West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-05-28
CHAPTER XIII
TNlIE momentous Friday had mr.
rived; the day whercon the IA
nous or Infamous - Borough
n &fraat putttVav Ia H..

TNllE momentous Friday had mr.
rived; the day whercon the IA
nous or Infamous Borough
Street railway bill I'm It's
amended form was 10 come up for the
aldermens consideration.
Every paper In the city devoted col.
umns TO the situation. Everywhere II
wns known that the boy mayor" was
lighting with all his might the bill he
had already vetoed Equally we'll was
II understood that Horrlgan was max.
Ing the battle OF his whole career I'm
behalf Of the measure. III he could but
induce his solid thirteen" aldermen 20
stand firm aud could maintain his hold
on Roberts for the fourteenth. all
would be plain sailing and the bill
would pass by two-thlrds vote in
spite Of the mayors veto.
AIore than the mere bin and his
price for 1t were included I'm Horri.
gan's reasons for his present activity.
He recognized that his prestige as boss
was at stake-that I'm case OF failure
his hold on the organization would be
considerably weakened, perhaps almost
so much shaken as TO permit Phelan 20
fulfill his once absurd threat 60 tear
him down from his eminence. For the
whole organization was viewing with
brcathess interest the duel between
Horrigan and the youthful mayor the
boss had made" In such circles n
beaten man commands scant respect
The board Of aldermen were I'm scs.
sion In the city hail. of the ante.
chamber Of the great room where they
met was small. snugly furnished
apartment. first Of series OF similar
rooms that stretched away. with con.
Meeting doors. 90 the far end Of the
main corridor. This place, with the
room adjoining had once been the
cOmptrollcr's Office. or late. however.
that official had changed his quarters
and the room nearest the antechamber
had been appropriated by HOrrigau
himself as q sort Of unofficial snug.
gerry. where he could sic at ease and
transact business at close quarters
whenever the organizations secret in.
forests demanded his presence NJ the
city hall
Iicpc. his whereabouts known only
t0~his Intimate and personal licuten.
ants, the boss was wont to sit at ease.
Ike some fat, rubicund spider In the
center ~ n web Of intrigue, ana issue
his orders or plans Of campaign Some
Of these were carried by word Of mouth
through The antcrOom into the alder
manic chamber Others he transmit.
ted by means Of q telephone that stood
ready on the center table. before which
his great easy chair was always placed.
Around this table os the boarI of al-
dermeu were about to convene ON the
fateful Friday or the Borough biTs
final consideration sat three men
Wainwright. Gibbs ana Uorrigan. The
former. ln spite Of hls habitual steady
coOlncFs, was plainly uneasy Gibbs
made no effort TO deny his anxiety.
His eyes were bIoOdshOt. his manner
abstractcd and his nerves evidently
strung TO breaking point uorrigou
alone of the trio bad abatcd not one
jot Of the colossal calm ANA brutal
power that were part and parcel of
The mans mighty character
"Whcn VIII our bin come ND. do YOU
supposc| asked Gibbs. breaking q
brief silence
"ln half an hour or 50 probablg. 4"
answered IlorrIgan. glanclng nt his
watch y thought 60 was bottcr for
as 70 get here ahead OF time"