The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-29
CHAPTER XXI
A Meeting Of the Council

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first because the attitude of 9th
ers toward him at the time made
her indignant; he was being as
sailed and ridiculed when she
thought he deserved encourage
ment. She had sent the second
and third because she thought he
was fairly entitled to sympathy;
he had been a victim of a coward
ly attack.
1t was the custom, the young
people understood, to load down
new and reelected members with
floral offerings, and Albert Dale
had suggested that they really
ought to see that Darnell did not
suffer from comparison with others.
Thereupon, with considerable mer
riment, plans had been made to
practically bury his desk under a
mass of flowers.
We'll make even Rainbow
OHM envious," urged Dale.
Miss Hadley was delighted with
the excuse it gave her to do what
she wanted to do, and she laughed
happily as she arranged the single
rose in it's little box. There had
been encouragement and sympa-
| thy before; now there was tri.
umph. He had not forgotten; he
was still brooding; he was sensi-
tive to her lightest word. What
girl needs to know more than that?
| 1t pleased her to think that she had
only to put her card in with the
rose to bring him back to her at
once, but she had no thought of
doing it. For the moment the sense
of power was sufficient satisfying.
Miss Hadley, Miss Dale, Fred
Enderly, Albert Dale and Mrs.
Darnell were present at the coun'
Gil meeting as guests of the mayor.
The mayor had social aspirations
and was extremely anxious to be
clever to Mrs. Darnell. Just how
Stanley Fisher happened to be left
out no one could say, but he was
not included in the invitation, and
was not present. Nor did his abb
sence seem to trouble Miss Had
ley, so far as the others could
judge. She was watching Darnell,
but, for that matter, so was Miss
Dale; and when he found that sin
gle rose, he looked and smiled. The
smile might be for either or for
| both.
The council chamber looked
like a flower show. There was at
least one big bouquet on almost
every desk, and some were loaded
down with cut flowers and set
| pieces.
| and" said Corbett, who had
been sent to them by Darnell to
point out the celebrities, ''the more
notorious the alderman the bigger
his floral display as a general rule
But how can the people of some
Of the poor wards afford to do so
much? ?" asked Miss Dale.
well, perhaps l can explain that
best by little story" answered
Corbett. when the last council
was organized, magnificent floral
piece was delivered to Baxter, the
man Mason defeated this year. The
messenger insisted upon delivering
it personally to Baxter, and, when
he did so, he blurted out. The boss
told me to collect for this now. The
last time it took him siv months to
get the money from you And Bax
ter had to dig down into his pocket
and pay for the flowers right then
and there"
do you mean to say that they
send themselves fiowers?" inquired
Miss Hadley.
Sometimes" replied Corbett
"Why, there are aldermen" he add
ed, "who are up to all the tricks OF
an envious operate prima donna
even to the point of having well
> organized clique in the gallery. II
gives the impression of popularity
they like, and the first meeting after
an election is sort of free-for-all.
The Corbett began to point ou
the ones who had the most interest
ing personality. He pointed ou
Rainbow John" Coakley and Ber
Hogan, who were casting envious
glances at each others clothes.
"They might properly be termed
the Arc Light and the Incandescen
Light" he explained $50 far al
sartorial brilliancy is concerned
there isn't much difference, but one
is larger than the other Coakle!
really started it, and Hogan fell IL
line only after Coakley had dazzlet
the Atlantic coast. But Hogan Is
good second. The last time he wen
away from home, the papers hat
daily bulletins, giving the color
and cut of the garments he wa
wearing. Both are dressed with eA
} ceptional mCdesty tonight. Yo'
ought to see Rainbow John in hi
purple dress suit, with white satil
; lining and facing"
"They must be rich to spend s
much on Clothes" remarked Mis-
Dale.
WELL" returned Corbett, 9Th
last time one of them appeared |
new suit some facetiOus fello'
suggested that he was attired in tn
latest franchise"
} whats the significance Of tina
! floral ship" asked Enderly. ind
t eating the direction by nod of hi
. head.
; SIT has none" answered Corbet
l "The people who send flowers t
q A. nt1nrx,,an anI, oCk that n.