West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-06-11
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
ct 7 ES In therer' observed Phe-
n Ian In high excitement, Jerk.
Ing his thumb toward n door
- leading Off the committee
room, "an' I've sent for Wainwright
an Horrlgan TO meet your honor here.
An I've fixed II so the Borough bill
won't come up for ten minutes. Now.
all that's left is to touch the punk TO
the fuse an set of the whole glddy
bunch OF fireworks under 'em. Gee.
but It's good to "a stuck TO this old
world just for the sake OF bein' here
today an seein' what I'm due to see"
The alderman chuckled, but his 10y.
Gus anticipation found no reflection in
Benefits white set face. The two were
In the committee room, whittier Phe-
Ian had repaired after depositing Dal.
las In chair beside her brother at the
meeting and attending 10 one or two
details OF greater import.
Yes" went on Phelan, again nod.
ding mysteriously toward the farther
door, "he's In there, trained TO the
minute for the blowout There's some
one else wants TO see you, too-some
one who'll make more OF hit with
you II I'm not overplayin' my hand
But good news can wait There's 80
little of IL I'm this measly life that II
centrally has To. ~
From the corridor HorrIgan stamped
Into the committee room. Wainwright
at his heels
'Wellw cried the boss defiantly, glar.
Ing ut Bennett and ignoring Phelan.
You sent for us. What do you want?'
"One momentw lntervened Vain
wright. I'VE are beaten. We admit
that without argument. so we need
waste no time going over details"
Have you sent for us TO say what
you'll sell out for?" quericd HorrIgan
coarsely. because II you have you've
only TO name your price. You've got
us where you want us. We've got TO
pay"
II should have thought" replied Ben
nett, with no shade of offense. "yOu
would know by this time that | have
no price,"
Then what do you wantf'
"Nothlng-from you"
why did you send word you wanted
to see usT" growled Horrigan impa-
tiently as he and Wainwright, unln-
vited, seated themselves at the table.
'To tell YOU" answered Alwyn.
glancing from one TO the other, that
every step you two have taken in this
whole Infamous transaction from the
very first has been carefully followed
and, TO use your own phrase, we've got
you with the goods"
Same old bluffr commented Horri.
gan contemptuously, with reassurlng
wink at the somewhat less confident
wainwright.
by tomorrow noon" resumed Ben.
nett, you Will both be indicted on a
charge OF bribery. Even now there are
detectives on the watch for you. Es.
cape II impossible"
"Rotw sneered Horrigan. you've
no evidence that VIII indict, and you
know It, Even II you had, don't con.
troll most OF the judges and the district
attorneys office besides? Swell chance
you'll have OF getting n conviction past
that bunch! BAH You talk like man
made OF mud. I s'pose it's the hffslr
OF those Roberts notes you're counting
on. That don't feaze me any. My
lawyer can twist that around 80 Itll
look like charity gift. No, no,
yOungster. You'll have TO think OF
something better IT.
And, anyhow" put I'm Wainwright
neryOusly, you can't prove any con.
nectlon on my part There's nothing
against me or
II think there is," retorted Bennett,
wheeling about on the financler And
even II can't nail the Roberts brib.
cry TO you I've plenty more counts to
hold you on"
"All these generalitles aud vague ac-
cusations prove nothing. Bennett" an
swered Wainwright, drawing courage
from Horrlgan's colossal calm aud
speaking with more assurance. mfr.
HOrrigan and I are not schooboys to
/ be scared by baseless threats. This Is
/ oil guesswork on your part Come,
now, name one specific charge you can
I prove"
zone Will be enough 10 convince
/ your asked Alwyn. "Well, then, how
/ about this as first guess2 Mr. Hor-
rlgan's bTibe OF 100000 I'm money
and 2J.OOO shares Of Borough stock for
agreeing TO put through the Borough
franchlse7 For 'guessworE that doesn't
seem 90 me very bad"
Wainwrights hard mask OF n face
twltched convulslvely. but the steady
brain that had carried him mistaken
through n thousand RISKY financial
deals came at once TO bis rescue.
"An excellent guess he agreed Ia
splcndidly feigucd amusement, but
unfortunately the courts demand proof
before cOnyictlnR q man. aud there Is
no proof whatever off,
"Are sou surcT" quericd Bennett
Turning 10 Phelan, he added:
please ask Mr.. Thompson 20 come
in"
The alderman, with an expansive
grin. flung open the door Of the farther
room.
At sound OF his secretary's name
Wainwright had sprung TO his feet and