The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-02

fellowship and hospitality, i, was my
right and privilege To do the spending.
especially us had Il big. fat expense
account.
You always can get them on thai,
expense account talk Well. we opened
a bottle ana as We paid attention 10
II | said to him. ''rompkns YOU know
ihe game here and don't I'm a
stranger; you're an Old timer. Whom
have got to see to get this contract:
Understand, I've got to have it,
''llc took a sip OF his champagne
and then he said. How far are YOU viii
ling to 80 to get it, ''rwo-tif;y,' am
s'vered lie thought few moments
and then said he thought that ought
TO do. But lie added. YOU have no
time 10 spare. Tho police jurors meet
at $50 + NJ Better get a move on
All right told him If You'll handle
the money III get busy l never deal
direct With officials 1t is not safe.
always pass il through a third party
It is best for all concerned. What do
you say
"'yonrc wise boy and I'm With
you. Tompl ms told nc. Now said,
who's the man to set next to among
these commissioners or Jurors" Temp
kins told nc Pctcrs was my man.
sh1 StStfu li!ut nc lElcpIollc ~ MIN ~
como to the saloon.
Those county towns arc not big.
and il was less than minute before
the police Juror and were shaking
hands and ! was inviting him TO drink
with us. asked Tompkins to call
some more OF his friends in. FOR
wanted TO spend enough TO make
Tompkins happy and al the same time
dodge drinking much myself. SO soon
could 6cCnnt1N Ia
TO Peters that 7 would like TO take
look AT the town Peters and | cx-
cuscd ourselves and started out We
hadn't gone far before told Peters
didn't care to view the town from
the main street Id prefer 10 sec how
it looked IN an alley. He smiled VIC
went into an alley and put il right
straight to him lie hemmed ana
hawcd hi, when | mentioned two
fifty. lie said one OF my competitors
was willing to give that amount
II was considering the wisdom Of
raising the ante when ii occurred to
mo that, there being so much delay
and sometimes there being slip in
tho passing OF money. it would be !,
good idea TO let Peters Know ,hcrn
was no chance TO lose II got the con-
tract So told him TompkinS would
guarantee anything 7 promised and
would handle the money.
well, if that's the case said
Peters. its all right
"By this time We had approached
the rear Of three or four-storv ram
shackle hotel See that hotel said
Peters. pointing lovingly al tho M
lovely back view 'Aint it dandv-
own that And then he took nc ~
the arm and whispered: Ana made
every dollar 1t cost me by graft Talk
about pride that man Peters was as
proud of his success as a CRATER as
q peacock is OF his tall He assured
me he would sec I got the contract.
hut not to make my Di 50 ..:Sh as 10
asked what arc YOU going to bid?'
! was thinking about $3.50 I replied.
That's what lakeland is bidding, he
rclolned. We were going to give it
10 him hut now that YOU have turned
W III have the boys switch on the
lie advised me 10 hurry. 1T is noon
ana you haven your bid prepared he
SAID. DO you know YOU have to nave
certified check for 500 accompany
1t? Here is one of tho blanks. for a
bid. Fill it out. Here's a fountain pen
New. how about the certified chcck?'
told him that was easy. as always
carried roll Went to Il bank and
cot certified check for 500. Then +
proceeded to tho county courthouse
When entered the county clerks Of
ice pretty girl came forward and
SAD she was county clerk. I've been
,"id oncc or twice that I'm good
looking fellow, and there arc some
reoplc who think ! am rather enter
iailin@ wien try TO be. II may have
been the champagne or it may have
hfen the surprise OF finding a pretty
Gls! III such an Office. but at any rate
mace myself so agreeable after had
presented my bid that the young wo-
man invited me 10 be seated.
VIC chattcd Il while ana discovered
We had some mutual acquaintances
nat ccmentcd our good feeling Next
,ne s'Fi Expressed ia the nope that |
You'd get the contract. Would ii
help you il you knew What the other
nids are? she inquired after while.
1T certainly would, / told her 'b,,t
They are sealed She laughed ana said
INC police jurors always got sealed
proposals and always secretly exam
med the bids before formally opening
lheW 50 there could he no juggling
BY the mon they had dealings WITH.
hul now can they open a sealed Dii
Wthout the envelope showing evidence
OF ~ asked. IN show you. she an
SWcicd and slic took my cuvcIopc ana
Wild q very thin and sharp knifc cui
through the tower Dap dclicatcly ana
c"reiusiy az the bottom. When the
Gnttins was finished shc drew ont Tho
iid 'Scr, She said now easy if tso
Now !! pat it tack ana by runnjn. 4,
ittle lhucilaEc along the edge Of the
enVe!"pH thiS way, III rcscal it so no
ono except pcrson making a search
Ter INST his sort Of thing wonid sus
| pcct there had bocn any ,anipcrlnp
y was n"w ono on nc i've heard
Hlnce mar is the way the government
ofHciais "ncn suspected letters
Eef"f" left the county alorls 5
olfiee knrw one Of my competitors
"a" ''o S8,Soo' one $3.50 and Tic
/ irciing invited the Young woman q
, luncheon "ith nc. She accepted. and
| ,t"'7 "lhi shr told mo aud from what
] ,',ffs lad Indicated in his reference
VI graz iotei don't believe there
| Wis ~ Tones, bit Of competitive I,id.
ninS IN ihat parish in ten years C:raf,.