Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-01
CHAPTER XIX.


 ant-for he kept one now
 brought him note from Bar bara. It read in this wise:
 r wish you would take your meals at the hotel for few days, or a week or tWe-till you hear from me again.
 There was no address written at the top of the sheet and no signature at the bottom. There was nothing that could afford even ground for conjec- tural explanation. There was nothing that could call for a reply. Perhaps there was nothing that could warrant reply or excuse its impertinence. Nevertheless Guilford Duncan sent by the hands of his negro servitor an an swer to the strange note. In 1t he wrote: "A - >
 l have told you of my love. tell you that again, with all of emphasis that I can give to the telling. I have asked you to be my wife. ask it again with all Of earnestness and sincerity, with all of supplication, that I can put into the ask ing. Oh, Barbara, you can never know or dream or remotely imagine how much these things mean to me and to my life.
 T shall take my meals at the hotel-or not at all-until you bid me come to you for my answer.
 Then, with resolute and self con- troIled mind, Guilford Duncan set him. self to work. He prepared his report upon the proposed railroad extension, condemning it and giving adequate reasons for his condemnation.
 He was still indignant; that Napper TNndy should have offered him bribe, and in the first draft of his report he had made statement of that fact as an additional reason for his adverse judg- ment; but, upon reflection, he rewrote the report, emitting all mention of the bribe offer. Then he wrote to Handy "a grievous mistake-telling him that he had sent in an adverse report and that he had omitted to mention Tandy's offer in it.
 This gave Tandy the opportunity he wanted, and Guilford Duncan was not long in discovering that fact. A week later Captain Will Hallam said to him:
 '.So you've been .quarreling with Napper TandyT'
 Yes answered Duncan. He of fered to bribe me to make false re- port in the railroad extension matter"
 ''Why didn't you tell me about it?"
 .'Oh, didn't want to bother you with a whining. I rejected the bribe, of course, and told him what thought of him. and that seemed to me enough
 Well, it wasn't. You ought to have told me Then we could have made him put his offer into writing or make it in my presence. As-4tNisahe's gctyou where the hair is uncommonly short.'
 "How do you meanT
 "Why, he has written to the fnan- ciers telling them that as soon as they employed you, you went to him and demanded q payment of S10,000 as an inducement to you to make favorable report; that he refused and that con sequently your report was adverse. They will refuse to build the railroad, but they have written to ask me as to your integrity" szx.
 ''The internal scoundrel! How
 Tt doesn't pay to call him names. We must think out way to meet this thing"
 ''I'll horsewhip him on the streetr exclaimed Duncan.
 ''No, don't. That would only adver- tise the matter and do no good. A man of your physique has no occasion for fear in horsewhipping a man like Nap per Tandy, and can show no courage by doing 1t. The only result would be that people would say there must be something in his accusation, else you wouldn't be so mad about 1t. You have made good many enemies, you know, and they will take pleasure in repeating Tandy's accusations. Real H. Duncan. you ought to have been more discreet You ought to have talk en a witness with you when you weIt to his house for consultation. As It is. the fnanciers have so far believed in you as to reject his scheme on your report and in face of his accusation, but he'll do you a mighty lot of dant age in Cairo and elsewhere. I don't know what to do."
 "I do." answered Guilford Duncan resolutely. "A year ago you and ober wanted to make me mayor of this town. I explained to you that was ineligible then, not having been long enough a resident of the state. I am eligible now. and I shall announce my self today as a candidate"
 What good will that do?"
 Tt will give the people of the city q chance to pass upon my integrity to say by their ballots what they think of me. and incidentally it may give me an opportunity to say what I think and know of Napper Handy"
 Il don't know so well about that You see. people don't always express their opinions by their votes They let their politics and their prejudices have a say. and you know you have made q good many enemies. Then. again. what good will it do you to tell *ie public what you think Of Tandy7 That won't convince living soul who isn't convinced already. The rest will <zv you are naturally very angry with the man who found yOu Out-the man from whom you unsuccessfulIy tried to extort a bribe.
 You see there were no witnesses present when your interview with Tan siv occurred. That was a capital mis- take on your part. Then foo. you went to his house for this business
 - .....s. --srr - chs .Hxsss s-,ss F,,s-s