West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-05-28

tciul graf money" VI "'n ue
parting feet OH
the stairs. The young man sat. lost
hopeless. horror gripped. his eyes run
ming mechanically over the closely
typewriter pages OF the engineers re-
port. Outsider as he was IN matters OF
practical business. Alwyn could see
that Horrignn had in no way exag.
gerated the documents contents. He
knew, too. that the firm OF engineers
who had drawn up the report were
the foremost OF their sort ana above all
shadow OF suspicion.
Little by little the numbness lifted
from his brain. and I'm its place crept n
horrible conviction Of the truth His
father-the gallant young soldier who
had won nations applause I'm the
civil war-the man who. poor and un.
aided. had built up a fortune against
keenest competition and had earned n
repute for sterling probity which had
ever been the delight and model OF his
son-this was the man whom low
blackguard like Horrigan now had the
right to revile-a man apparently no
better than the boss himself-than any
dishonest heeler in the organization!
And. as II 1t were not enough that
the idol Of lifetime were hurled.
crushed and defilcd, from its bright
pedestal. the family name must next
be dragged through the mire OF polt-
ical filth and lll reputc and the dead
mans memory forever blasted Either
that or bis son must withdraw from
the gallant fight he was wugIng against
civic corruption. for that Horrigan
would carry out his threat and blazon
forth to the world the story and proofs
OF the elder Benefits shame Alwyn
had no doubt. With all his faults the
boss was n man OF his word.
stop your fight against US" Horri-
gan had said. aud the report f.
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 cnse. On the one side a perhaps
Quixotic fight FOR an abstract principle
IA fight whose reward was political
death, loss Of the woman he adored.
family shame that might crush his
/ fragile old mother TO the very grave.
On the other wealth. honor, love. the
governorship. future happy and glorl-
ous
Was he not fool TO hesitate? Had
he not salvcd his conscience sufficient
~ 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 q hand
laid I'm light caress upon his head
aroused the miserable man from hl.
reflections.
/ Bennett looked up TO see bis mother
standing beside him. She had thrown
/ on q wrapper and lu slippered feet had
! stolen nOiselessly into the study.
II was awakened by voices" she OK.
/ planned. II thought I heard some one
talking excitedly in here. Is anything
! the mntterT
/ Nothing, nothing dear" ne answer.
cd gently, drawing the little old lady
anectlOnately down 90 q seat on his
! knee and smiling manfully into her
sleep flushed face; nothing is the mat.
ter. Only business call"
| "a business call at o'clock IN the
morning" she exclaimed. Dear boy.
you are working too hard. Your father
never brought his business worries and
work home. lie always left them NJ
the Office. Can't you do the same ?
You'll wear yourself out"
MY father began Bennett. but
the name chOlsed him.
You are growing to be so much Ike
him." went on Mrs. Bennett fondly.
and 10 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! II Is just the sort OF thing he