Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-11-20

4 4 leading Off the committe
room, IAN I've sent for Wainwright
an Horrigan to meet your hc:or here
An I've fixed 1t so the Borough bill
won't come up for ten minutes. Now
all that's left is to touch the punk t.
the fuse an set off the whole gidd!
bunch Of fireworks under 'em. Gee
but it's good to "a stuck to this ole
world just for the sake of bein' her,
today an SEEM what I'm due to seev
| The alderman chuckled, but his joy
Gus anticipation found no reflection ir
Benefits white set face. The two were
In the committee room, whittier Phe
Ian had repaired after depositing Dial
las In chair beside her brother at the
| meeting and attending to one or two
details Of greater import.
YES" went on Phelan, again nod
ding mysteriously toward the farther
door, she's In there, trained to the
minute for the blowout. There's some
one else wants to see you, too--some
one who'll make more Of hit with
you If I'm not overplayin' my hand
But good news can wait. There's so
little Of 1T in this measly life that 1t
centrally has to. p
From the corridor HOrrigan stamped
into the committee room. Wainwright
at his heels.
"Well!" cried the boss defantly, glar-
ing at Bennett and ignoring Phelan
"You sent for US. What do you want?"
zone momentv' interviewed Vain
wright. 1--WE are beaten. We admit
that without argument So we need
waste no time going over details"
Have you sent for us to say what
you'll sell out for?" queried Horrigan
coarsely, because if you have you've
only to name your price. You've go:
us where you want us. We've got to
pay"
Il should have thought" replied Ben.
nett, with no shade Of offense, 'you
would know by this time that have
no price"
Then what do you wantT'
NOtnlng-IrOm you.
"Why did you send word you wanted
to see us?" growled Horrigan impa-
tiently as he and Wainwright. unIn.
vited, seated themselves at the table.
ITO tell you" answered Alwyn.
glancing from one to the other, that
every step you two have taken In this
whole infamous transaction from the |
very first has been carefully followed
and, to use your own phrase. we've got
you with the goods"
Same old bluffw commented Horri- |
gan contemptuously, with reassnrins !
wink at the somewhat less confident |
Wainwright.
"By tomorrow noon," resumed Ben
nett, "yOu will both be indicted on
charge Of bribery. Even now there are
detectives on the watch for you. Es-
cape is impossible"
"Rotg' sneered Horrigan. you've
20 evidence that will indict. and you
know It, Even II you had don't con
troll most of the judges and the district
attorneys office besides? Swell chance
you'll have Of getting conviction past
that bunch. Bah! You talk like man
made Of mud. s'pose it's the affair
Of those Roberts notes you're counting
Oh. That don't feaZe me any, My
lawyer can twist that around so It'll
ook like charity gift. No, no.
youngster. You'll have to think Of
better if'-
"And, anyhow" put in Wainwright
you can't prove any con-
iection on my part. There's nothing
against me orr
Il think there Is" retorted Bennett,
about on the financler. And
wen If can't nail the Roberts brib-
ny to you I've plenty more counts to
lold you on."
"All these generalities and vague &C. ,
usations prove nothing, Bennett" an
wered Wainwright, drawing courage I
rom Horrigan's colossal calm and 1
peaking with more assurance. Mr.. I
Iorrigan and | are not schoolboys to {
e scared by baseless threats. This is {
II guesswork on your part. Come, 4
ow, name one specific charge you can 6
rove" 7
Zone will be enough to convince q
GU? 2" asked Alwyn. "Well, then. how /
bout this as first guess? Mr. Hor. I
gan's bride of 100000 in money &
I'D $4,000 shares of Borough stock for
greeing to put through the Borough Z
'anchise? For 'guesswork' that doesn't
Gem to me very bad" @
Wainwright's hard mask of face 8
yitchcd convulsively, but the steady L
rain that had carried him mistaken
trough thousand risky financial
calls came at once to his rescue. t
AN excellent guess" he agreed In
)lendidly feigned amusement, hut +"
the. courts demand proof r
efore convicting man, and there Is
D proof whatever off,
Are you sureT queried Bennett. [
urning to 2helan, he added
please ask Mr.. Thompson to come
i"
The alderman. with an expansive
in. flung open the door of fine farther e.
ON. =
At sound of his secretarg's name =
~ ~ -.-,ioht had snruoo to Nhia foot and u