Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-30
CHAPTER XIIY.
"HE momentous Tridny had ar,
rived: the day whercon the IN
nous or infamous Borough

Street railway bill in its
aldcrmen's consideration.
Every paper In the city devoted col
umns TO the situation. Everywhere II
WINS known that the hoy mayor" was
fighting with nil his might the bill he
had already vetoed Equally we'll wns
II understood that IIorrigan was max.
Ing the battle Of his whole career in
behalf Of the measure. IL he could but
induce his solid thirteen" aldermen 10
stand nrm and could maintain his hold
on Roberts for the fourteenth. all
would he plnin smiling and the bill
would pass by two-thirds vote In
spite Of the mayors veto.
More than tho mere bin and his
price for 1t we're included in IIorri.
gan's reasons for his present activity.
lie recognized that hts prestige rs boss
was at stakc-that In cnse OF failure
his hold on the organization would he
considerably weakened. perhaps almost
so much shaken as TO permit Phelan ia
fulhll his once absurd threat to tcnr
IIIli uCNu iIOI' IIS tul'Cl'V' J. VI thc
whole orgn mir ,ton was viewing with
brcn thless interest tho duel between
Horrignn and the youthful mayor the
boss had made" In such circles Il
beaten man commands scant respect
The bonrl Of aldermen were In scs
sion IN the city hail. on the ante
chamber OF the great room where they
met was smnll. snugly furnished
apartment. first OF series of similar
rooms TINT stretched away, with con
Meeting doors. TO the far end OF TIT
main corridor. This place, with thu
room adjoining. had once been th'
comptroler's office. OF Int. however
that official had changed his quarters
and the room nearest the antrchambe
had been appropriated by Horrigal
himself MS sort OF unofficial snug
gerry. whore he could sit Mt ease ant
transact business at close quarters
whenever the organizations secret In
forests demanded his presence Mt TIT
city hall.
Hero, his wherenh bouts known onl,
to his intimate md personal llcuten
ants, the boss was wont 10 sit Mt ease
like some fat rubicnnd spider In tn
center Of web OF intrigue. and issu
his orders or pnns OF campaign. Som
Of these were carried by word Of mout
through the hntcroom into the alder
manic chamber. Others he transmit
ted by means OF a telephone that stOo
ready on the center tab!o. before whic
his great easy chair was always placed
Around this table as the board of a.
dcrmen were about TO convene on til
fatcful Friday Of the Borough bili'
final consideration sat three men
Wainwright, Gibbs and HorriCAn. Tn
former, In spite OF his habitual stead
GOODNESS. was plainly uneasy. Glbh
made no effort TO deny his anxiety
His eyes were bloodshot, his name
distracted and his nerves evidentl
strung to breaking point. Norrlga
alone Of the trio had abatcd not on
lot Of the colossal calm and brute
power that werc pnrt and parcel Q
the mans mighty character.
when will our bill como up. do 20
supposed" asked Gibbs. breaking
brief silence.
"In hnlf an hour or SO probably
: answered Horrigan, CHANGING at hi
watch. II thought It was better fc
ns n get here ahead or time"
"IInlf an hour" fnmed Gibbs. nm
neither Ellis nor Roberts here ye
Suppose they don't get here on timer
They will" granted HorrIgan pla'
Idly.
I "Do you think It Is possible either
7 them has come yet:" went on Ohm
D with n glance ut the antcchnmbcr doc
{ mo"
How do you know, Perhaps
WILLIAMS would have told me. II
knows where I'm to he found"
You're sure Ellis aad Roberts vi
Z show upT'
I YES"
Y "Itow soon1''
"ln good time"
"But suppose they don't." insists
Gibhs nervousiy. What then"
"Why. II they don't, then they won
u What DO you suprosel" snapped Flo
Q tlgnn. What's the matter with 20
anyhow Are you LOOKING for a mus
um job as the human question mark ?
y Gibbs Is naturally nervous" explai
ed Wainwright. Hes not so old