Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-11-06

over to office buildings and apartment
houses.
The hour was late. An hour ami
more had passed since the young may
or and his mother had returned from
the administration ball. The house
was silent, and even the usually busy
streets outside were wrapped in the
hush that never falls until after mid
night and is dispersed by the gray OF
dawn. Late as it was Alwyn had made
no move to discard his evening clothes.
Alone he sat, his head resting between
his crossed arms on the desk before
him.
Motionless, inert, hopeless, he had re-
NAMED there ever since his arrival
from the ball. But IL his body was
moveless, his brain was awhirl. Try
rs he would he could see no light In
the tangle of events into which his
own sense of right had plunged him.
He saw the future stretching out be-
fore him dreary and barren as rainy
sea. "
Through all of his months Of battling
he had ever struggled forward through
increasing difficulties toward one bright
goal-Dallas' love. And now that love
was snatched from his grasp, through
no fault Of his own, and bestowed on
man unworthy to kiss the hem OF her
garment.
At each step in the long climb Alwyn
had asked himself. would she ap-
proven And now through trying to
be worthy that approval he had for
ever lost it, for Dallas, he knew, had
not only rejected him and engaged her,
self to Gibbs, but had done 80 with the
belief that Bennett was heartless. I'M
scrupulous intriguer, undeserying OF q
good woman's regard.
A rap at the door aroused Bennett
from his bitter thoughts. He lifted his
head YEARLY and gave word to enter.
A drowsy servant came in with card.
"He says it's important business. sir"
said the footman. "And he wishes to
see you at once, If possible"
SHOW him up" answered Bennett,
dropping his voice SO as not to disturb
his mother, who slept on the same
floor. 81 will see him here"
A minute later Horrigan's bulky form
blocked the threshold.
Queer time Of night for call" no
observed casually, as he entered unin'
yited, closed the door behind him and
took chair, "but my business
wouldn't wait"
"Then state it an briefly as you can."
directed Bennett, making no move to
rise or welcome his unbidden guest
1T is very late, and am tired"
"Pve come to see you about our Bor-
ough bill"
$50 supposed"
"You won't call of your fight against
usT'
"That question is hardly worth an
swerlng. No."
81 thought not Well, Mr. Alwyn
Bennett, I've got you! I've got you!
Do you understand meT
Perfectly. Is that all?"
mo, 1t amt ALL" mimicked the boss.
sand I'm In earnest. I've got you
where want you"
THAT doesn't interest me. II you've
nothing else to say
"But I have" chuclled Horrigan.
when II came to a showdown be-
tween US two put q staff of men to
looking up your record"
"You found nothing you could use.
Is that
''No; 1t isn't even the beginning.
Then ! remembered about your To-
ther."
about my fatherT"
1t grated on Bennett that his dead
fathers honored name should be spo-
ken by this low politician, but before
he could protest more forcibly Horri-
gan went on:
what dyou think If said your IA
Their was a grafter-one of the worst
Of his timer"
'Td say you lied" answered Bennett
calmly, land I'd drive the foul lie
down your throat with my fist. You'll
have to think of some better scheme
than that"
, do you think I'd be idiot enough to
come here with the story II I didn't
have full proof of it?" asked Horrigan
In contempt
And, despite himself. Alwyn saw the
man was speaking what he believed to
be the truth. He paused in his impul-
sive forward move, reseated himself
and asked coldly:
what so called proofs have you
been fooled by your heelers into think
ing
Don't believe me. hey? Well. you
will fast enough before I'm done. Un-
less you're afraid Of what I've got to
say"
Im not afraid of anything you can
say. The highest tribute to my fa'
Tiers memory il the fact that eur
like ysu cannot defle 1t. Go on. I'll
listen to you"
"very good" said Horrigan. quite
unmoved. "1ll make 1t as short as
can. remembered your father got
rich pretty quick. He was member
of the organization, and his firm got