La Junta tribune., 1908-07-18
CHATTER Nil.


aldermen's consideration.
Every paper In the city devoted col.
umns 10 rhe situation. Every where it
\ was known that the boy mayor was
)4rightinS witt, all his might the bill he
>had already vetoed Equally well was
II understood that Horrigan was max
Ing the battle OF his whole career Ia
behalf OF the measure. II he could but
induce his solid thirteen" aldermen 10
stand hrm and could maintain his hold
on Roberts FOR the fourteenth. all
would be plain sailing aud the bin
would pass by a two-thir,Is vote In
spite Of the mayors veto.
More than the mere bill aud his
price for It were included In Horri
gan's reasons for his present activity.
He recognized that his prestige rs buss
was at stake-tha In case OF failure
his hold on the organi.at tion would he
cosSIderably weakened. perhaps almost
80 much shaken as to permit Pheian to
fulnll his once absurd threat to tear
him down from his eminence. For the
whole organization was viewing with
breathIess Interest the duel between
Horrigan and the youthful mayor the
boss had made" In such circles y
beaten man commands scant respect
The board OF aldermen were In SEES
sion In the city hall. on the ante
chamber Of the great room where they
met was a small. snugly furnished
apartment. first of q series of similar
rooms that stretched away. with con
fnr
main corridor. This place, with the
room adjoining. III, once been tn.
comptrollcr's Office. OF late. however.
that official hal changed his quarters
and tn. r"on, nearest the antechaIni,er
had been appropriated by IIorrigan
himself as q sort OF unofficial snug
gerry. where he could sit Mt eaxe and
Nransacf business nj close qua art~rx
Whenever the organizations secret 10
serests demands his presence at the
city hall.
Here. his whereabouts known only
to his Intimate and personal lleuten-
ants. the boss was wont to sit at ease.
like some fat. rubkcund spider In the
center OF u web Of Intrigue. and issue
his orders or plans Of campaign. Some
VI tutSE 0tTC SuITN-u ny WOfu vi
through the anteroom Into the alder
manic chamber Others he transmit
ted by means Of u telephone that stood
ready on the center table, before which
his great easy chair was always placed.
Around this table as the board OF ai-
dermen were about TO convene ON th..
fatefui Friday Of the borough biII's
final consideration sat three. men--
Wainwright. Gibbs and IIorrigan The
former in spite of his liibituai stea,Iy
cOolncss, was plainly uneasy. Gibbs
z made no effort to deny his anxiety.
His eyes were blOUdshot. his manner
abstracted aud his nerves evidently
strung to breaking point. fI0rriyan
alone Of the trio had abated NOT one
jot Of the colossal calm aud brutal
power that were part and parcel OF
the mans mighty character
when VIII our bill come up. do you
suppose?" asked Gibbs, breaking
brief silence.
I'm half. an hour or SO probably"
answered HorrIgan. gIancing at hts
watch. Il thought 1t was better for
Ms to get here ahead OF time"
Half an hour" fumei Gibbs. ''and
neither Ellis nor Roberts here yet.
suppose they don't get here on timer
They will," granted Horrigan plac-
IDLY.
DO you think It Is possible either Of
them has come YETI went on Gibbs.
with glance at the antechamber door.
NO
How do you know? Perhaps"
civilians would have told me. He
knows where I'm to be found" +"
you're sure Ellis and Roberts will
show up:r
YES"
"How soon?"
'.In good time
.But suppose they dcn't?' insisted
Gibbs nerv ous!y What then:"
Why. II they don't. then they won't
What do you suppose:" snapped Hor-
rigan. whats the matter with you,
anyhow: Are you looking Tor a muse
um Job a. the human question mark: : :"
Gibbs Is naturally nervous" explain
ed Wainwright. Hes not 80 old at
this game as you and I. Horrisan. and
we must make allowances.
'.Nervous:" grunted the boss. II
should say be Is. Just look at that
cigar gave him. He's been chewing
It A. II It was sausage. That's nc
way to treat a fifty cent cigar. man!
Here. try another. and see II you can't
smoke It instead Of eating free lunch
on 1t. Nothing like good smoke to
steady your nerves. r.
The antechamber door opened. and
Williams hurried In.
II got ElIisr' he reported He's
here. and"-with significant emphasis-
hell vote sightr'
.'Good.~ assented HoeS1san. II
sthoueht he'd come 70 dine. Now. for