The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1909-02-25

II couldn't get here sooner. r
81 see. That's all. Williams. You
needn't wait. Roberts and | want q
little talk before he goes in. Now,
then" went Oil the boss. with a COM
plete change Of manner as Williams
left the room. whats the matter with
you?"
'T-I can't
cant what? Speak out, man!
Don't stand there and humble at me"
81 can't vote for the Borough fran
chise bill"
Cant, hey:" roared Horrigan.
"Why not?"
Because-because"- faltered Rob
erts; then. with a rush Of hysterieal
emotion that blotted out his fear, he
cried:
'Have you heard what that man Ben
nett has done? He organized voters
committee in my ward and sent them
toask me at my own house what / was
going to do about that bill. They had
been stirred up by Bennett till they
looked on me as a crook and on the bill
as a personal robbery. They told me
If voted for it they'd know was a
dirty thief and CRATER and that they'd
kick me out Of the ward"
'Well, wenr' rumbled Horrigan
soothingly, as though trying to calm
fractions drunkard. What do you
care? When they've forgotten all
about the bill you'll still have the
dough, won't you? Folks won't ask
How'd he get itY All they'll care to
know is Has he got itT"
'sThat isn't allr' Roberts blundered
ON, scarcely needing the interruption
Benefits next step was to organize
a committee of voters wives. and they
came to see my wife this morning
when I was out and told her they'd
heard / was going to sell myself and
vote for a dishonest bill. My wife
my wife thinks I'm the sQuareSt,
noblest man on earth. Oh, you needn't
sneer! Her trust means everything to
me. She told the women / wouldn't
stoop to any deed that wasn't honest,
and they answered: Our husbands be-
lieye Mr.. Roberts Is a crook. II he Is
really honest he'll vote against that
bill, as be did before Then on my
way home this noon / met my little
boy. He was crying. l asked him
what the matter was. He said that
some boys had told him l was graft
er. ] tell you," his voice rising almost
to q scream, "Bennett's made my life
a hell. I'm no crook. I'm honest
and"-
'Sure you're honest" Horrigan ex-
claimed, as though to a cross child.
Honest as the day! That's why
you're voting for our bill. Because the
cooked clauses have been cut out OF
n, and In its present form it's benefit
10 the city"
Y "That isn't why 1 promised to vote
for it." contradicted Roberts, with
despairing dash Of courage. 1T was
because I-because'-
'Never mind why, then, but just 60
ahead and do it"
II. won't! l dare not
"You'n do it, l sayw stormed Horri-
gan. "You can't welch on me at this
stage of the game Those Sturtevant
Trust company notes Of yours were
sent to you and
.And I won't take them" declared
Roberts, sIamming two slips Of paper
down upon the table. There, Take
them backw
what do I want Of them" argued
Horrigan craftily. They belong to
you"
"They don't. l won't keep them"
You'll have to. l keep you to your
promise"
"what promise?" asked voice be-
hind them.
Bennett, hastily summoned by Phe-
Ian, had entered the room unobserved
by either Of the excited men.
Swhat promise?" he asked again. "A
promise to-
"what are you doing here?' below
ed Horrigan in fury. "You called me
down once for coming into your pri-
vate Office without knocking. What
, dyou mean by coming into mine"
'YoursT queried Alwyn. II had an
idea it was the city's. The time is
past when the words 'Horrigan' and
city meant the same thing. Well,
Roberts, how are you going to vote!
want to believe you honest and
what's all this?" his eyes falling
THE forgotten notes on the table.
<.Nothing Of yours" shouted Horri-
gan, making q. futile, furious grab for
4he documents which Alwyn was pick
dng up. drop them! Drop them, /
say, or you'll
A1Why should II" asked Bennett calm
ly, his quick eye taking in the nature
of the slips of paper even as his alert
brain grasped in full the meaning of
the transaction in which they figured.
'Do they belong to your