Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1908-06-19


100 numerous class who do not under.
stand until too late the difference he.
tween gentle breeding and weak cow.
ardice. That man should sneak r.
MIN courteously and not interlard h,s
talk with Oaths, obsceuity or rouch.
ness seemed to Horrigan, as It does 70
many another boor, an evidence of #.
midlty and lack Of virillty. A Damos.
Gus blade is far more harmless LOOK.
ing weapon than bludgeon, vet II is
capable when the necessity arises of
far deadlier work.
1t is only the man whose gentleness
mas not granite strength as its founda.
ton who deserves the newly popular
term of "mollycoddle."
Had Horrlgan's large experience
with men been extended to embrace
this fact he would probably never have
picked out Alwyn Bennett in the first
place as candidate for mayor nor
deemed the younger man a fit tool for
the organizations crooked work. The
French mobiles of the old regime, whose
polish Of manner was the envy of the
world, fought like devils on occasion
and went to death on the scaffold with
smile and Y jest on their lips. while
many brutal demagogue in the same
circumstances broke down and scream
ed for mercy, However, Horrlgan
CHANGED to be more familiar with the
history of the organization than with
that Of France hence, deeming Ben
netts reply mere sporadic flash of
defiance from q properly cowed spirit,
he resolved to crush the rebellion at
blow.
Don't give me any insolencep he
roared. 81 won't stand for 1t, and"-
Moreover" quietly continued Ben
nett, as though the boss had not
spoken, 81 shall be very much obliged
If in future you will knock at my door
instead Of bursting in on me. This is
my private Office, not yours"
"Do you mean to-
GIVE explained as clearly as l can
just what mean. If you don't under
stand me can't supply you with In
telligence."
Bennett" said the boss, his burn.
ing rage steadied down to a white
heat, far more dangerous, but less in
coherent, "you and me are talking too
much and saying too little We've got
to come to a showdown. You're a clev.
er boy and you made rafting good
fight, and you're on the right side of
the public and Of the press too. You're
the best, material we've got, and II you
try and do the right thing there's no
limit to what you can rise to-but only
II you do the right thing"
"'The right thing" echoed Bennett.
what do you mean by the right
thingr
II mean you've got to do the right
thing by the men who put you where
you are today"
That's fair. But who put me where
| am todayT"
IT did,, Dick Horigan. Who ever
heard of you till took you up2 No
body. II l didn't make you mayor,
who did, I'd like to known"
"The voters. The people OF this
city"
"The voters" scoffed Horrigan. ''The
deuce they did! Who had you nomi-
natedT
"You did. But It was the public who
elected me, and I'm going to obey
your orders In one thing. I'm going to
do the right thing by the men who
put me where am today I'm going
to pay the voters for their trust In me
by giving them fair and square ad'
ministration.N In the case Of this Bor-
ough Street railway franchise bill, for
instance" tapping the document lying
before him on his desk, before / sign
that bill l intend to make sure it's for
the good of the people, that 1t is FOL
the good of the city, not merely FOL
the good OF Richard Horrigan and
CLIQUE of his friends and heelers. No
don't swear. It'll do you no good, I'm
firm on this matter. If you're discon
tented with me it's your own fault
I warned you months ago that II
was elected should keep my oath Of
office. AS for this Borough bilI"-
"As for this Borough BILL" broke II
rIorr,0an sayagely. you'll sign 1t. II
you DON'T
"wellT queried Bennett as the boss
nausea. choked by his own FURY. III
I don't sign it-what thenT'
"If you don't, your political career Is
ended from this time on. seei It's
ended. Smashed fat You think OF
Yourself as a fine, promising young
man who's on the road to the gov
ernorship and maybe to the White
House, Well, you aren't. You're what
Dick Horrigan made you, and your
future will be what Dick Horrigan
Chooses to make 1t. lifted you up