Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-28
The Alderman.
sY William I. VALENTINE.

N the ears OF the moruued alderman
from the Ninth wardi
He could scarcely hope for election
but, although his party was in the mi
nority. there was the hope he felt
and he was encouraged by the charm
ing widow whom he believed was TIL
most wonderful woman in the world
Then to be the candidate for such ar
once! It was more than he ever had
hoped In his widest ambitions.
Then am to accept" he asked
the fair Sylvia, who had dropped into
his ONCE as she often did just now.
Accept Ny dear alderman! How
can you think of anything elsef
shall be SO proud Of my friend. United
States Senator Saunders" And she
gave delicious little laugh Of Joy.
The alderman looked at her earnest
ly. That morning he had read long
article in his favoritc paper to the ef.
'ect that men married too young; that
the woman a man admired at 20 was
not his choice at &c. With such a
woman by his side, nothing would be
impossible. Then he pulled himself
together. He was man Of honor,
and, although he felt he had made a
mistake in his marriage, he would be
true In every sense of the word. In
addition, this lady was womanly per-
lection and purity.
There Is no hope Of an election"
he said slowly.
who knows? came to tell you
something Accept, and will go to
the capital and work for you" And
she clapped her little hands.
you will?" he asked, his eyes rest
ing upon her flushed face.
Work as hard as l can," she re-
sponded.
But, Sylvia, the women you will
encounter" he said, hesitatingly. He
hated to mention them to her.
In this case the end will justify my
means. Just trust me- And, with a
bright smile, she futtered from his
Office. She had a habit of doing that.
Staying just long enough for him to
overcome his awe of her and then
vanishing, always leaving behind that
delicate perfume he had grown to as
sociate with her.
The months had swung around until
1t was time for the gathering of the
two houses at the capital. According
to the election, Alderman Saunders
party was slightly in the majority and
1t was an honor to be candidate for
the office. In this case it was decided
ly bare honor, for the party was
poor and its choice was poorer. Sud
denly. the party gathered together suf
ficient funds and the war was on.
The boss had been keeping in the
background. He did not desire 1t
known that every man on his party
ticket was his.
I'm thinking Of retiring to private
life" he would say, smiling as ever,
when questioned ~ have done yeo-
man service to the party for years and
and 1t is time for me to go to the
backwoods.'
No one who knew him was fooled,
however. In fact, one Of the news
paper boys winked and whispered to
another newspaper representative:
Rot! You just put up your last
PUNK that when that wise old guy
gives out such dope he's laying his
wires all the deeper. Backwoods for
him!"
Guess you've hit 1t, all right, all |
right" grinned the other, but both |
went with the boss to the nearest sa-
loon. Nothing ever was said against
him, except in an undertone. AS one
IF the boys said:
1.-THE boss is too good about passes.
.aking care Of the fellows out Of .
lob and such things, for any of US to
xick, even II we have to do others dirt
now and then to suit him"
OF course, though, he went to the
,apital.
Gust to see the fun" he explained,
cigars right and left, upon
lis arrival.
However, II might have been no
iced that this man who said he was
for the simple life was pres
mt whenever anything important was
,oing on, and that nothing was doing
Until he gave the signal.
All Of this was noticed by the news
,aper boys, and as they clustered
bout, during the wrangling over the
peaker, one of them said, earelessly:
mark my word, the boss friend
,oes in az speaker" And he did, and
hen, after some preliminary business,
he houses came to the important mat
or Of electing United States sena-
or in joint session
Alderman Saunders Is getting
Iustle on himself" these newspaper
men noted. but they gathered at his
Iead quarters, where he had estab-
Ished what seemed to him q free bar.
he alderman let everyone who came
axe his cigars and drink his strong
Taters, although he remembered the
line he had signed the pledge, back
D his young days, and sometimes
ighed.
At FIRST the alderman could not I'M
erstand things, but they were ex-