The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1908-12-10

Knew, too, that the firm or engineers
who had drawn up the report were
the foremost Of their sort and above all
shadow of suspicion.
Little by little the numbness lifted
from his brain, and in its place crept
horrible conviction of the truth. his
father-the gallant young soldier VINO
had won q nations applause IN the
civil war-the man who. poor and I'M
aided. had built up a fortune against
keenest competition and had earned
repute for sterling probity when nau
ever been the delight and model OF MS
son-this was the man whom low
blackboard like Horrigan now had the
right to revile-a man apparently 10
better than the boss himself-than any
dishonest heller in the organization!
And, as IL 1t were not enough tnat
the idol of a lifetime were hurled,
crushed and defiled, from Its bright
pedestal, the family name must next
be dragged through the mire OF poiit.
zeal filth and Ill repute and the dead
mans memory forever blasted. Either
that or his son must withdraw from
the gallant fight he was waging against
civic corruption, for that Horrigan
would carry out his threat and blazoh
forth to the world the story ana proofs
OF the elder Benefits shame Alwyn
had no doubt. With all his faults the
boss was a man of his word.
"Stop your fight against u.s." Horri-
gan had said, land the report Is
burned"
Yes, the boss was a man of his word.
Even Bennett admitted that. He would
fulfill his promise In either event.
Listlessly Alwyn began to review
the case. On the one side perhaps
Quixotic fight for an abstract principle
"a fight whose reward was political
death, loss Of the woman he adored.
shame that might crush his
fragile old mother to the very grave.
On the other wealth, honor, love, the
governorship, a future happy and glori-
GUS.
. Was he not a fool to hesitate? Had
he not salved his conscience sufficient
ly by vetoing the Borough franchise
bill? Had he the right to bring this
new shame upon his mothers gray
head? Where lay his highest duty?
The soft rustling Of silk and a hand
laid In light caress upon his head
aroused the miserable man from his
Bennett. looked up to see his mother
beside him. She had thrown
On a wrapper and in slippered feet had
stolen nOiselessly into the study.
II was awakened by voices" she ex-
planned. II thought heard some one
talking exqtedly in here. Is anything
he matter!"
"Nothing. nothing DEAR" he answer
ID gently, drawing the little old lady
down to a seat on his
knee and smiling manfully into her
sleep flushed face; nothing Is the mat
ter. Only a business call"
"A business call at o'clock in the
she exclaimed. Dear boy.
you are working too hard. Your father
never brought his business worries and
work home. He always left them at
the office. Cant you do the same?
You'll wear yourself out"
"My father began Bennett. but
the name choked him.
you are growing to be SO much like
him." went on Mrs. Bennett fondly.
'And 1t makes. me so happy that you
are. Your splendid fight against that
Infamous Borough bill. for instance.
How proud he would have been Of
that! 1t Ii just the sort of thing he
would have done In your place.
He was surrounded with wicked and
dishonest men just as you are. But
through 1t all he remained true. hon
orable. incorruptible. What a grand
heritage for my son! He Alwyn"
she broke of. alarmed. "why do you
look ut me that way? 1 never saw
such look in your eyes before. Are
you Ill? Has something happened that
you are keeping from meY"
mo, no." evaded Bennett. II only
"Y0u had a caller here before I
came in." pursued the mother. refusing
to abandon the clew to which her wO-
manly intuition had led her. HE
brought you bad news? Tell me, dear!
I'm your mother. and I love you"
"YOu are making my course more
difficult for me by asking such ques-
lions. mother" he answered wretched-
". land r.