Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-07-03
BY
ALBERT
[$1AYsON
1RERHUNE
COPYRIGHT 1907 BY
GEORGE MAR0ADRLlRST
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER lat the suburban home Of Charles
wainwright, high inancier," he and his broker
Scott Gibbs, hatch up scheme to corner Borough
Street railway stock They rely upon the support
of Dick Horrigan, boss Of the neighboring city
who is coming to discuss matters. Alderman
Phelan, the thorn in Horrigan's side, whom Vain
right is anxious to conciliate, is also coming.
Among the members Of Meningitis household
are his niece and nephew Dallas and Perry Vain
right, and his secretary, Thompson, a secretive
young man in whom the financier has implicit
confidence. Judge Newman, a neghbor Of VAIN
right, whose continuance in Office depends npon
Horrigan's favor requests Wainright's interyen-
ton with the boss. Another visitor to the Vain
rights Is Alwyn Bennett, in love with Dallas.
who is calling to ask her about her rumored en-
gagenent to Gibbs. Perry is in love with Cynthia
Garrison, also a neighbor. II-Cynthia is the
daughter Of a bank president who nine years be-
fore the opening of the story was ruined by the
dealings Of an unnamed dishonest financer and
shot himself. His son thereupon disappeared.
Mrs. Bennett congratulates herself upon the inn
maculate record Of her sons deceased father.
Dallas refuses to marry Alwyn unless he does
something worthy of of his family and education.
Phelan and Horrgan face each other. III Phean
defes Horrigan. Judge Newman is turned down
by the boss, but at Wainrigt's request Horrigan
agrees to reconsider his case. Horigan becomes
suspicious of Thompson, but WainriSht SCOTS at
the idea.4 Horrigan and wainwright make a cor
rupt deal whereby the former, for big consider
alton, is to procure from the board of aldermen a
fra, 4ha IL
way The boss is worried by the reform move
ment threatning his power at the coming election
and is casting about for candidate for mayor
with clean record. He hits upon Bennett who
has had some slight political experience. The lat
ter accepts, but warns Horrigan that, if elected
he will be absolutely honest and independent
w. Bennett is elected and appoints Cynthia his
private secretary. Phelan tells him that the fl
nancier who caused the ruin Of the Garrisons was
wainwright who is also the power behind the
crooked Borough franchise bill. with Horrigan
and Gibbs. Dallas and Mrs. Bennett visit the
city hall, V-Gibbs tries to induce Bennett to
sign the bill. The mayors talk with Dallas is in
terrupted by Horrigan. VI-Bennett refuses TO
be bulldozed by Horrigan into signing the bill.
The boss lacks one vote in the board of aldermen
of the fourteen needed to pass the bill without
the mayors assent. Despite the fact that defeat
ing the bill means impoverishing Dallas and Per-
ry, whose fortune wainwright has invested in
Borough stock, Bennett vetoes the measure.
VII Benefits plan to save Dallas and Perry is
to have Perry sell Borough stock short. The
mayors opposition causes Horrigan and Vain
wright to amend the bill, retaining, however.
some Of the most Objectionable features. VIII
Alwyn's lovenaking TO Dallas at the mayors ball
is interrupted by Horrigan. IX-Gibbs secretly
plays falls to Wainwright and Horrigan by buying
Borough stock on his own account Horrigan
fixes" Alderman Roberts, a wavering member of
his solid thirteen" X-Bennett warns Roberts
against voting for the bill. In the presence of
Cynthia, who is engaged to Perry, Phean exposes
Thompson as her brother. the long missing Harry
Garrison. whereupon sister and brother embrace.
Perry, entering suddenly, is astonished at the
sight.