Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-05-07

. ''He and l scarcely Good 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 1t
isn't" returned Phelan. 1T all de-
ponds on whether that was true story
in the Chronicle today about your Veto
| ing the Borough Street railway bill. II
you've really vetoed that bill all I'll
have to do is to say, Sorry can't stay
longer and get out"
NO" 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 it. 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 ax!"
"Then you weren't one of the alder
men who voted for it?"
me? Nothin' doing. l don't belong
to Dick Horrigans solid thirteen He
can't buy and sell me at his own
terms like he does them thirteen geez-
ers."
"And yet, alderman, from your rep
utation"-
"From my reputation I'm a crook,
hey? Well, there's crooks and crooks.
And I'm one Of the other kind. If I'm
crooked at all, which l deny most en-
Enthusiastically. At least I follow no
Horrigan whistle"
"Then why are you here in regard
to the Borough bill?"
Perhaps it's on the theory of set a
thief to catch a thief"
"Wen," laughed Bennett, amused in
spite Of himself by the alderman's
frankness, "at least you call spade
spade"
Il 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
a picture. If l hadn't been through
the game from shuttle to cash in.
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 If were to be made
responsible for
"And amt your" cried Phelan. "Sure
You are. When the people get wise to
what they're up against and COM
mence to do their scream will they re-
member that So-and-so framed the bill
ed for 1t? Not them. What the public
will remember Is that you signed it.
It'll go screechin' down the corridors
Of time as the Ubiquitous Borough
franchise bill that Bennett signed
Catch the idea?"
'Yes," said Bennett grimly; II un-
derstand. But what I don't see IL why
you should have taken the trouble to
some here and warn me, Of this.
J You've never shown any specia! fond.
ness for me hitherto"
That's right But I've shown
lunches Of unfondness for Chesty Dick
; Horrigan. And Horrigan's the man
who's rushing the Borough bill through.
Lord. what = bill It's SO crooked that
: II it was laid out like a street the man
who tried to walk along 1t would meet
himself coming back. Why. your hon.
or. r.
"Mr. Wainwright. your honor" said
Ingram at the door; says he won't de-
tain you long"
LET him in II you like" suggested
Phelan. II can wait Shall l 60 into
the other''-
:. "No. Wait here II you choose. His
business isn't likely to be private"
I'm sorry to break in on your rush
hours" said Wainwright as he ad-
. vanced to greet the mayor. 81 won't
keep You long, Good afternoon. alder
: man." 9a
"Howdy," returned Phelan, walking
over to the far end of the Office, where,
by falling into deep and admiring
study Of particularly atrocious por-
trait Of some earlier mayor. he denoted
that he was temporarily out Of the
conversation.
'I'll come to the point at once. MIR.
Bennett" began Wainwright. II call
ed to see you about the Borough Street
railway bill"
That's an odd coincidence" answer
ed Bennett II was going to call you
up this afternoon and ask your opinion
. Of it. What do you think of the meas
} ure?"
What does he think Of it?" mutter-
ed Phelan. addressing the portrait in
an aside that was perfectly audible
"What does he think of it? And him
ownin' the rival road! Oh. easy. Ask
him a real hard onev'
Il Ito Be Continued)