Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-30

hack wc1'c bouGh: c,nun ~ b,s do.
' ~ parting feet on
the stairs. The young man sat, lost.
hopeless. horror gripped, his eyes run
ming mechanically over the closely
typewriter pages OF the engineers re-
port Outsider as he was In matters Of
practical business, Alwyn could see
that Iorrignn had In no way eSng-
gerated the documents contents. He
who had drawn up the report were
tho foremost Of their sort and above all
shadow OF suspicion
Little by little the numbneSs lifted
from his brain. and in It's place crept a
horrible conviction Of the truth His
fnthor-the gallant young soldier who
had won nations applause In the
civil war-thc man who. poor and I'm.
aided had built up fortune against
kcrncst competition and had earned n
/ reputc for sterling probity which had
ever been the delight and model OF hi,
SON this WINS the nnn whom n low
! blackguard like Horrigan now had the
!
better than the boss himsclf-thnN any
dlshones heller In the organization.
And. as II II were not enough thai
the Idol OF lifetime wore hurled
crushed and deGlcd. from IT, bright
pedestal the family name must next
be dragged through the mir, OF poll'
icnl filth and Iii rcputc AMI the Aeni
| a.
that or his son mus withdraw from
the gallant fight he was wagng agains
civic corruption, for TINT IIorrigaT
would carry out his threat and blazor
forth TO the world the story and proof
Of the elder Benefits shame Alwyi
had no doubt With all his faults tn
boss was n man of his word.
stop your fight against u.s." Horri
gnn had said, and the report 4
burned"
Yes. the boss was Mnn Of his word
Even Bennett admitted that. He wou'
funn hs promise in either event.
I.istlcssly Alwyn began to rcviey
the case. On the one side a pcrhap
Quixotic fight for nm abstract principl
II fight whose reward was poltica
death, loss Of the woman nc adorcd
family shame that might crush hi
fragile old mother to the very grave
On the other wealth. honor, love. III
governorship, a future happy and glor
OnS.
, Was he not fool to hesitate: IIn
he not snlved his conscience suiiicieu
ly by vetoing the Borough franchis
bin! Had he the right to bring hi
| new shame upon hts mothers gra
head? Where lay his highest duty?
I The soft rustl!ng OF silk and a han
, mid In light caress upon hts hca
| aroused the miserable man from h
Q rehect ions.
Bennett looked up to see his motht
0 standing beside him. She had throw
( on wrapper and in slippereIi feet ha
A stolen noiselessly into the study.
IL was awakened by voices" she =,
q planned. II thought ! heard some or
o talking cxcitediy in here. Is nnythlu
i the natter"
: Nothing. nothing dear" he answe
ed gently. drawing the little old lad
u afrectionately down TO seat on h
: knee and smiling monfnIly into h.
sleep flushed face: nothing is the mn
u ter. Only business chll."
l. "A business cnll at 2 o'clock IN u
o morning." she exclaimed. Dear DO
You are working too hard. Your faith
n never brought his business worries NJ
l. work home. He always left them
II the Office. Can't You do the snm'
II You'll wear yourself ont"
"My father began Bennett, b
10 the name choked him.
| You nre growing 70 be so much III
1t him." went on Mrs. Bennett fondl
ar And 1t makes me so happy that "
1t are. Your splendid fight against III
ID infamous Borough bill. for instnnC
" How proud he would have been
,r that. 1t is lust the sort Of thing
TO himself would have done In your plaC
x lie was surrounded with wicked al
r dishonest men Just ms yon nrc. q
M through II all he remained true, no
n. orable. incorruptlble. What n graz
ir heritage for my son! lie Alwyn
nhe broke or, alarmed. why do y
look Mt me that way? ! never On
or such n look in your eyes before. A
,e you m? Has something happened m
PC you nre keeping from me:"
10 "No, no." evadcd Bennett. II only
~ "You had caller here before