The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1908-06-12

uO LdulL Vi Ills OW1 anu DtSlOWtu Ou
man unworthy to kiss the hem of he
garment.
At each step in the long climb AlwyI
had asked himself, would she ap
proven And now through trying t
be worthy that approval he had for
ever lost it. for Dallas, he knew, haC
not only rejected him and engaged her
self to Gibbs, but had done so with tn,
belief that Bennett was heartless, un
scrupulous intriguer, undeserving of /;
good woman's regard.
A rap at the door aroused Bennett
from his bitter thoughts. He lifted hi
head YEARLY and gave word to enter
A drowsy servant came in with card
He says it's important business, sir,
said the footman. And he wishes t
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 ant
took chair, "but my business
wouldn't wait"
Then state it as briefly as you can,
directed Bennett, making no move tC
rise or welcome his unbidden guest
at is very late, and am tired"
o. hnt ar
ough bill"
$50 l supposed"
you won't call 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 you understand me?"
Perfectly. Is that all?"
mo, it amt ALL" mimicked the boss
"And I'm in earnest. I've got you
where ! want you"
THAT doesn't interest me. If you've
nothing else to say
But l have" chuckled Horrigan.
when 1t came to a showdown be-
tween us two | put staff of men to
looking up your record"
"You found nothing you could use.
Is that
mo; 1t isn't even the beginning.
Then | 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 II l said your IA
Their was a 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 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. I'm
less you're afraid of what I've got to
say"
Pm not afraid OF anything you can
say. The highest tribute to my IA
theirs memory is the fact that a cur
like you cannot defile 1t. Go on. I'll
listen to you"
very good" said Horrigan, quite
unmoved. I'm make it as short as |
can. / 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. | looked up the specifications for
both jobs. and | turned them over to
the old engineering firm OF Morris &
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"
Il know them. Go on"
II paid them a fancy sum to go over 4
those specifications and then examine
the library and the aqueduct and see
II they were up to the mark or If the
city d been cheated by the Bennett /
Contracting company. | had a strong
dea ! was right. but I wouldn't speak
Ill ] had the proof When I got home
lfter the ball tonight / found the Nor
is q Cherrington report waiting for
ne. | brought a copy of IL along with
ne"
We'll" asked Bennett indlfferently.
what thenT-
Here's the copy OF the report. Look
{ over for yourself. The crookedest
oh ever pulled OF in this city, Third
ate material. when the material called
or In the specifications was used at
H. Granite shell filed with mortar
instead OF solid granite; foundations
larely half the depth called for: in
erior tiles in place Of fireproof ones:
heap. crumbly iron and steel instead
{ first quality-oh. there's City such
institutions and frauds. It's the raw
St bummest Job I ever heard OF. II
ny OF the organization tried Il now
days the men who did Il would be
-earing stripes In a week Graft. heyl
Thy. your father was the boss CRATER
the century. the star graft getter Of
le bunehl He
Hush For Gods sake, hushF' pout-
! Awyn- MY mother sleeps only a
w rooms beyond r.
what do I carer rosred Horrigan /.
triumph. Let everybody hear :