The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-10-01

made Of mud. s'pose it's the affair
of those Roberts notes you're counting
on. That don't feaZe me any. My
lawyer can twist that around so it'll
look like charity gift. No, no.
youngster. You'll have to think OF
something better IT,
and, anyhow" put in wainwright
nervously. you can't prove any con-
nection on my part. There's nothing
against me orr
Il think there isl retorted Bennett,
wheeling about on the financier And
even if I can't nail the Roberts brib-
cry to you I've plenty more counts to
hold you on"
"A1l these generalities and vague &C
cusations prove nothing, Bennett" an
swered Wainwright, drawing courage
from Horrigan's colossal calm and
speaking with more assurance. Mr.
HOrrigan and l are not schoolboys to
be scared by baseless threats. This is
all guesswOrk on your part Come,
now, name one specific charge you can
prove"
Zone will be enough to convince
you?" asked Alwyn. "Well, then, how
about this as first guess? Mr.. Hor-
rigan's bride Of 100000 in money
and $4,000 shares Of Borough stock for
agreeing to put through the Borough
franchise? For 'guesswork' that doesn't
seem to me very bad"
Wainwright's hard mask Of a face
twitched convulsively, but the steady
brain that had carried him mistaken
through a thousand risky financial
deals came at once to his rescue.
"An excellent guess" he agreed in
splendidly feigned amusement, "but
unfortunately the courts demand proof
before convicting a man, and there is
no proof whatever off,
"Are you sure?" queried Bennett.
Turning to Phelan, he added:
''Please ask Mr.. Thompson to come
in"
The alderman, with an expansive
grin, flung open the door Of the farther
room.
At sound Of his secretary's name
Wainwright had sprung to his feet and,
dumfounded, was leaning heavily on
the table, staring across the threshold
Of the suddenly opened door.
There, framed in the dark doorway,
his face deathly pale, his eyes glowing
with strange light as Of murder,
stood Cynthia's brother.
His presence in the city hall was nc
mere chance, but the climax Of a series
of conferences between Bennett Phe.
Ian and himself, dating from the night
Of the administration ball, when, de-
spite his own resolve, the secretary
hand had been forced by the inquisi-
tive alderman and his identity re,
vealed
Bennett had been let into the secret
next day, and the trio had had a three
hour talk from which Phelan had
emerged with the gleeful air of one
who had unexpectedly found a $1,000
bill. Thompson, too, had left that con-
ference with a look Of calm, intense
satisfaction that TRANSPORTED him.
Other conversations had followed.
one Of them in the presence Of notary
stenographer and lawyers. The trap
at last was ready to be sprung
The fnancier for the first time in his
nine year close association with the
secretary met the younger mans gaze
without seeing the latter droop in def
erential submission. Now he received
back look for look from his former alb
ject slave. and it was his own glance
that wavered before that concentrated
glare Of hate.
"Thompson!' he cried, and his voice
bore world of incredulous reproach.
Before him stood the one man on
earth in whom Wainwright had ever
placed implicit trust; to whom he had
condded his gravest business secrets;
the man whom he had so shrewdly
tested in countless ways and who had
proved stanchly incorruptible and 10y