Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-23
BY
MLBERT
@aI,AYSON
PERFUME
-.
CHAPTER MI.
EsQpKRkGf7: 1907 BY
GE0E6E K9RQA 1HZRH

Il LWYN BENNETT sat in his own
IN study at home in the big Ben
nett house that remained as
4 y almost the last landmark OF
that solid middle nineteenth century
wealth and fashion which had once
dominated .neighborhood now given
over to Office buildings and apartment
houses.
The hour was late An hour and
more had passed since the young may
or and his mother had returned from
was silent. and even the usually busy
streets outside were wrapped in the
hush that never falls until after mid
night and is dispersed by the gray Of
dawn. Late as 1t was Alwyn had made
no move to discard his evening clothes.
Alone he sat, his head resting between
his crossed arms on the desk before
him.
Motionless, inert, hopeless, he had re.
mained there ever since his arrival
from the ball But if his body was
moveless. his brain was awhirl. Try
as he would he could see no light in
the tangle of events into which his
own sense Of right had plunged him.
He saw the future stretching out be-
fore him dreary and barren as q rainy
sea.
Through all of his months Of battling
he had ever struggled forward through
Increasing difficulties toward one bright
goal Dallas love. And now that love
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 ap-
prove?" And now through trying to
be worth, 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 done so with the
belief that Bennett was heartless, I'M
scrupulous intriguer. undeserving of a
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 a card.
HE says it's Important business. sir. J"
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. II will see him here"
A minute later Horrigan's bulky form
blocked the threshold.
"Queer time of night for call" he
observed casually. as he entered ,unin-
vited, closed the door behind him and
took Chair. but my business
wouldn't wait"
"Then sta it as briefly as you can.
directed Bennett. making no move to
rise or welcome his unbidden guest.
"It is very late. and am tired"
eve come to see you about our Bor
ough bill"
$50 l supposed
"You won't cali off your fight against
us?''
'.That question is hardly worth an
swering. No."
81 thought not Well. Mr.. Alwyn
Bennett. I've got you! I've got you!
Do yon understand meY'
Perfectly Is that ALP q
mo, it amt ALL" mimicked the boss.
"And I'm In earnest. I've got you
where want YOU
"That doesn't interest me. Ifsyou've
nothing else to say
But 1 have.' chuckled Horrigan.
"When it came to showdown be-
tween us two put staff Of men to
looking up your record"
ssYou found nothing you could use.
Is that
NO: it isn't even the beginning.
Then l 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 Horri-
gan went on:
What d'you think if said your IA
ther was grafter-one of the worst
of his timer
''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
come here with the story if I didn't
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-
siye 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"