The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-12-03

old doorkeeper, popping out Of the
, anteroom.
"Show him in," answered Bennett.
"Now. then. Perry
Were yOn about to ask me to stay
awhile longer:" asked the boy. BE
cause I'm sorry. but l can't. Goodby.
Good afternoon. Miss Garrison. Glad
you liked the photo. SO long. Maybe
III 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 Il visit
Then he lcnient with first .offense,
your honor" suggested PEclan. shak-
ing hands with the mayor and nodding
pleasantly TO Cynthia as she passed
ont TO her own office.
Something important, suppose"
hazarded Bennett.
Maybe 1t is important, and maybe it
isn't" returned Phelan. 1T all de-
pends on whether that was true story
in the Chronicle today about your veto
ing the Borough Street railway bill. II
you've really vetoed that bill all I'll
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 We
toed the Borough Street railway bill.
In fact, / haven't made public any de-
cision on it. Why?
I'm glad to hear it. and, that being
the case, III invite myself to a 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 owp
terms like be does them thirteen geez-
| ers."
"And yet, alderman, from your rep
utation"-
From my reputation Ina a crook,
hey? Well. there's crooks and crooks.
And I'm one Of the other kind, If I'm
crooked at all, which l deny most en-
Enthusiastically. At least l follow no
Horrigan whistle"
Then why are you here in regard
to the Borough bill?'
perhaps it's on the theory Of set
thief to catch a thief"
Well" laughed Bennett, amused in
spite of himself by the alderman's
frankness, eat least you call spade
spade"
II sure don't refer to it vague,
a 'utensil' You don't need an.
note explanations in one syllable
Jimmy Phelan's talking. Every m
a picture If | hadn't been throu.
the game from shuttle to cash il
would l be wise to what the Horrigal
crowd is framing up on you now?
Say, I've done some raw work in my
time, but this Borough business is the
coarsest yet. They must think you're
the original Mr. Good Thing"
You speak as if l 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 1t.
It'll go screechin' down the corridors
of time as the iniquitous Borough
franchise bill that Bennett signed
Catch the idea"
"Yes." said Bennett grimly; II un-
derstand. But what l 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 shown
punches of unfondnesS for Chesty Dick
Horrigan. And HorrigaL's the man
who's rushing the Borough bill through.
Lord, what 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, y
Mr.. Wainwright. your honor" said
Ingram at the door; says he won't de-
tain you long
"Let him in if you like" suggested
Phelan. 81 can wait. Shall I 60 into
the other
"No. 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. II 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 admiring
study of a particularly atrocious por-
trait of some earlier mayor, he denoted
that he was Temporarily out Of the