Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-10-30

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should have chosen such a man as 20
:or his lackey and go-between."
"Lackeyr 'Briber 'Go,betweeng
echoed the judge in real indignation
"How dare you. sir? This m
"Isn't 1t bribe," insisted Alwyr
"and weren't you the man chosen t
offer 1t? 1t will do you no good +
buster or grow indignant. In you
heart you know the words I used wer
deserved The governorship offer wa
a bride, pure and simple, and worth!
the modern highwaymen who made 1t
but that you. judge-a former FRIEND
Of my own blameless father-that you
should come to me on such vile er
rand turns me sick. Heaven help jus
tice and right when our judges can bt
controlled by political boss and
roll Of bills! That's all! don't care
to 60 further into the subject!'
Bennett walked away. leaving the lit
tie judge to stare after him, pink will
wrath. speechless with amazement. Ii
oil his sixty years no man had thus
laid bare to Newman his own heart
stripped Of Its garments Of respecta
bility and self deception. And. as usu
al In such cases. now that the truth
had been driven home to him. Newman
wrathfully denounced 1t, even to him
self, as lie.
Still flushed and incoherent, he wheel
ed to face trio who were just return
ing from the supper room. They were
Dallas, Gibbs and Wainwright.
"Hellow exclaimed Wainwright in
surprise. whats the matter with you.
judge? Are you ill?"
"If-if Mrs. Newman should come to
know Of this" sputtered the judge.
glaring from one to the other She
ITO know of whatT' queried Gibbs.
"What has happened?'
"HappenedY fumed Newman. ]
have been grossly, vulgarly
lnsulted"
"Insulted, judgeY repeated Dallas.
"By whom?'
"By Alwyn Bennett" snapped the
Judge. "Outrageously"-
"Impossble!" exclaimed Dallas.
There must be a mistake somewhere.
Mr.. Bennett Is too well bred to insult
any man, much less man SO much
older than
"a gentleman, is he? | should not
have believed It. He has insulted me
most
"I'm not surprised" observed Vain
wright.
Il am" announced Dallas.
Naturally sneered Wainwright "If
you can remain on speaking terms with
him after his abominable treatment Of
me you can easily overlook any other
brutality Of his"
"Tell us about it. judge" interposed
Gibbs, seeking to avert any further
clash between uncle and niece.
II went to him." began Newman.
bearing a request from-from"-
The Judge paused. 1t was not Who'll
ly easy to present matters to this hon.
est eyed young girl In such way as
TO bring her In his way Of thinking.
But Wainwright felt no difficulty. Bis
shrewd brain caught at means of
turning the affair to account.
"You see, Dallas" the financier broke
In, with a warning glance to Newman,
II begged the Judge to intercede for
me with Bennett, to ask him to bury
the Ratchet and let us be friends again
for the sake Of old times. thought
Judge Newman's age and his high Of
fee would compel certain respect
even with a man Of Benefits charac-
ter. But | was wrong, and am sorry,
Judge. for the unjust humiliation |
you"
II don't understand" said Dallas,
looking In bewilderment from one to
the other. Judge, my uncle sent you
to make overtures of peace? And Mr..
Bennett refused to-
"He not only refused, but called Mr..
Wainwright highwayman and
"But why" demanded Dallas.
"He pretended to misunderstood what
| said about the conditions"
"Oh, 1t was conditional offer, then?
I thought
Certainly there were conditions"
cut in Wainwright, again coming to
the emissary's rescue. II asked that
he take q position Of neutrality In re-
gard to this Borough bill. Simply neu-
trail, mind you. Not to change his atti-
tude In its favor, orr
"That was a splendidly fair Offer"
cried Gibbs enthusiastically.
$50 it seemed to me-" agreed New
man, "but Bennett would not listen
when I tried to point out his proper
line of duty. He called me go-be-
tween and
Gwen after you told him we were
practically all the concessions
he had asked In the bill?" queried
Gibbs.
"Yes," said Newman. "He must have
some motive behind it all. can't
"Nonsenser' exclaimed Dallas. What
llterior motive could he have"
'That is more than | know positive
y" returned the judge mysteriously.
"But | do" declared Wainwright.
pointing at Dallas. There are the rea-
,ons!"
az" exclaimed Dallas. incredulous.
Explain, please"
willingly" replied her uncle, III
you'll give me fair hearing. Bennett