughing, waving aside his Wis