The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1909-01-14

every CBaDee YOU tcLIdiiueu mas peeh
made in it. AS the gentlemen who
asked me to speak to you said
He checked himself a minute too
late. The narrowing of Benefits eyes
and the vanishing Of the friendly light
in the young mans face warned New
man he had made a fatal error.
$50 YOU rcme 10 me rs an enisSary,
not as a friend" said Bennett slowly,
and the gentlemen you come FROM
Are the men who represent all that
can make or break yOur career-capital
and political organization
in other words. Wainwright and
IIorrigan:"
"Ycs. All they ask is that you re-
main neutral: that you
That | look the other way while
they rob the city,"
Il am an old man. Bennett" evaded
the Judge. trying another tack, "and
I've seen one rash step wreck many 4
bright career, just as this will wreck
yours. Never antagoniZe wealth and
the organization. The public for whom
YOU sacrifice Yourself will forget you
in q month. Capital and politics never
forget"
Il am not catering to the public. ]
am acting as my own conscience
But this is stubbornneSS, not con-
science All you have to do is to re-
main neutral II you do this / am
authorized to promise you-now. listen
to promise you the nomination for
governor when your term as
That's the bait is it?" cried Alwyn
angrily. "If I consent to betray my
trust III get the goyernership. The
bribe is golden. and don't wonder at
Horrigan for offering it The only
thing that surprises me is that he
should have chosen such man as you
for his lackey and go-between."
"Lackeyv 'Bribe" Gobetween!" "
echoed the Judge in real indignation.
How dare you, sir? ThiS'-
isn't It a bribe," insisted Alwyn.
land weren't you the man chosen to
offer it? 1t will do you no good to
bluster or grow indignant. In your
heart yon know the words I Nsed were
deserved. The governorship offer was
a bribe, pure and 81. ~'le. and worthy
the modern highwaynI... who made 1t.
but that you, judge-a former friend
Of my own blameless father-that you
should come to me on such vile er-
rand turns me sick. Heaven help jus
tice and right when our Judges can be
controlled by political boss and a
roll of bills! That's all! l don't care
to 60 further into the subjectr'
emmett walked away, leaving the lit
t Judge to stare after him, pink with
wrath, speechless with amazement. In
all his sixty years no man had thus
laid bare to Newman his own heart,
stripped Of its garments Of respecta-
bility and self deception. And, as usu-
al in such cases, now that the truth
had been driven home to him, Newman
wrathfully denounced it. even to him
self, as lie.
Still flushed and incoherent, he wheel
ed to face trio who were just return
ing from the supper room. They were
Dallas, Gibbs and Wainwright
"Hellow exclaimed Wainwright In
surprise. Whats the matter with you,
judge? Are you liz"
Tiff Mrs. Newman should come to
know OF this" sputtered the Judge,
glaring from one to the other. she
ITO know Of whatT' queried Gibbs.
What has happened!"
"Happened? fumed Newman. Il
have been insulted-grossly, yulgarly
insulted"
'Insulted. Judge" repeated Dallas.
by whom?"
by Alwyn Bennett" snapped the
Judge. "Outrageously"-
"Impossiblew exclaimed Dallas.
There must be a mistake somewhere.
Mr. Bennett is too well bred to insult
any man, much less a man SO much
older than
"a gentleman. is he? ] should not
have believed it. He has insulted me
most
"I'm not surprised" observed Vain
wright
81 am" announced Dallas.
Naturally" sneered Wainwright. IF
you can remain on speaking terms with
him after his abominable treatment OF
me you can easily overlook any other
brutality Of his"
"Tell US about it, judge" interposed
Gibbs, seeking to avert any further
clash between uncle and niece.
II went to him." began Newman,
hearing a request from-from"-
The judge paused. 1t was not Who'll
ly easy to present matters 10 this hon
est eyed young girl in such a way as
to bring her in his way OF thinking.
But Wainwright felt no difficulty. His
shrewd brain caught at a means OF
turning the affair to account.
"You see, Dallas" the fnancier broke
in, with a warning glance TO Newman,
II begged the judge to intercede for
me with Bennett, to ask him to bury
the hatchet aud let US be friends again