Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-26
BY
NLBERT
[SSllYsoN
4flBRHUNE
CHAPTER XIII.
N0nYRElxT; 1907 ~
GElF6I H.AaaAQ HLRS

CHAPTER NH.
"HE momentous Friday had ar
rived; the day wherein the ia
nous - or Infamous - Borough
i Street railway bill in its
amended form was to come up for the
aldermen's consideration.
Every paper in the city devoted col
umns to the situation. Everywhere it
was known that the hoy mayor" was
fighting with all his might the bill he
had already vetoed. Equally well was
1t understood that Horrigan was max
ing the battle Of his whole career in
behalf Of the measure. If he could but
induce his "solid thirteen" aldermen to
stand firm and could maintain his hold
on Roberts for the fourteenth. all
would be plain sailing and the bill
would pass by two-thirds vote In
spite of the mayors veto.
More than the mere bill and his
price for 1t were included in Horri-
gan's reasons for his present activity.
He recognized that his prestige as boss
was at stake-that in case of failure
his hold on the organization would be
considerably weakened, perhaps almost
so much shaken as to permit Phelan to
fulfill his once absurd threat to tear
him down from his eminence. For the
whole organization was viewing with
breathless interest the duel between
Horrigan and the youthful mayor the
boss had made" In such circles q
beaten man commands scant respect.
The board Of aldermen were in SEES
sion in the city hall. on the ante
chamber Of the great room where they
met was small, snugly furnished
apartment. first Of series OF similar
rooms that stretched away, with con-
Meeting doors, to the far end of the
main corridor. This place, with the
room adjoining, had once been the
comptroller's Office. OF late. however
that official had changed his quarters
and the room nearest the antechamber
had beer. appropriated by Horrigan
himself sls sort of unofficial snug
gerry, where he could sit at ease and
transact business at close quarters
whenever the organizations secret In
terests demanded his presence at the
city hall.
Here, his whereabouts known only
to his intimate and personal lieuten-
ants, the boss was wont to sit at ease,
like some fat, rubicund spider In the
center of web of intrigue, and issue
his orders or plans Of campaign. Some
of these were carried by word of mouth
through the anteroom into the alder.
manic chamber. Others he transmit
ted by means of telephone that stood
ready on the center table, before which
his great easy chair was always placed
Around. this table as the board Of al
dermen were about to convene on the
fateful Friday of the Borough bills
final consideration sat three men
Wainwright, Gibbs and Horrigan. The
former, lin spite of his habitual steady
GOODNESS, was plainly uneasy. Gibbs
made no effort to deny his anxiety
His eyes, were hloodshot, his manner
distracted and his nerves evidently
strung TO breaking point. HorrigaI
alone of the trio had abated not one
jot of rhe colossal calm and bruta
power that were part and parcel Of
the mans mighty character.
when will our bill come up, do yor
suppose? asked Gibbs, breaking 8
brief silence.
"In half an hour or SO probably
answered Horrigan, glancing at hi
watch. II thought it was better FOL
us to get here ahead Of time"
"Half an hour" fumed Gibbs, "anG
neither Ellis nor Roberts here yet
Suppose they don't get here on time|
'"They WILL" granted Horrigan plac
idly.
"Do you think it is possible either o.
them has come yet?' went on Gibbs
with glance at the antechamber door
"No."
"How dc you know? Perhaps
civilians would have told me. 81
knows where I'm to be found"
you're sure Ellis and Roberts viii
| show up!
| yes"
"How soon?"
"In good time"
.'But suppose they don't?" insisted
Gibbs nervously. What then?"
"Why, If they don't. then they won't
What do you suppose:" snapped Hor
rigan. whats the matter with you
anyhow? Are you looking for muse
UNI Job as the human question marky
Gibbs is naturally nervous" explain
ed Wainwright. He's not so old a
this game as you and l. Horrigan, an
we must make allowances"
"Nervous?" grunted the boss.
should say he is! Just look at tina
| cigar / gave him He's been chewin
| it as IL 1t was a sausage. That's n
| way To treat a hfty cent cigar. man
Here. try another. and see If you can
smoke 1t instead Of eating free lunc
OF it. Nothing like good smoke t
steady your nerves. IT,
The antechamber door opened, an