Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-07-16

ure. as he knew. meant the wreck OF
that mighty political prestige he had
SO long and wearisomely built up. 1t
might even, if Alwyn fulfilled his
threat about the notes, lead to graver
personal consequences. Yet the bull
dog pluck that had carried this man
OF iron from the gutter to the summit
nor did he show the loss of one iota of
his customary monumental calm.
Scarcely had Horrigan quilted the
room when Perry and Dallas entered
it.
"You could cut the atmosphere in
there with a cheese knife" Perry was
saying. Williams doesn't think the
Borough bill will come up for half an
hour or so. We'd better spend the
time till then in here than to stay there
and turn our lungs into a microbe ZOO"
Dallas did not answer. She sat down
by the table and rested her head de-
jectedly on one little gloved hand. The
sight Of Bennett, his grave. hopeless
appeal to her; the calm. utter despair
of his brave facial these had affect
ed her deeply. Perry noticed with
brotherly concern her look and attitude.
Feeling faint?" he asked.
mo, Pm all right, thanks"
"You look pretty near as blue as AL
wyn. He"-
Don't let's talk of him. please" she
begged.
why not? He's the whitest chap
this side of Whiteville."
That's what I used to think, but !
know better now"
"Then, MISS" broke in a voice from
the doorway. you're entitled to anoth-
err know"
Phelan. who, passing down the cor
ridor, had heard her last words as he
reached the threshold, turned into the
room.
Excuse me for buttin' in on a fam
lily chat" he remarked. coming forward,
but Pm pretty we'll posted on his
honor's character, an when I hear n
one knockin' him it's me to the bat.
What have you got against Mr.. Ben
nett? None of your measly business
says you. Quite So says 1. an, that
bein' the case, let's hear all about it."
Something that underlay the seeming
impertinence Of the alderman's bluff
speech touched Dallas. On impulse she
spoke:
"Mr. Bennett" said she, sis opposing
the Borough bill. knowing we shall be
| npInnpC if hn lnf0nt re, ~ IIo also co1I
Borough stock short before he an
nounced his veto. What can one think
Of a man who enriches himself at the
expense of his friends%
Gee" cried Perry, chats a terrible
thing! BENEFITS the original man
higher up, I'm afraid. 1 wonder he
isn't afraid to wear the clothes of such
a wicked geezer as himself!"
ooh, Perry! Don't joke about it,"
begged Dallas. Cant you see the seri-
u side of anything? We shall be
penniless and dependent on
Fear thou not, sister miner de-
clared Perry in his best melodramatic
manner. "Paupers. sayes- thou? Far
be it so! Little Brother Perry will
guard thee from the cold, shivery
swats of a wintry wind. Maybe we
can sell violets or start a fight club
orr
DON'T" she urged. Jared by his flip
pancy. You don't understand. p
las for that story of his honor's sell
in stock short and maxim a pile of
cash on hic own x-nto ,, r,,t IN Dhalor
genuinely worried. "Horrigan's looked
it up an got enough facts to make him
think he can prove it. He's goin' to
make Williams tell the whole story to
the aldermen tonight. It's a lie. of
course. but it'll hurt his honor a lot
an the worst of it is Bennett refuses
to deny it,"
"He does, eh?" remarked Perry
"Then III do some talking about it
I'll have to fracture a promise l made
AlWyn, but | guess it's worth while"
What do you mean|' queried Dallas
in wonder.
II mean Bennett lent me the il1ofley
to sell enough stock short to make uI
for what you and | would lose if the
bill was quashed, and he gave me q
letter to his own broker. We carried il
through, and now you and l stand pat
to win whichever way the cat jumps
We're on velvet. thanks to Alwyn.
HE did this for us?' gasped Dallas
in amaze. But why didn't you tel
me? Why did you let me misjudge
him?'
He made me pf6mise not to let you
know a thing about it, and"-
Say. youngster," broke IN Phelan,
tlngling with excitement, you come
chasin' along with me into the alder
mems meetin'. I'll have you get up
there II tell what you know. It'll
knock that lie of Williams and Horri-
CAMS so high it'll forget to hit groun'
again. Come on. son! There's sure
liable to be hot doin's in the meetin' in
about eleven seconds. Come along!"
CHAPTER XVI.
IN ALIAS, left alone in Horri-