Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-07-10
BY
ALBERT
[PF]AYsON
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
c0PYRENT 1907 BY
GE0R6H H. AR0ADHCIRST

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
CHAPTER lat the suburban home of Charles
wainwright, high fnancier," he and his broker,
Scott Gibbs hatch up a scheme to corner Borough
Street railway stock. They tely upon the support
Of Dick Horrigan, boss Of the neghborng city,
who is coming to discuss matters. Alderman
Phelan, the thorn in Horrigan's side, whom VAIN
right is anxious to concilate, is also coming.
Among the members of Wainrights household
are his niece and nephew, Dallas and Perry Vain
right and his secretary, Thompson, secretve
young man in whom the fnancier has implicit
confidence. Judge Newman, neighbor Of Wair-
right, whose continuance in Office depends npon
Horrigans favor, requests Wainrights interver-
tion with the boss. Another visitor to the Vain
rights is Alwyn Bennett in love with Dallas,
who is calling to ask her about her rumored en-
gagement to Gibbs Perry is in love with Cynthia
Garrison, also neghbor. II-Cynthia is the
daughter of bank president who nine years be-
fore the opening of the story was ruined by the
dealings of an unnamed dishonest financier and
shot himself. His son thereupon disappeared.
Mrs Bennett congratuates herself upon the inn
maculate record Of her sons deceased father.
Dallas refuses to marry Alwyn unless he does
something worthy of Of his family and education.
Phelan and Horrgan face each other I-Phean
defes Horrigan. Judge Newman is turned down
by the boss, but at Wainrigt's request Horrigan
agrees to reconsider his case Horrigan becomes
suspicious of Thompson. but WainriSht SCOTS at
the idea. Horrigan and wainwright make cor
rupt deal whereby the former, for big consider
alton, Is to procure from the board of aldermen
perpetual franchise for the Borough Street rail-
way, The boss is worried by the reform move
ment threatning his power at the coming election
and is casting about for candidate for mayor
with clean record. He hits upon Bennett, who |
has had some slight political experience The lat
ter accepts, but warns Horrigan that if elected, |
he will be absolutely honest and independent |
IV.-Bennett is elected and appoints Cynthia his |
private secretary, Phelan tells him that the fi- |
nancier who caused the ruin of the Garrisons was |
wainwright, who is also the power behind the |
crooked Borough franchise bill, with Horrigan |
and Gibbs. Dallas and Mrs. Bennett visit the |
city hall. V-Gibbs tries to induce Bennett to
sign the bill. The mayors talk with Dallas is in
terrupted by Horrgan. VI-Bennett refuses to
be bulldozed by Horrigan into signing the bill |
The boss lacks one vote in the board of aldermen |
OF the fourteen needed to pass the bill without |
the mayors assent. Despite the fact that defeat
ing the bill means impoverishing Dallas and Per- |
ry, whose fortune wainwright has invested in
Borough stock, Bennett vetoes the measure |
NIl-Bennett's plan TO save Dallas and Perry is |
to have Perry sell Borough stock short. The |
mayors opposition causes Horrigan and Vain
wright to amend the bill, retaining however, |
some Of the most Objectionable features. VIII |
Aiwyn's lovenaking to Dallas at the mayors ball
Is interrupted by Horrigan. IX-Gibbs secretly
plays falls to Wainwright and Horrigan by buying |
Borough stock on his own account Horrigan
hxes" Alderman Roberts, a wavering member of ,,
his solid thirteen" X-Bennett warns Roberts |
against voting for the bill. In the presence Of
Cynthia, who is engaged to Perry. Phelan exposes
Thompson as her brother the long missing Harry
Garrison, whereupon sister and brother embrace.
Perry, entering suddenly, is astonished at the
sight XI-Cynthia explains to Perry. Dallas is |
convinced by Wainwright that Bennett by Veto
ing the bill is trying to wreck her fortune There
upon Dallas promises to marry Gibbs. XII-Hor-
rigan declares that If Bennett persists in his op-
position to the bill he will publish indisputable
proofs of grating by the mayors father Ben
nets mother advises him to face the threatened
disgrace and stick to his course.