West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-04-30
CHAPTER III.

"What's this here forr' he
= - growled. indicating Phelan
with contemptuous jerk or the head
and addressing no one In particular.
ASK your friend Wainwright" :"
grunted Phelan. with equal roughness.
T-you see." began Wainwright con-
ciiiatingiy. II didn't like to see two
such first rate chaps at odds with each
other. % wanted to bring you to-
gether here to-
"Oh. you did. did your sneered Hor-
rigan. "And what did Phelan say to
that little plan?"
II said." snapped Phelan before his
host could reply-"I said I'd see you In
- firstw
'same here. twice overr' said 'Hor.
rigan.
But" interposed Wainwright coax.
fngiy. 'is there no way
NO." retorted Horrigan, his decp
voice rumbling far down In his throat.
There isn't Look here. ,Phelan! I'm
out for your scalp. and I'm going to get
ftr'
Come on, look for itr' crowed Phe-
Ian. fairly hopping up and down in
rage and excitement. Come a-runnin'l
An while you're huntin' my scalp
don't overlook one bet I'm after
yoursr'
Mine. you little shrimpl Why ;
YES. yours, Horrigan, you cur.
You're pretty chesty an strong stand.
In on the top OF the organization, but
you're no bloomin' statue OF Liberty.
You can be torn down. and here's the
man who's goin' to do the tearin'
Me-Alderman Jimmy Phelan OF the
Eighth
LET It go at that for now. You'll
wake up In the fall. when the elec-
ton
LET II go at that for keeps. r.
"Mr. Wainwright" broke of Horri-
gan. II this was the business you
wanted to talk over with me here"-
1T isn't" assured tho thoroughly un-
comfortable financier.
oh! Then we can get down TO real
business perhaps when this fellows
gone"
That let's me out" observed Phelap
chcerfully as he picked up his hat.
"G'by. Mr.. wainwright. G'by, Mr..
-~-~-@-- @eVtAteohs ~
But you'll stay to lunch. alderman,
won't your urged Horrigan, with an
effort at cordiality that deceived no
one.
NO. thanks" replied Phelan. "when
the curtains down and the orchestra's
gone home I don't need no usher TO
poke me In the ribs to tell me the
shows out AS for stayin' to break
bread with Dick Horrigan. I'd sooner
have jolly little grub fest with wiley's
poison squad. Goodby, all. Horrigan,
as FOR you. some day I'll cross two
sticks Of dynamite under you and you'll
scatter so wide that the inquest over
your p'litfcnl remains will have to be
held In fourteen counties"
II am SO sorry. Mr.. Horrigan, that
this should have happened In my
house." said Wainwright as the irate
alderman stalksd out. leaving the boss
staring after him In dumb fury. "I
meant It for the best and
"hr. Wainwright" interrupted Hor-
rignn, venting his pent-up wrath on his
dismayed host. "thls old world of ours
10 white with bones OF failures. OF
fools. OF deodbeats. In other words.
or folks who meant it for the best
Now let's get down to business
First let me introduce Mr.. Gibbs.
Hs"--
Glad to meet him. but he'll excuse
me when ] say ! never talk business
when there's third party around. No
offsnse. Mr.. Gibbs. Just walk out and
take look ut the view. like a good
boy. won't your Thanks"
Gibbs. at warning look OF appeal
from Wainwright. checked the angry
retort that sprang to his lips, turned
on his heel and walked out Horngsn,
who had observed the glnnce exchang.
ed Htween the two men, grudgingly
attshpted TO soften the effect Of his
brukcueness.
II didn't mean TO snub your friend"
said he. "but Phelan riled me, and
took IL out on the next man l spoke to-
What on earth set you TO having Phe-
Ian here TO meet me for. anyway
Just as said. I wanted to win him
over to u.s. We will need every strong
man we can get this fall. We
You know n lot about finance. Mr.
Wainwright But you're rank out.
slider ia politics or you'd never have
made such a break. can't compro-
mise with Phelan even IL ] wanted to-
He's stood out against me. and I've
got to smash him. If he could defy me
and get away with 81. other leaders
would think they could do Il. too and
In less than no time the organization
would be split up into a dozen factions,
and I'd be down and out Understand? {?
I've got TO look out for discipline II I'm
TO hold the place I've won. When
man IN the organization starts a fight
against me, I must down him. There's
no turning back. That's why I'm boss.
Every man 10 the crowd knows he's
got TO obey me or fIght me and that n
ite fight it's battle TO the death. And
he's the man who does tho dying, not
i. Now. you understand SO we can
get to business. what
But business seemed this morning
fated TO many Interruptions. The lat
eat came In the form Of Judge New
man, who. bustling into the room with
All hts customary pompous dignity,
suddenly stopped I'm his tracks and
wiited at sight OF the boss.
Good morning, Mr.. Horrigan," said
the Judge ingratiatingly, wriggllng un-
der the boss glover. IL hope I'm not
here too early and that Mr. VAIN.
wright has interceded for
For your renominstionY queried
Horrigan, speaking as though 10 a dis
graccd servant. "If that's what you're
here for you might have spared your.
self the trouble. What told you be.
fore still goes"
But. Mr. Horrigan, consider how
long I've been on the bench, and