West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-05-07
CHAPTER v.

livious Of his surroundings
or verything except that
the girl he had SO long miss
60 ana who had inspired him to all he
had achieved-that she was standing
before him.
u was Dallas herself who brought
him to ssuse OF the others presence,
Tor as he sprang forward to meet her
and eagerly grasped both her out
stretched hands the girl bowed In
mock reverence and answered his ar.
dent greeting with demure:
Good afternoon. your honorr'
"Don'tr he begesd half I'm Jest Its
% good TO zee you again that r.
Il sent word that I had n surprise
Tor you. Alwyn." interrupted his moth
Or. II knew II would please you. But"
with glance at the alderman. you're
busyi Perhaps we"-
Not at all, mother. May present
Alderman Phelsni Miss Wainwright,
this is---
Alderman Phelan OF tho Eighth"
amended the politician. thoroughly III
at ease In the presence OF the visitors
Il must be goin' now. your honor. r.
But Dallas had come forward with
q smile that melted the speakers en-
barrassment In an instant.
The Alderman Phelan who gives
turkeys to all those poor people at
Christmas?' she asked In genuine In
terest. I've often read about
The same. ma'am. at your service" :"
assented the delighted Phelan. 81 nu
'em with turkey an coal I'm winter
an I take their wives an kids on
outings In summer. Ever been to one
OF the James q. Phelan outings, miss p
"No." replied Dallas. with perfect
ly grave face. "I'm sorry to say
haven't Tell me about them. won't
your"
''They've got to be seen 20 be under
stood. A thousand poor tired wives
an white faced. spindly kids turned
out Into the country for the only
glimpse OF green grass an shady trees
they ever get all year. A thousand
mothers an children out In a cool
grove with nothing to do but roll
around the soft grass an play an
eat all the fancy grub they can hold.
Maybe. miss. II wouldn't mean a lot to
you. but II you'd been workin' an
hvin' nm sieepin' an starvin' for
twelve months IN a stuffy. dark. smelly
back tenement room. toilin' like n slave
to keep food an clothes betwixt the
Kids an starvation, an was barely
able to keep body an soul together
well. maybe then you'd understand
what them outings an turkey tests an
loads OF coal means to the poor. And
they won't turn down Jimmy Phelan
nt Horrigan's orders"
Il do understand" cried Dallas, her
big eyes bright with tears. II under
stand, and. in behalf OF all women and
children. thank you with my whole
hearth
You're all right. miss" muttered the
deiightei, embarrassed Phelan. at once
attn loss for words. 'You're-you're all
right III leave II to his honor IT,
Indeed she isr broke in a suave
voice at whose sound the little spell OF
sentiment was broken and which caus.
ed Pheian and Bennett to turn In an.
noyance toward the door.
Scott Gibbs. bland, well groomed,
quite ignoring the other mems lack OF
welcome. stood bowling on the thresh-
old. 4.
"Oh, ! forgot to tell you. Alwyn,"
whispered Mrs. Bennett In a hurried
aside to her son as the latter summon
ed up sufficient civility to greet the
newcomer. 'T forgot to tell you. Mr..
Gibbs was calling on Dallas when I
stopped for her, and he asked leave to
come along. I'm sorry. butt
How are you. BennettT Gibbs was
saying. "And-Mr. Phelan, too, isn't
TT Alderman, I'm glad to see you
again. You remember me? Scott
Gibbsf met
Yes" said Pheian, T remember you,
all right. You was up to WainwrIght's g
iaE summer-that day me an Horri-
gan sent the dove OF peace screechin'
up tree. didn't know you visited
the city hall too"
Il don't. as a rule" answered Gibbs.
II came here with Mrs. Bennett and
Miss Wainwright I wanted a glimpse
OF the man who can make one pen
stroke that will send Borough Street
railway stock up to 100 or down to 10"
DO you mean," broke in Dallas,
"that MFR. Bennett can really have such
an effect on the stock market?"
That and more" Gibbs assured her.
why, the mere rumor that he meant
to veto the Borough's franchise bill has
sent the stock tumbiing eight points
since the market opened today"
what power for one manr' ex.
claimed the girl, turning 20 Bennett IN
surprise. "And are you going to veto
ftr
"0fice secrets" reproved Alwyn lest
insiy. Hands orr
veto itT' echoed Gibbs. with a
laugh "Of course he Isn't. IL would
be too hard upon his frieDds-unfalr
and unklnd, to say the least"
But whyT queried Dallas, forestail.
ng Aiwyn. who was about to speak.
Because" cut In Gibbs before Ben.
nett could interfere, the men who are
backing the Borough bill are the men
who made him mayor. It wouldn't be
square for him to turn bis new power
against the very men who gave him
that power. Now, would itY'
by the men who are backing the
bilr whom do you meanT' esked Bea.
nett.
"Oh. Just spoke In generalities. As
. matter of fact, the break In the price
today was lucky for those who wanted
10 buy"
~An' your firms doln' most OF the
buyln', Tn told" interpolsted Phelsn.
we have a great deal OF the stock,
admit" said Gibbs; 80 you see. Ben.
nett, you can make me or break me. I
place myself In your hands"
u see you are taking a most unfair
advantage OF me, Mr.. Gibbs" retorted
AIwyn, with some heat You have no
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