Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-13

Inn. A messenger, searching for Hor.
rigan, hustled In. looked inqulrlngiy at
tho motionless. white faced girl, then
passed on to the committee room be-
yOnd and OH again In his search until
the sound Of his footsteps died. And
still Dallas sat, inert. dumb.
Little by little she wns piecIng TO-
gether the facts Of the long. miserable
c0mpliontio iii the light Of what Per
~ had Just told her. IT was absurdly
easy now that she held the key Of the
situation. She could understand every.
thins-how Wainwright had put her
fortune into Borough stock to influ.
ence Bennett; how. failing to move the
latter. he had used Alwyn's knowledge
of the fnct as weapon against the
young man; how Bennett had sought
to save her fortune and why he had
forbidden Perry to bias her feelings
y telling Of the generous act
"Irom first to last" she murmured
In unhappy contrition. "he has acted
honorably and as he thought would
have wanted him to and for my happi-
mess. And I, like the wrctched little
fool was. couldn't understand and
publicly humilinted him. Oh, II only
It weren't too late to-
4 vision OF Gibbs flashed before her
mind. and she shuddered, realizing all
that her rash steps had entailed.
ut ~ too late" she confessed to her
self. fighting back the hot tears TINT
scared her eyes. But at least can
tell him I know and beg his forgive
ness AND thank him"
The sound Of voices in the corridor
reused her from her bitter reverie.
She sprang up hastily. unwilling that
any should see her tear stained face.
but the speakers. though they drew
near. did not enter Horrigan's office.
Instead, they stepped into the adjoin-
ing committee room. The messenger
had left aJar the door between the two
rooms. Realizing this and not Wishing
to be SEEN Dallas shrark back toward
the wall, fearful! OF detection. Then
the voice Of one OF the speakers sud
denly arrested her notice.
well" Bennett was saying In no e.
pccisliy civil tones. you sn;G you wish
ed to speak to me In private. What
have you to say? BE brief. for l am
busy"
Finding herself the unwilling witness
to what prcI-i sed to be confidential
talk. Dallas stole toward the door lead
ing to the corridor. but Horrigan, MS
was his custom, had locked 1t on going
out. She dared not enter alone the
crow ded anteroon in he" present state.
SO hesitatlngly she paused. forced to
remain whTe she was. The sound OF
another v6cc chained her to the spot,
and, unconscious OF eavesdroppng, she
stood spelbound. hearing every word
distinctly through the half open door.
way.
~ hardly know how 10 begin
Gibbs was replying to BENEFITS curt
demand ut is a delicate subject
and
"Then the sooner IT Is treated to open
air the better Is
you've won the Borough bill fight"
began Gibbs.
ais that oil you have to say to me"
"No. You've won. but you've lost far
more. You've lost x las Wainwright"
81 hardly need ~ he reminded Of
that" retorted Bennett. "and II is a
subject l don't care TO discuss"
But listen" pleaded Gibbs as the
mayor made n move as though TO l.avc
the room. zone minute! say you've
won the Borough hght. I've won DIAL
las. Can't we'-
"well. whatT" asked Bennett. with
ominous quiet as be paused in his de-
parture.
Cant we-strke some sort Of bar.
gain?" said Gibbs tentatively.
explain, please" ordered Bennett.
with that same deceptive calm.
"why." went on Gibbs, emboldened
At the others seeming complacence,
suppose you give up this Borough
BY trick She doesn't really love me.
It Is her pride, not her heart, that made
her throw yon over and accept me. 1t
Is you she loves, and I've known 1t all
along and you are IN love with her"
what then?"
"Iust this" returned Gibbs, wonder.
ing Mt Bennctt's quiet reception of the
strange offer. She will marry me be
cause she isn't the sort OF girl to 81
back on her promise. especially since
she looks on me IA u sort Of high mind
ed martyr to your oppression, 30 II
hold her to her word she will not bach
down. Now. IL you. even now. with
draw your opposition the Borough bill
will 60 through
~ k9 Let tt &,
NJ w through and
Will break my