The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1908-07-18

But Gibbs did not hear He had re-
turned to the corridor In search OF
Bennett The man scarcely deserved
the opprobrium heaped on him by Hor.
rlgan A brilliant, daring operator, he
was, unknown to himself, a rank COW.
ard at heart For the first time In his
life the cowardiee had cropped out,
and, to do Gibbs justice. 1t had driven
him temporarily insane. In bis nor
NAL senses he would never have stoop.
ed to the plan he was now so eager to
carry out 1t was a putrid bit of jet
sam at which a financially drowning
man did not scruple TO clutch
Horrigan followed him from the
ROOM his own splendid nerve quite re-
covered from the crushing blow his
hopes had received He had staked
heavily on the deal Moreover. Its fail,
ure, as he knew, meant the wreck of
that mighty political prestige he had
so long aud wearisomely built up 1t
might even. If Alwyn fulfilled his
threat about the notes, lead to graver
personal consequences. Yet the bull
dog pluck that had carried this man
of iron from the gutter to the summit
of political power did not desert him,
nor did he show the loss of one iota OF
his customary monumental calm,
Scarcely had Horrigan quilted the
room when Perry and Dallas entered
It,
"YOu could cut the atmosphere In
there with cheese knife" Perry was
SAYING. civilians doesn't think the
Borough bill will come up for half an
hour or SO We'd better spend the
time till then In here than to stay there
and turn our lungs into microbe zoo,
Dallas did not answer. She sat down
by the table and rested her head de
jectedly on one little gloved hand The
sight of Bennett. his grave. hopeless
appeal to her: the calm. utter despair
Of his brave facial these had affect
ed her deeply Perry noticed with
brotherly concern her look and attitude,
Feeling faiutfn he asked,
"No, I'm all right, thanks"
"You look pretty near as blue as Al
wyn, He
Don't let's talk of him. please" she
begged.
"Why not? He's the whltest chap
this side of Whltevlle,"
That's what | used to think, but
know better now"
"Then, miss" broke in a voice from
the doorway, you're entitled to anoth-
er know
Phelan, who, passing down the cor
ridor had heard her last words rs he
reached the threshold. turned into the
room.
Excuse me for buttn' in on fam
lily chat" he remarked, coming forward,
"but I'm pretty well posted on his
honor's character. an when hear any
one knockin' him it's me to the bat
What have you got against Mr. Ben.
nett? None of Your mrasly business.
says you quite So says |. an. that
beln the ease, let's hear all about it,"
Something that underlay the seeming
impertinence of the alderman's bluff
speech touched Dallas On impulse she
spoke;
"NIr. Bennett" said she. sis opposing
the Borough bill knowing we shall be
paupers If he defeats 1t He also sold
Borough stock short before he an
nounced his veto. What can one think
of man who cnriches himself ut the
expense If his frieHds?"
Gee" cried Perry. that's terrible
thing! Renncti's the original man
higher up. I'm afraid | wonder he
isn't afraid TO Weir the clothes of such
a wicked @eezer rs himself"
ooh, rcrr- Don't Joke about It"
he"ged Dallas. cant you sec the sori-
GUS side Of anything? We shall be
penniless and dependent on
Fear thou not sister mine" de-
clared Perry in his best mclodramatic
manner "Paupers. Suyest thou? Far
be II so! Little Brother Perry will
guard thee from the cold, shivery
swats of wintry wind. Maybe we
can sell violets or start fight club
or
Don't" she urged, Jared 10y his dip
paucy. You dou't understand y
"As for that story of his honor's sell
in stock short and maxim pile of
cash on His own veto" put in Phean
genuinely worried, "Horrigan's looked
1t up an got enough facts to make him
think he can prove it, He's goin' to
make Williams tell the whole story to
the aldermen tonight. It's lie. of
course, but it'll hurt his honor lot,
an the worst Of 1t is Bennett refuses
to deny it,
"He does ehf" remarked Perry.
"Thcn I'll do some talking about it.
I'll haze to fracture promise | made
Alwyn, but guess it's worth while"
what do you mean?" queried Dallas
In wonder
81 mean Bennett lent me the money
to sell enough stock short to make up
for what you and would lose if the
bill was quashed and he gave me a
letter to his own broker. We carried it
through and now yon and | stand pat
to win whichever way the cat jumps
We're on velvet, thanks to Alwyn.
"Ile did this for us" gaSppd Dallas
in amaze But why didn't you tell
me? Why did you let me misjudge
him."
He made me promise not to let you
know Il thing about it. and
Say. youuaster," broke in Phelan,
tinglng with excitement. you come
chasin' along with me into the alder
mems meetin'. I'll have you get up
there an tell what you know. It'll
knock that lie of Williams and Horri
gans so high it'll forget to hit gronn
again Come on. son. There's sure
liable to be hot doin'S in the meetin in
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