Putnam patriot., 1908-08-28

ed to the pan he esas t=syz Ss. sa ger to carry out IL vas a pufrti bii of jet sanl at whicA financially drowning man iit aes sevss,le 10 clutch
 HaTris9u followed hin from the room bis own Spleadii nerve quite rs covered from the crushlag blow his hopes had reeeieei He had sta kel heavily an The deal Mer,aveE. its fatl. aFe. ss he knew. meaut the wreck ef that mighty political prestige he bad so long and weariSomely built ap It might even. if Alwyn fulfilled his threat about the notes. lead 10 graver personal consequences. Yet the bull dog pluck that had carried this man of Iron from the gutter 10 the summit of political power did not desert hitn nor did be show the loss Of one iota of his customary monumental calm
 Scarcely had Horrigan quilted the room when Perry and Dallas entered it
 You could cut the atmosphere In there with q cheese knife" Perry was saying. Williams doesn't think the Borough bill wih come up for half an hour or SO Wed better spend the time i'll then tn here than to stay there and turn our lungs Into a microbe roo :"
 Dallas did not answer. She sat down by the table and rested her head de jectedly on one little gloved hand The sight of Bennett his grave, hopeless appeal to her; the calm. utter despair of his brave tace-all these had affect ed her deeply Perry noticed with bretherly concern her look and attitude.
 .'Feeling faintT' he asked.
 Nc, I'm all right, thanks"
 You look pretty near as blue as Al wNn He"-
 Don't let's talk of hiin. please" she begged.
 'sWhy not? He the whltest chap this side of Whiteviile"
 That's what l used te think, but l Suow better now
 s1hcn. miss broke in q voice from the doorway. you're entitled 10 anoth. CT know.'P
 pheian who. passing down the cor riaer. had heard her last words as he reached the threshold. turned into tEe room.
 Excuse me for bnttln' in on q fam fly chat" he remarked coming forward, but I'm pretty well posted on his honor,s character an when l hear any one krockin. him It's me to the bat What have you got against Mr. Ben nett? None If your mcasly business. says yon. Quite SO. says I. an'. that hein' the case. lets hedr all about it
 Something that underIas the seeming lmpertinence of the alderman's bluff speech touched Dallas. On impulse she spoke:
 "Mr. Bennett" said she. ''is opposing the Borough bill knowing We shaIi h. ! paHpers if he defeats if. He also sold Borough stock short before he an noaneed his veto. What can one think ef man who enriches himself at the -xpcase of his friendsf'
 Gee cried Perry that's a terrible thiAgi Bennett's the original man higher up. Fun afraid I wonder he isn't afraid to wear the clothes of such a wicked geezer as himself.
 "0h, Perry, Don't joke about if" begged Dallas. Cant you see the seri GUS side of anything: We shall bt tenniless and dependent on
 Fear thou not. sister mne." de .lared Perry in his best melodrainatie manner .paupers. sayest thou? Fai be it sol Little Brother Ferry vii onard thee from the cole. shiver, swats of a wintry wind. Maybe Vt can sell violets or start a hght clul )r"-
 "Dont." she urged. jared by his flip pancy You don't understand I'- As for that story of his honor's sell in stock short and maxim pile oi cash on his own veto." put In Phelau genuinely worried. "Horrigan's looked il up an got enough facts 10 make him think he can prove. 1t. He's goin tt make Williams tell the whole story te the aldermen tonight. It's lie, oi course. but it'll hurt his honor lot an the worst Of it is Bennett refuses 10 deny II
 He does, eb?" remarked Perry Then I'll do some talking about it I'll have to fracture promise l made Alwyu. but guess ifs worth whIle.'
 What do you meanY' queried Dallas tn wonder
 "I mean Bennett lent me the money to sell enough stock short to make III for what you aud 1 would lose If the bill WAS quashed. and he gave me q letter 10 his own broker We carried il through. and now you and l stand pat 10 win whichever way the cat Jumps We're on velvet. thanks to Aiwyn.
 He did this for usf-' gasped Dallas in amaze But why didn't you tell me? Why did ,en Iet me misjudge himy'
 He made me promise not to iet you know a thing about fl. and
 say. youngsfer. trok< in Pbelan. tingling with excitement. you come -hasin' along with me Into the alder mems meefin' I'll have yoo get up there an tell what you know. It'll knock that lie of Willia ms and Horn- gans so high it'll forget 10 hit groun' again Come on. son. There's sure liable to be hot doin's ia the meetin' in about eleven seconds Come aiong~
 CUAp,Frn Vyl