Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-14
CHAPTER VlIl.-continued.


you are very available. Whether or
not you are the most available is the
question" interposed Mcdonald.
I'VE ought to get some man Of the
highest consideration, who belongs to
a most respectable family, and yet
who's amenable to the right pressure.
How'd you do yourself, Mr.. Haldane?"
asked the boss innocently, if bosses
can ever ask anything in that vein.
Under no consideration" he said,
Gecisively, could I accept the honor.
My interests, our interests, are too
vast for me to localize them by be-
coming mayor of New York"
Haven't you got a SOM" asked
Conneu the chief of police. He'd
have all the advantages of name and
station and so on that you would, and
l have no doubt he'd do pretty much
what you said, and I'm sure you'd
say what was best for US all"
81 think that would be an excel
lent idea" chimed III Rutherford.
How old is your youngster, Hal
dane?"
Hes twenty-eight.'
Never done anything in his life,
has he?"
do you mean in business. or any
any other way?"
Anything he's got to cover up I
mean"
Nothing, I believe" answered the
father. He's been Il lively lad but
nothing dishonorable that ! am
aware of
He's the very man we want
young, enthusiastic, inexperienced,
rich, comfortable. Where is he now ?"
asked Rutherford.
He's down on Long Island at my
country place
Can you get in communication with
him by telephone?"
Il think so"
Suppose you call him up and ask
him whether or not, ii he got the
nomination, he would run"
4 will. Excuse me, gentlemen"
said Haldane, going out into the hall
where one of the duplicate telephones
was installed.
He did not care to do his telephon-
ing in the library before the group of
conspirators.
Il think" protested Warren as Hal
dane closed the door behind him, that
this is a shame. You promised me
that if | made a satisfactory mayor,
I should have the refusal of the office
again, and I'd like to know what I've
done that you should throw me
DOWN."
Promises, said Liffey, don't go
in politics longer than it's agreeable,
as you very well know. We amt
throwing you down, either. You'll be
provided for doubtless in some way,
and maybe this young Haldane amt
the most available man after ALL
We're not committed to him yet"
III tell you one thing that we can
do without waiting for a candidate"
here interposed the chief of police.
And what is that, pray?" asked the
mayor
I'VE can put the Central Office de-
tective force on Gormlys trail. We
can look up his record. We can find
out all about him ever since he was
q baby. It's dollars to pennies but
what We'll discover something that
he'd like to keep hidden"
Your suggestion is an excellent
one. and your observations do you
credit. It's the first practical sugges-
ton we've had here this evening"
said Van Slyke.
Right" said Liffey, bluntly. Turn
up some dirty story about him, and if
you need evidence I'll supply all that's
necessary"
You'll have to be careful" said
Rutherford, that such evidence as
you supply shall be unimpeachable,
and that such a story as you turn up
shall be true. else l won't have any
thing to do with it"
ooh. 1 guess you'll take your orders
from the society"
Not from you, Liffey, not from any
body" said Rutherford quietly
enough, though his face flushed at the
Insult. AS a matter of fact, being
district attorney, I hold the whip hand
Of you all" And again the uneasy
movement from the fnanciers evi-
ktnced the truth of that assertion,
My term still has two years to run,
remember. and there are things
s7uld do even with you. Don't forget
thati"
Lifey gritted his teeth; but said