Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-09
Sbc Metz Mayor
Based on @. II. Brosahvrsts Successful
The Man
TheHour
(Chaptcr Ill Continucd.)
By ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE.


(Chaptcr Ill Continucd.)
"That cliciingf' asked wainwright
ooh. that's only the private wire in my
office"
private wire? Any OPERATOR"
'-Of course. Why"
Suppose he should happen TO be
listening to us?'
"Who? Thompson? Absurd!"
II don't know. I'd rather
"Nonsense. It's Thompson, my pr!.
vate secretary. n man who's been with
we nine years. trust him as
But don't. don't trust anybody.
Send him into some other room"
II can't. In his absence some i'm.
portant message might come, and II he
wasn't there on the very moment TO
transmit It to me might lose thou
sands. He's all right II ever q man
was. trust him implicitly"
ooh, all right. then. Go on with what
you were saying"
81 want the Borough Street railway
franchise made perpetual. Catch my
drift"
"Sure But the papers and the prop
erty holders will make big kick"
LET them. They'll soon get hoarse
and have to rest their throats. AS long
as we get the votes what do we care
if"-
YES, yes.' agreed the boss impa-
tiently. That's all right, bu: what
want to know is, How does all this
concern me?"
Horrigan threw himself back in his
chair, uptilted cigar in one corner OF
his mouth. thumbs in waistcoat arm
holes and eyed his host Quizzlcally.
Wainwright did not even pretend not
to understand. Still, instead Of giving
q direct answer he went on with seem
ing irrelevence
II am a public spirited citizen. / be-
lieve civic welfare would suffer by any
change In municipal administration. so
TO keep the present party in power 1
am willing TO donate to 1t 100000 to-
ward election expenses"
THAT sounds pretty good as far as IT
goes, but maybe you didn't hear some
thing asked you a minute ago. What
i
concern me?"
"I'm coming to that. AS I said, l
am a public spirited citizen. I'm also
a good friend-such a good friend that
I'm always glad to put my friends on
to anything in the market that looks
particularly promising Suppose I car
ry for your account at the market
price chats CO Just now $1,000 shares
Of Borough Street railway stock?"
''WellT"
"If that franchise Is granted. Bor-
pugh stock will 60 UP at least rs points
within two days. That would clear up
for you a profit of-lets see-about
$3750OO."
Horrigan had pulled a pencil from
his pocket and was figuring on the
back OF an envelope.
YES" he said at last; that's right,
$4,000. That would be my profit,
while yours would run into the mil
lions. That's not warm enough friend
ship for me-"
Surely, that Is q generous
Generous, maybe but I'd like some
thing munif1cent-say $4,000 shares at
60. Then at the 25 point jump I'd
nake-Td understanding his fg-
nres On the Notwithstanding over
100000. That sounds better to me.
Hey"
"But Mr.. Horrigan"-
you've got my terms Take 'em or
leave EN-"
ooh, very WELL" conceded Vain
wright, with lame graciousness. ANY
thing to oblge an old friend"
Good, So we get 100000 for cleo
ton expenses. and my personal ac-
count receives $4,000 shares at g."
"Quite so, And now
"And now comes the question OF the
right man for mayor. We
Again Horrigan paused, rising to his
feet steslthily, like some ponderous
cat, his head bent slightly, as though
catching a faint OF distant sound.
whats the matter?' asked VAIN
wright. looking up.
"Nothing" returned Horrigan. But
he did not resume his seat. Instead as
he talked he began to pace the room in
apparent aimlessness, yet every turn
financed to bring him nearer and near
fr to the door of the adjoining office.
"You see" he said, eve must have
the right man.