Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-06-25

SUul-DulllS lONc. 1Allu uOW IlluI lOSe
was snatched from his grasp, through
no fault of his own, and bestowed on a
man unworthy to kiss the hem of her
garment.
At each step in the long climb Alwyn
had asked himself, "Would she APP
prove" And now through trying to
be worthy that approval he had for
ever lost it, for Dallas, he knew, had
not only rejected him and engaged her.
self to Gibbs, but had lone so with the
belief that Bennett was Il heartless, I'M
scrupulous i%ntriguer, undeserving of Il
good woman's regard.
A rap at the door aroused Bennett
from his bitter thoughts. He lifted his
head YEARLY and gave word to enter.
A drowsy servant came in with Il card.
"He says it's important business, sir"
said the footman. ".And he wishes to
see you at once if possible"
"Show him up" answered Bennett,
dropping his voice so as not to disturb
his mother, who slept on the same
floor. 81 will see him here"
A minute later Horrigan's bulky form
blocked the threshold.
'Queer time of night for u CALL" he
observed casually, as he entered unin-
vited, closed the door behind him and
took a chair. but my business
wouldn't wait"
"Then state it as briefly as you cam"
directed Bennett, making no move to
rise or welcome his unbidden guest.
cit Is very late, and l am tired"
1--WE come to see You about our Bor-
ough bill"
S 1 supposed"
"You won't call Off your fight against
us?"
''That question is hardly worth an
swering. No"
Il thought not. Well, Mr.. Alwyn
Bennett, I've got you. I've got YOU!
Do you understand me?"
Perfectly. Is that ALP
mo, it amt ALL" mimicked the boss.
"And Pm in earnest. I've got you
where 1 want YOU"
THAT doesn't interest me. If you've
nothing else to say
But l have" cluckled Horrigan.
"When it came to a showdown be
tween us two ] put a staff of men to
looking up your record"
you found nothing you could use
Is that
"No; it isn't even the beginning.
Then 1 remembered about your ia
Their"
"About my father?"
1t grated on Bennett that his dead
fathers honored name should be spo-
ken by this low politician, but before
he could protest more forcibly Uorri-
gan went on:
"What d'you think if l said your ia
ther WAS Il grafter-one of the worst
of his time?'
I'D say YOU lied" answered Bennett
calmly, land I'd drive the foul lie
down your throat with my fist. You'll
have to think of some better scheme
than that"
"Do you think I'd be idiot enough to
have full proof of it?" asked Horrigan
in contempt.
And, despite himself, Alwyn saw the
man was speaking what he believed to
be the truth. He paused in his impul-
sive forward move. reseated himself
and asked coldly:
What so called proofs have you
been fooled by your heelers into think
ing
Don't believe me, hey? Well. you
will fast enough before I'm done. Tn
less you're afraid of what I've got to
say"
"I'm not afraid of anything you can
say. The highest tribute to my ia
theirs memory is the fact that a cur
like you cannot detile 1t. Go on. III
listen to you"
Every good" said Horrigan, quite
unmoved. IN make it as short as l
cam. | remembered your father got
rich pretty quick. He was a member
Of the organization, and his firm got
the jobs of building the aqueduct and
the new library. That gave me my
clew. l looked up the specifications for
JUL JoDo, du0 L IuIucu lueu over 10
the old engineering firm of Morris &
Cherrington. You know the firm, per-
haps. If you don't, you can look them
up. They don't belong to the organiza-
ton; they're the best experts in their
line, and they can't be juggled with"
II know them. Go on"
II paid them a fancy sum to go over
those specifications and then examine
the library and the aqueduct and see
If they were up to the mark or if the
city d been cheated by the Bennett
Contracting company. I had a strong
idea 1 vas right, but I wouldn't speak
till 1 had the proof. When 1 got home
after the ball tonight I found the Nor
ris & Cherrington report waiting for
me-. I brought a copy of it along with
me-"
"Well," asked Bennett indifferently,
what then?"
"Here's the copy of the report. Look
it v e for yourself. The crookedest
job ever pulled off in this city! Third
rate material. when the material called
for in the specifications was used at
all. Granite shell filled with mortar