Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-09-15

wonder" unused Bennett. half aloud
HE and scarcely Good afternoon.
alderman! think this is the first time
you've honored me with a visit"
Then be lenient with first ofense.
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 1t is important, and maybe IT
isn't" returned Phelan. ut all de-
pends 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"
mo-" said Bennett, shat announce
ment wasn't authorized. haven't We.
toed the Borough Street railway bill
In fact, I haven't made public any de
cision on II. WhyT
"I'm glad to hear 1t. and. that being
the case, I'll invite myself to seat anG
stay awhile. Say. your honor. OH th"
level, that Borough bill was the rawesi
| thing that ever came across. Gee. but
they did their work with meat ak"
"Then you weren't one Of the alder
men who voted for it?"
"Me? Nothin' doing. don't belon:
to Dick Horrigan's solid thirteen He
can't buy and sell me at his own
terms like he does them thirteen gcez
ers"
"And yet. alderman. from your rep
/ utation"-
"From my reputation I'm u crook
hey? Well. there's crooks and crooks
And I'm one of the other kind. If I'm
crooked at all. which | deny most on
Enthusiastically At least follow no
Horrlgan whistle"
"Then why are you here in regard
to the Borough billT"
perhaps it's on the theory Of SET II
thief to catch thief
"Well," laughed Bennett. amused IN
spite Of himself by the aid err ans
frankness, "at least you call a spade
spade
II sure don't refer to 1t vague. but a.
'utensil' You don't need any foot
note explanations In one syllable wher
Jimmy Phelan's talking Every move
picture. II ! hadn't been through
the game from shuttle to cash In
would be wise to what the uorrigan
crowd Is framing up Oh you now:
Say, I've done some raw work In my
time. but this Borough business is The
coarsest yet. They must think yo"'r.
the original Mr.. Good Thing"
"You speak as II were to be ma'I'
responsible for
"And amt you?" cried Phelan Sur
you are. When the people get wise to
what they're up against and COM
mence to do their scream will they ~.
member that So-and-so framed the hi!
and that such and such aldermen rOi
ed for 1t? Not them. What the pubic
will remember Is that you sigucd II
It'll go screechin' down the corrllor>
Of time as the lniqultous Boroug'
franchise bill that Bennett signed
',htch the idea?'
"Yes." said Bennett grimy: II III
derstand. But what don't see Is why
you should have taken the trouble Is
come here and warn ME OF this
| You've never shown any special fond
ness for me hitherto"
"That's right But "" shown
bunches Of unfondness for Chrsty Dick
Horrlgan. And Horrigar'' the man
who's rushing the Borough bill through
| Lord. what bil!' It's so crooked that
| II It was laid out like Il street the man
who tried to walk along 1t would meet
himself coming back. Why. your hon
or. p
"Mr. Wainwright. your honor" said
| Ingram at the door; says he won't de-.
tain you long"
"I.et him I'm II you like" suggested
Phelan. Il can wait Shall | go into
the other
mo. 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 Il won't
keep you long. Good afternoon. alder
man."
"Howdy." returned Phelan. walking
over to the far end Of the office. where.
by falling into deep and admirine
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. 81 was going to call you
I'D this afternoon and ask your opinion
Of II. What do you think Of the meas
ure?"
What does he think Of iti" mutter
ed Phelan, addressing the portrait In
an aside that was perfectly audible
"What does he think of It? And him
ownln' the rival road! Oh. easy! Ask
him a real hard one!'
You're mistaken. alderman" re-
turned Wainwright bandly. 81 am In
clined to favor the passage Of the Bor-
ough bill"
Phelan shot one keen glance OF In
credulity at the financier, then wheeled
about and resumed his rapt study Of
the portrait.
"Yes," continued Wainwright II ad.
nit that my City Surface line is In a
way the rival Of the Borough Street
railway. but In big city like this
there's surely room for both lines to
carry on prosperous business. so why
should they try to injure each other"
why, oh, why?" echoed Phelan.
again addressing the portrait Can ]
he gettin' so old that I've begun hear
In queer things that's never said?"
Wainwright paid no heed to the In
terpolation. but went on:
"Of course the franchise will be
good thing for the Borough road. but
1t needn't hurt the City Surface Line.
Besides, the passing Of the bill made
Borough stock rise from 63 to 81. Then
when that unauthorized announcement
was made today that your honor would
veto 1t the stock tumbled from 81 to
73. Just see what power rests with