The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-11-05
By ALBERT PAYsoN TERHUkE.

DSt&uc6.
"Alwyp Bennett? Why, absurd!
She's known him all her life. They're
lust good friends; nothing more& He's
our nearest neighbor here. and It's
only natural. Besides. be isn't the sort
of man she wants. He's an idler.
She likes men who have made some
thing Of themselves-like yourself. for
instance So make yourself easy on
that score If Bennett loved her, he'd
tave proposed long ago"
"Not necessarily. He's not a man to
get started easily. but once start him
and
.Then don't start him. Go In and
win. What is it. Thompson?
The secretary entered from the Of
fce with dispatch.
There's an answer, sir" said he.
"Here's a blank
Wainwright read the message. scrib-
bled a few lines and handed the reply
to the secretary, who hurried out
with it.
$50 Thompson is not only secre-
tary, but a telegraph operator as WE'LL
remarked Gibbs as the clicking of
Morse instrument sounded from the
Office.
He's everything" replied Vain
wright. Hes a wonder. He heard
me sayI wished had good operator
: up here whom l could trust, so With
out a word to me he goes and learns
telegraphy. I've had him nine years
now and tested and tempted him fifty
ways, but he's as true as steel, the one
employee / ever had that could trust.
By the way. the message he just
brought me ought to interest you. II
tells me Borough Street railway stock
Is offered now at 63. I've given orders
for your office to take all they can get
hold Of at that price quietly and with
out making any bids or attracting at
tention. That'll be the biggest deal OF
my career II can carry 1t through.
You understand your part perfectly
to take for yourself 20 per cent Of the
deal, handle the whole affair on the
hoor and not buy any Of the stock for
your own private account? Stick to
that and there's just one thing that
can possibly block us.
"You mean the defeat Of the present
city administration this fall?"
N"Just that, and don't believe it will
be beaten. The organizations solid as
a rock. They bave the police, the OF.
feebolders and
{ "But the people at large?"
'HThe people at large are sheep that
like to be driven by the strongest shep-
herd. II they weren't, they'd have
broken loose century ago and run the
city and the country to suit themselves.
Just now Dick Horrigan happens to be
the shepherd who can make them 90
wherever he says"
shepherd and crook combined,
should say" commented Gibbs. chuc-
king at his own feeble joke.
81 wouldn't let speech like that
get back to Horrigan If were you,"
returned Wainwright dryly. "Your
career might suffer. Nothing Except,
maybe. gratitude) is so bad as humor
for sroiling mans chances in busi-
ness or politics. A laugh costs more
than people think. But. speaking Of
the election this fall. reform wave
or any change of city administration
would smash our Borough Street rail-
way deal. To Offset that, I've Joined
hands with Horrigan. If can bring
him to see things my way. he shall
have cash enough to buy all the honest
voters he needs. He's coming here
this noon to talk things over with me.
Phelan's coming too"
"Phelan? You mean the alderman
Of the Eighth? You'll have pleasant
little gathering. Perhaps you didn't
know that Phelan and Horrigan have
had row and
"And that's why I'm bringing them
together here today. want to patch
up their quarrel II can. need them
both. Phelan's q useful man."
"But Horrigan Is boss OF the orsani-
zation II you have him on your side.
why do you bother about getting
Phelan too?'
Eyes, Horrigsn Is boss. He's fought
his way up by bulldog tactics. He
has no diplomacy-nothing but brute
force. Now, Phelan has just as much
force In his way, but he's as tricky as
q fox too. I've known him ever since
he was chief Of police. He's danger
ous man. If he's against US, he can
make trouble. l want him. Hes
Judge Newman" announced the
butler.
A whimsical frown crossed Vain.
wrights face. but cleared into pass
ably hospitable expression as a little
gray haired man. with a solemn, weak
face, rotted pompously in on the heels
of the buffers announcement
Good morning. judge" said the host
pleasantly. "You don't know Mr..
Gibbs, think. of Gibbs. Norton & Co.?
Judge Newman Is my next door neigh
Dor on the left as you come from the
station, Gibbs. You must have no