Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-05-21
Copyright 1907. BY George h. Broad
CHAPTER XVII,


Ian in high excitement, jerk
ing his thumb toward dool
= u leading off the committee
room, IAN I've sent for Wainwright
an Horrigan to meet your honor here
An I've fixed 1t so the Borough bill
won't come up for ten minutes. Now
AL that's left is to touch the punk tc
1.-THE fuse an set OF the whole giddy
bunch Of fireworks under 'em. Gee
but itS good to "a stuck to this old
world Just for the sake Of bein' here
today an SEEM what I'm due to see!
The alderman chuckled, but his joy.
Ous anticipation found no reflection In
BENEFITS white set face. The two were
An the committee room, whittier Phe-
Ian had repaired after depositing Dal-
las in chair beside her brother at the
meeting and attending to 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 If I'm not overplayin' my hand.
But good news can wait. There's SO
little of it in this measly life that ii
centrally has to. r.
From the corridor Horrigan stamped
into the committee room, Wainwright
At his heels.
"Well!' cried the boss defiantly, glar-
ing at Bennett and ignoring Phelan.
"You sent for us. What do you want?
Zone moment" interviewed Vain
wright. 1--WE 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?" queried 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"
{ u 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 wantT'
"Notbing-from you"
"Why did you send word you wanted
to see us?" growled Horrigan impa-
tiently as he and Wainwright, unin-
vited. seated themselves at the table.
ITO 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 goodsv'
"Same old bluff" commented Horri-
gan contemptuously, with reassuring
wink ut 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. Els.
cape Is impossible"
"Rot" sneered Horrigan. you've
no evidence that will 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 a conviction past
that bunch! Bah! You talk like man
made OF mud. s'pose it's the AFFAIR
~ those Roberts notes you're counting
on. That don't feaze me any. MY
lawyer can twist that around so it'll
look like charity gift. No, no,
Toungster. You'll have to think Of
something better IT,
"And. anyhow" put in Wainwright
nsrvously. you can't prove any con-
nection on my part There's nothing
against me orr
II think there is," retorted Bennett,
wheeling about on the financier. "And
even II can't nail the Roberts brib-
! cry to you I've plenty more counts to
hold you on"
"An these generalities and vague ac-
cusations prove nothing, Bennett" an
Dwered Wainwright, drawing courage
from Horrigan's colossal calm and
speaking with more assurance. "Mr
Horrigan and l are not schoolboys to
be scared by baseless threats. This il
Ill guesswork on your part Come.
now, name one specific charge you can
prove"
zone will be enough to convince
your asked Alwyn. "Well, then, how
shout this as first guess? Mr.. Hor-
3igan's bride of 100000 in money
ond.25 600 shares Of Borough stock for
agreeing to put through the Borough
h9uchise? For 'guesswork' that doesn't
seem to me very bad"
Wainwright's hard mask of a face
twttched convulsively, but the steady
brain that had carried him mistaken
through Thousand risky financial
Aoals came at once to his rescue.
IAN excellent guess" he agreed in
nplendidly feigned amusement, but
unfortunately the courts demand proof
before cOnvicting man, and there Is
10 proof whatever off,
"Are you sure?" queried Bennett.
Turning to Phelan, he added:
"Please ask Mr.. Thompson to come
m"
The alderman, with an expansive
min. hung open the door Of the farther