Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-10-09

II 'fFOm WHOM r.. rf.F
;. "From-from- Dallas is home; land
ed this morning."
A light came into the mayors tiret
eyes at the news.
"And the messageY he asked ca
gerly.
: That's the message She's home"
"She sent you to tell me that"
"No; not exactly that" eyaded Per
ry, wriggling uncomfortably.
"Well. what was her message then 2
"She-she didn't send any"
"Then who sent the message thai
she has come homer
"Well, the fact Is I sent it myself
That's why | brought it,"
"Oh. you poor idiot" laughed Ben
nett. ''The same old excuse in q new
shape! Well, now you're here, you can
stay just five minutes. I'm too busy
to play with little boys today"
Little boys! I'll be twenty-five next
spring. ~
"Any messages while was out, Miss
Carlson
"Yes, one," answered Cynthia. "Your
mother telephoned that she would be
here at half past 2. She said she had
surprise for YOU"
"Say," remarked Perry, feeling he was
being excluded from the talk. "Id go
easy on that surprise II were you.
Alwyn. I've had surprises over the
telephone myself, and they're punk.
Once girl
alderman Phelan would like to
speak to your honor" said Ingram, the
old doorkeeper. popping out of the
| anteroom.
"Show him in," answered Bennett.
"Now, then. Perry
"Were you about to ask me to stay
awhile longer?" asked the boy. BE
cause Pm sorry. but l can't Goodby.
Good afternoon, Miss Garrison. Glad
you liked the photo. So long. Maybe
I'll bring another message from Dallas
tomorrow"
what can Phelan want of me,
wonder" unused Bennett. half aloud
"He and | scarcely Coed afternoon,
alderman think this is the first time
you've honored me with visit"
'Then be lenient with first offense.
your honor" suggested Phelan. shak
ing hands with the mayor and nodding
pleasantly to Cynthia as she passed
out to her own Office.
Something important. suppose"
hazarded Bennett.
,.Maybe it is important, and maybe it
isn't" returned Phelan. at all de-
ponds on whether that was true story
in the Chronicle today about your veto
ing the Borough Street railway bill. If
you've really vetoed that bill all III
have to do is to say, Sorry can't stay
longer and get out"
mo" said Bennett, "that announce
ment wasn't authorized. | haven't We
toed the Borough Street railway bill
In fact haven't made public any de
cision on 1t. Why?"
'I'm glad to hear it, and, that being
the case, I'll invite myself to seat and
stay awhile Say, your honor, on the
level, that Borough bill was the rawest
thing that ever came across. Gee, but
they did their work with a-meat axw
"Then you weren't one Of the alder
men who voted for itf
"Me? Nothin' doing. don't belong
to Dick Horrigan's solid thirteen lie
can't buy and sell me at his own |
terms like he does them thirteen gcez-
ers."
"And yet, alderman, from your rep |
utatlon"-
"From my reputation I'm a crook.
hey? Well, there's crooks and crooks.
And I'm one of the other kind. X I'm |
crooked at all, which deny most en-
Enthusiastically. At least follow no
Horrigan whistle"
'"Then why are you here In regard
to the Borough bIll?"
perhaps it's on the theory Of set
thief to catch "A thief !"
WELL" laughed Bennett, amused in
spite of hiuself by the alderman's
frankness, lat least you call spade
spade"
II sure don't refer to it vague, but as
a 'utensil' You don't need any foot
note explanations in one syllable when
Jimmy Phelan's talking. Every move
d picture. Ii I hadn't been through
the game from shuttle to cash in.
would | be wise to what the Horrlgan
crowd Is framing up on you now?
Say, I've done some raw work in my
time. but this Borough business is the
coarsest yet. They must think you're
the original Mr. Good Thing"
You speak as il | were to be made
for
"And amt you?" cried Phelan Sure
you are. When the people get wise to
what they're up against and COM
inence to do their scream VIII they re-
member that So-and-so framed the bill
and that such and such aldermen yot-
ed for 1t? Not them. What the public
will remember is that you signed 1t.
It'll go screechin' down the corridors
Of time as the ubiquitous Borough
franchise bill that Bennett signed.
Catch the idca?'
Eyes" said Bennett grimly; II I'M
defstand. But what don't see is why
you should have taken the trouble to
come here and warn me Of this.
4. |
You've never shown any special fond
ness for me hitherto