The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1908-09-03
CHAPTER XIV.

~ 4 Clto III tOM. Luz lhtttl WOiO
WV haggard, troubled look, and
Wv his natural nervousness had
vlsibly deepened so much SO that he
had not even noted Phelan's appear
ance in the corridor as he passed into
Horrlgan's private room.
Good evening, alderman" said Hor-
rigan ciyilly.
"Good evening, SIR" answered Rob
erts palpably III at ease.
81 understand there's full meeting
today. Even Ellis came back from
the south to be here. You're the only
man missing"
al couldn't. get here sooner. r.
~ see. That's all, Williams. You
needn't wait. Roberts and want
little talk before he goes In, Now,
then" went on the boss, with com
plete change of manner as Williams
left the room. whats the matter with
| your"
I'll can't''-
cant what2 Speak out, mani
Don't stand there and humble at mep
II can't vote for the Borough fran
chise bill"
Cant heyT roared Horrlgan.
"Why notT'
Because-because" faltered Rob
erts; then, with rush of hysterical
emotion that blotted out his fear, he
criedW
Have you heard what that man Ben
nett has donei He organized voters
committee In my ward and sent them
to ask me at my own house what was
going to do abSdt that bill. They had
been stirred up by Bennett till they
looked on me as crook and on the bill
as a personal robbery. They told me
II voted for 1t they'd know was
dirty thief and CRATER and that they'd
kick me out Of the ward"
"Well. wellw rumbled Horrigan
soothingly, as though trying to calm a
| fractions drunkard What do you
carer When they've forgotten all
about the bill you'll still have the
dough, won't your Folks won't ask
How'd he get itT All they'll care to
know is Has he got itT"
"That isn't allp' Roberts Numbered
on, scarcely needing the interruption.
"Bennett's next step was to organize
a committee Of voters wives. and they
came to see my wife this morning
when I was out and told her they'd
heard was going to sell myself and
vote for a dishonest bill. My wife
i-my wife thinks I'm the squarest,
mobiles, S,ssaGSvaarth. oh, you needn't
sneerl uer trust The rt,;sstliis -: >
| me. She fold the women ! woufun !
stoop to any deed that wasn't honest,
and they answered; Our husbands be-
lieve Mr.. Roberts is a crook. If he ID
really honest he'll vote against that
bill, as he did before Then on my
| way home this noon met my little
boy. He was crying asked him
what the matter was. He said that
some boys had told him I was graft
er. 1 tell you" bis voice rising almost
to scream, Benefits made my life
hell. I'm no crook. I'm honest
and
"Sure you're honest" Horrigan ex-
claimed. as though to cross child.
Honest as the day That's why
you're voting for our bill. Because the
crooked clauses have been cut ont Of
It, and in its present form it's benefit
to the city"
THAT isn't why promised to vote
for It," contradicted Roberts, with
'despairing dash Of courage, 'Tt was
because I-because'--
"Never mind why, then. but just 60
ahead and do IT,"
81 won't! dare not
'You'll do II, sayr' stormed Horri-
gan. "You can't WEIGH on me at this
stage of the game. Those Sturtevant
Trust company notes Of yours were
sent to you and''-
"And won't take themp declared
Roberts, slamming two slips Of paper
down upon the table There! Take
them backr'
'What do want Of themY' argued
Horrigan craftily. 'sThey belong to
you"
sThey don't. l won't keep them"
"You'll have to. keep you to your
promise"
'what promiseY asked voice be-
hind them.
Bennett, hastily summoned BY Phe-
Ian, had entered the room unobserved
by either OF the excited men.
''what promise7' he asked again "A
promise to-
,"what are you doing hereT below
ed Horrigan In fury. you called me
down once for coming into your pri.
vate Office without knocking What
d'you mean by coming Into miner
uxy 49, ~ ...oryad klxvvn "I had an