The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-07-02


easy on that surprise if ! We're you.
Alwyn. I've had surprises over the
telephone myself. and they're punk.
Once girl'-
alderman Phelan would like to
speak to your honor" said Ingram, the
old doorkeeper. popping out of the
anteroOm.
"Show him in" answered Bennett.
"Now, then. Perry
"Were you about to ask me to stay
awhile longer?" asked tn 10y. BE
cause I'm sorry. but can't. Goodby.
Good afternoon, Miss Garrison. Glad
you liked the photo. So long. Maybe
I'll bring another message from Dallas
tomorrow"
"What can Phelan want of me,
wonder" unused Bennett, half aloud
"He and / scarcely Good afternoon.
alderman! think this is the first time
you've honored me with visit"
"Then be lenient with first offense,
your honor" suggested Phelan. shak-
ing hands with the mayor and nodding
pleasantly to Cynthia as she passed
out to her own office.
Something important, suppose"
hazarded Bennett
maybe it is important. and maybe it
isn't" returned Phelan. at all de-
ponds on whether that was a true story
in the Chronicle today about your veto
ing the Borough Street railway bill. If
you've really vetoed that bill all I'll
s; have to do is to say. Sorry can't stay
longer and get out"
NO. said Bennett. that announce
ment wasn't authorized. haven't ye-
toed the Borough Street railway bill
In fact, haven't made public any de-
cision on It, Why?"
"lm glad to hear it, and. that being
the case, I'll invite myself to seat and
stay awhile. Say, your honor on the
level, that Borough bill was the rawest
thing that ever came across. Gee. but
they did their work with meat ak"
''Then you weren't one Of the alder
men who voted for it?''
"Me? Nothin' doing. don't belong
| to Dick Horrigan's solid thirteen He
can't buy and sell me at his own
| terms like he does them thirteen geez-
ers.'
"And yet, alderman. from your rep
! utation'-
'From my reputation I'm a. crook.
| hey? Well. there's crooks and crooks
And I'm one of the other kind. if I'm
crooked at all. which deny most en-
| Enthusiastically. At least follow no
Horrigan whistle
'Then why are you here in regard
| to the Borough bill?'
Perhaps it's on the theory of set a
thief to catch thief"
''Well," laughed Bennett, amused in
! spite of himself by the aderman's
! frankness. lat least you call Il spade a
! spade
! Il sure don't refer to it vague, but as
| 'utensil.' You don't need any foot
note explanations in one syllable when
! Jimmy Phelan's talking Every move
/ picture. II hadn't been through
! the game from shuttle to cash in.
would l be wise to what the Horrigan
! crowd is framing up on you now?
! Say, I've done some raw work in my
J time, but this Borough business is the
coarsest yet. They must think you're
the original Mr.. Good Thing"
| 'You speak as if were to be made
responsible for'-
! "And amt yOu" cried Phelan. "Sure
! you are. When the people get wise to
what they're up against and COM
mence to do their scream will they re.
member that So-and-so framed the bill
and that such and such aldermen vot-
ed for it? Not them. What the public
will remember is that you signed it.
! It'll go screechin' down the corridors
! OF time as the Ubiquitous Borough
| franchise bill that Bennett signed
| Catch the idea?"
"Yes." said Bennett grimly: II I'M
| derstand. But what don't see is why
/ you should have taken the trouble to
come here and warn me of this.
You've never shown any special fond
ness for me hitherto"
That's right. But I've sllown
punches of unfondness for Chcsty PICK
! Horrigan. And Horrigan's the man
who's rushing the Borough bill through
Lord. what a bill! It's so crooked that
If it was laid out like street the man
who tried to walk along it would meet
himself coming back. Why. your hon.
or, r.
'Mr Wainwright. your honor" said
Ingram at the door: says be won't de-
tain you long"
Let him in if you like, suggested
Phelan. 81 can wait Shall go into
the other
mo. Wait here if you choose. His
business isn't likely to be private"
I'm sorry to break in on your rush
hours" said Wainwright as he ad-
vanced to greet the mayor. 81 won't
keep you long. Good afternoon. alder
man."
"Howdy," returned Phelan, walking
over to the far end of the office, where.
| by falling into deep and admirin.
study OF particularly atrocious por-
! trait of some earlier mayor. he denoted
that he was temporarily out of the
conversation.
"1'll come to the point at once, Mr..
Bennett" began Wainwright. Il call
ed to see you about the Borough Street
/ railway bill''
| That's an odd coincidence" answer.
ed Bennett. II was going to call you
! up this afternoon and ask your opinion
/ of it. What do you think of the meas.
ure?''
j What does he think of it, mutter-
ed Phelan. addressing the portrait in
an aside that was perfectly audible