Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-10-13

he spoke. ters this even
ing and the least can do Is to repay
such pleasure by
Did you, really" beamed the judge,
on whom the unmarried state OF his
four fast aging girls rested heavily.
"Pm sure Mrs. Newman will be
pleased. BGt this business matter.
You-you won't misunderstood me-
'Of course not" replied Alwyn heart
lily. "You and are too old friends.
judge, to-
"i hope 30; hope So" conceded New
man. with growing anxiety In bis tone.
you ses"-
"l see you have some trouble coming
to the point" said Alwyn, plying the
Judges evident discontinue. "and I'm
sorry you feel 80. You were my ia
Tiers friend. and like to think OF you
as one Of my own best friends There
surely should be no hesitation In ask
Ing anything Ia my power to grant
Thus emboldened Newman blurted
out:
"I-ws-that Is. seems to me you
have been a little hard upon this Bor-
ough franchise bill. If you don't mind
my saying so. Bennett. Couldn't you
let up on them nowT
"Why, NO, Judge. can't" replied
Bennett. still failing to connect New
man with the Observation-Disclosures
clique and attributing the judges In
tersst IN the matter to an amateurs
love Of dabbling in politics. 81 can't
let up on that fight" he continued. "All
perpetual franchises are wrong. and
this particular franchise bill Is rotten
to the core In sheer justice to my onth
of office must fight 1t"
"My boy" said the Judge In fa-
therly manr"" that he had often found
successful III argument. II was In poll
tics long before you were born. and I'm
speaking for your own good when l
say l deeply regret the stand you've
taken In this matter You objected to
the bill in its original form. Almost
every change you demanded has been
made in It As the gentlemen who
asked me to speak to you said
He checked himself minute too
late. The narrowing Of Benuett's eyes
and the vanishing Of the friendly light
In the young mans face warned New
man he had made fatal error
$50 you come to me- as an emisSary.
not as u friend" said Bennett slowly.
"and the gentlemen you come from
"Are the men who represent all that
can make or break your career-capital
and political organization"
In other words. Wainwright and
Horrlgan:"
Eyes All they ask Is that you re
main neutral: that you
That look the other way while
they rob the city,"
~ am an old man. Bennett" evaded
the judge. trying another tack. land
I've seen one rash step wreck many Il
bright career. just aS this will wreck
youis. Never antagonize wealth AMI
the organization. The public for whom
you sacrifice yourself will forget yOr
in Il month. Capital and politics never
forget"
81 am not catering to the public. ]
am acting as my own conscience
but this Is stubbornness. not con
science. All you have to do Is to n
main neutral If you do this l am
,,rn,n ion li.tar
to promise You the nomination for
governor when your term as
That's the bait. Is it?" cried Alwyn
angrily. 'If consent to betray my
trust I'll get the governorship The
bribe is golden. and don't wonder at
Horrigan for Offering It. The only
thing that surprises me Is that he
should have chosen such man as you
for his lackoy and go-between."
Lackey! 'Bribe! GO-between! !"
echoed the Judge in real Indignation
"How dare you. sir? This
"Isn't It bribe." insisted Alwyn
"and weren't you the man chosen to
offer it? 1t will do you no go"d to
buster or grow indignant. In your
heart yoa know the words used were
deserved. The governorship offer was
bribe. pure and simple. and worthy
the modern bighwaymen who made It..
but that you, judge-a former friend
of my own blameless father-that you
should come to me on such a vile er
rand turns me sick Heaven help JUS
tce and right when our judges can be
controlled by political boss and a
roll of bills. That's all! | don't care
to go further Into the subject!'
Bennett walked away. leaving the lit
tie Judge to stare after him. pink with
wrath. spcechless with amazement In
all 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 it. even to him.
self. as lie.