The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-08-27

made of mud. I s'pose it's the affair
of those Roberts notes you're counting
on. That don't feaZe me any. My
lawyer can twist that around so it'll
look like charity gift. No, no,
youngster. You'll have to think Of
something better if''-
"And, anyhow" put in Wainwright
nervously, you can't prove any con-
nection on my part. There's nothing
against me orr
II think there is" retorted Bennett,
wheeling about on the financier. And
even il can't nail the Roberts brib-
cry to you I've plenty more counts to
hold you on"
"All these generalities and vague ac-
cusations prove nothing, Bennett an
swered Wainwright, drawing courage
from Horrigan's colossal calm and
speaking with more assurance. "Mr.
Horrigan and | are not schoolboys to
be scared by baseless threats. This Is
all guesswork on your part. Come,
now, name one specific charge you can
prove"
Zone will be enough to convince
you" asked Alwyn. "Well, then, how
about this as first guess? Mr.. HOr-
rigans bribe of S2.OOOOOO in money
and $4,000 shares of Borough stock for
| agreeing to put through the Borough
franchise? For 'guesswork' that doesn't
seem to me very bad"
Wainwright's hard mask Of face
twitched convulsively, but the steady
brain that had carried him unshaken
through thousand risky financial
deals came at once to his rescue.
AN excellent guess" he agreed in
splendidly feigned amusement. but
unfortunately the courts demand PROOF
before convicting Il man, and there Is
no proof whatever Of
care you sureY' queried Bennett.
Turning to Phelan, he added:
"Please ask Mr.. Thompson to come
in."
The alderman. with an expansive
grin, flung open the door Of the farther
room
At sound of his secretary's name
Wainwright had sprung to his feet and
dumfounded, was leaning heavily or
the table, staring across the threshold
Of the suddenly opened door.
There. framed in the dark doorway
his face deathly pale, his eyes glowing
with Il strange light as OF murder
stood Cynthia's brother
His presence in the city hall was n
mere chance. but the climax Of a serie
; of conferences between Bennett. Phe
Ian and himself. dating from the nlsh
, of the administration ball. when. de
spite his own resolve. the secretary
hand had been forced by the inquis
{ tive alderman and his identity RI
vealed
Bennett had been let into the secre
, next day. and the trio had had thre
t hour talk from which Phelan ha
J emerged with the g!eefnl air of on
who had unexpectedly found S1.W
bill. Thompson, too, had left that col
ference with look of calm. intens
satisfaction that transfigured him.
Other conversations had followed
: one of them in the presence OF notar.
:, stenographer and lawyers The ira
at last WAS ready to be sprung.
The iinancier for the first time in hi
!, , nine year close association with til
secretary met the younger mans ga2
: without seeing the latter drOOp III del
: erentia! submission Now he receive
back look for look from his former i'll
:, iect slave. and it was his own glanC
. that wavered before that concentrate
), glare Of hate.
"Thompsonr' he cried, and his vOic
bore a world of incredulous reproach.
: Before him stood the one man
earth in whom Wainwright had eve
!, placed implicit trust: to whom he la
contided his gravest business secrets
= the man whom he had so shrewd
tested in countless ways and who la
proya1 Stnuchly iDcOrrI,Dtibie and To-