The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-04-26
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| II nave no need OK an excuBe,' re-
piled Perry, with an afr OF hurt dig
nifty. II am the bearer Of most i'm
portant message to you
"From whomY'
"From--from-- Dallas is home; land.
ed this morning"
A light came into the mayors tired
eyes at the news
"And the messageT he asked ca.
gerly.
"That's the message. She's home"
"she sent you to tell me thatT
"No; not exactly that" eyaded Per-
ry. wrlgglIng uncomfortably.
"Well, what was her message thenY'
"she--she didn't send any"
"Thcn who sent the message that
she has come homer
"Well. the fact Is ! sent 1t myself.
That's why brought IT,"
"Oh, you poor idlotw laughed Ben
nett. "The same old excuse in new
shape! Well. now you're here, you can
stay Just Ave minutes. I'm too busy
to play with little boys today"
Little boys! I'll be twenty-five next
spring. r.
"Any messages while ! was out Miss
Carlson
"Yes, one" answered Cynthia. "Your
mother telephoned that she would be
here at half past 2. She said she had
surprise for you"
Say" remarked Perry, feeling he was
being excluded from the talk, I'D 90
easy on that surprise II were you.
Alwyn. I've had surprises over the
telephone myself. and they're punk.
Once q girl
Alderman Phelan would Ike to
speak to your honor said Ingram, the
old doorkeepcr. popping out Of the
anteroom.
"Show him in." answered Bennett.
''Now. then. Perry
"Were you about to ask me to stay
awhile longerp asked the boy. BE
cause I'm sorry. but ! can't Goodby.
Good afternoon. Miss Garrison. Glad
you liked the photo. SO long Maybe
I'll bring another message from Dallas
tomorrow"
"what can Phelan want Of me, !
wonder" mused Bennett. half aloud.
"He and | scarcely Good afternoon,
alderman! think this Is the FIRST time
you've honored me with a visit"
Then be lenient with first offense,
your honor" suggested Phelan. shak-
Ing hands with the mayor and nodding
pleasantly to Cynthia as she passed
out TO her own Office.
Something important, suppose
hazarded Bennett
Maybe II Is important and maybe II
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, shat announce
ment wasn't authorized. haven't We
toed the Borough Street railway bill.
In fact, haven't made public any de-
cision on II. WhyT
I'm glad to hear 1t. and. that being
the case. III invite myself to 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 q meat axF'
'SThen you weren't one Of the alder
men who voted for it?"
"Mef Nothln' doing. don't belong
to Dick Horrigan's solid thirteen He
can't buy and sell me at his own
terms like he does them thirteen geez-
ers."
"And yet alderman, from your rep
utation"-
"From my reputation I'm crook,
hey? Well, there's crooks and crooks.
And I'm one of the other kind, II I'm
crooked at all. which | deny most en-
Enthusiastically. At least follow no
Horrigan whistle"
"Then why are you here in regard
to the Borough bill|
Perhaps it's on the theory Of set a
thief TO catch n Theft"