Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-03
Ole Metz Mayor
Based on G. n. BroadhWst's Successful
Play
The Man
TheHour
By ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE.
Copyright, 1907. by George H. Broadhurst.
CHAPTER WI.
By ALBERT PAYsoN TERHUNE.
Copyright, 1907, by George H. Broadhurst.

| UlS ldUlc, uldAlLS HO ChOll W
- follow her brother and Phe-
Ian. A messenger, searching for Hor-
rigan, hustled In, looked inquiringly at
the motionless, white faced girl, then
passed on to the committee room be-
yond and on again in his search until
the sound Of his footsteps died. And
still Dallas sat, inert, dumb.
Little by little she was piecing to-
gether the facts of the long, miserable
complication in the light Of what Per
ry had just told her. 1t was absurdly
easy now that she held the key of the
situation. She could understand every
thing-how Wainwright had put her
fortune into Borough stock to influ-
ence Bennett; how, failing to move the
latter, he had used Alwyn's knowledge
Of the fact as weapon against the
! young man; how Bennett had sought
to save her fortune and why he had
/ forbidden Perry to bias her feelings
/ by telling Of the generous act.
| Prom first to last" she murmured
in unhappy contrition, "he has acted
honorably and as he thought would
have wanted him to and for my happi-
/ ness. And I, like the wretched little
fool l was, couldn't understand and
publicly Inundated him. Oh, II only
it weren't too late to-
A vision of Gibbs flashed before her
mind, and she shuddered, realizing all
that her rash steps had entailed.
ut is too late" she confessed to her
self, fighting back the hot tears that
scared her eyes "But at least can
tell him 1 know and beg his forgive
ness and thank him"
The sound OF voices In the corridor
reused her from her bitter reverie.
She sprang up hastily, unwilling that
any should see her tear stained face.
but the speakers, though they drew
near, did not enter Horrigan's office.
Instead, they stepped into tho adjoin-
ing committee room. The messenger
had left ajar the door between the two
rooms. Realizing this and not wishing
to be seen. Dallas shrank back toward
the wall, fearful of detection. Then
the voice Of one Of the speakers sud
denly arrested her notice.
"Well," Bennett was saying in no es-
pecially civil tones, you said you wish
ed to speak to me in private. What
! have you to say7 Be brief. for am
busy"
Finding herself the unwilling witness
to what promised to be confidential
%ovv nj 1,o loO6 n.
ing to the corridor. but Horrigan. as
was his custom, had locked 1t on going
out. She dared not enter alone the
crowded anteroom In her present1tate,
SO hesitatingly she paused, forced to
remain where she was. The sound of
another voice chained her to the spot,
and, unconscious Of eavesdroppfng, she
stood spellbound, hearing every word
distinctly through the half open door
way.
I'll hardly know how to begin"
Gibbs was replying to BENEFITS curt
demand. TT is a delicate subject
and
sThen the sooner it Is treated to open
air the better. Is'-
you've won the Borough bill fight"
began Gibbs.
ais that all you have to say to mel"
mo. You've won, but you've lost far
more. You've lost Dallas Wainwright. !"
81 hardly need to be reminded Of
that" retorted Bennett, "and it is a
subject don't care to discuss"
But listen" pleaded Gibbs as the
mayor made move as though to leave
the room. Zone minute! say you've
won the Borough fight. I've won Dali
las. Can't We
"Well. whatY asked Bennett, with
ominous quiet as he paused in his de-
parture.
Cant we-strike some sort Of bar.
gain1" said Gibbs tentatively.
Explain. please" ordered Bennett.
with that same deceptive calm.
"Why," went on Gibbs, emboldened
at the others seeming complacence.
Suppose you give up this Borough
fight and give up Dallas? won her
by trick. She doesn't really love me.
1t is her pride, not her heart, that made
her throw you over and accept me. 1t
is you she loves, and I've known it all
along, and you are in love with her."