The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-06-03

10 alIOSemerS eulSQol the gloom that
wrapped the reporters soul when he
boarded the train for the run in. The
thought of standing before "Crab"
Nichols and confessing himself beaten
cut McCracken to the quick. 81 know
what he'll say to himself" the reporter
thought, ruefully. eel might have
known nobody but Forster could
have"
Papers, evening papers!" shouted
the train-boy, breaking in on his
gloomy thoughts. "All about the fran
chise bill! Extra telegram"
McCracken bought a paper and
opened it. by Jove!" he calculated,
as his eye caught the "scare" head
line, "the bill passed this afternoon.
Grover'll have to come out of his shell
now, and do one thing or the other
I'd give my chance of raise to know
which. Wouldn't it be scoop for the
morning edition. The reporter
glanced idly down the text of the bill,
which was printed with out abridgment.
The title read. can ordinance granting
the South Side Electric Railroad COM
pany, rights of franchise on certain
streets in the city of Clayton, Mass
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 trolley-line for the purpose
of having it's original franchise ex-
tended, chiefly to Illustrate the designs
OF 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
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 De constructed, and of
laying tracks in such streets of South
Clayton as it may deem expeIient."
Great Scott" he muttere<1, ''can
it be possible that the city coun-
"can it be possible that the city coun-
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-
lautly. IF the trains on time maybe
can get it into to-night's regular edi-
ton. BY Jove!" at sudden thought,
If Grover signs the bill the "rele-
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
steal--in thousand years; he'd go to
the political graveyard on the fly, for
people wouldn't stand for a man that
let 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 second that the
franchise bill isn't all straight" All
at once temptation, mighty, formid-
able, assailed McCracken and the pa
per slipped unheedeo from his fingers.
Suppose, instead Of giving this away,
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 for
him-he will be morally sure of a Sec
ond term"
Staring from the window of the car
at the lights whiZzing past in the gath
ering darkness, the reporter fought a
short, sharp battle with himself. If
he went to the mayor, good-by to his
scoop and all chances of glory and a
possible "raise;;" on the other hand
doomed invitingly the probable graft
tude of coming" influential politi-
cian-and Molly Grover. Duty as rep
resented by the Telegram" fought q
good fight, but the odds were too great;
with the grinding of the brake-shoes
McCracken's mind was made up, and
with characteristic promptness the re-
porter alighted on the platform before
the train had come to standstill, COL
Jared the first hackman his eye fell on
and fairly dragged him through the
side door of the station toward his
waiting hack.
1922 Sewall avenue" McCracke en- an
nounced, briefly. Hustle now-I've
got to see the mayor or important
business and time is money" Flash
ing greenback before the gaze of the
| astonished driver, the reporter dived
through the door of the carriage and