Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-16
CHAPTER xVl.-continued

"Why the woman told me she threw
you down herself after you gave her
your horse" said the chief of police.
Don't put that down, ChaIoner.
That's not necessary. Now" said
Gormly quietly. just add this:
After a frightful experience / sue
ceeded in reaching the station I
came to Chicago, drifted about there
Tor awhile, and thereafter came to
New York determined to retrieve the
past. Whether [ have done so or not
It is for you. my fellow citizens, to
Judge Whether this story which l re
late to you now, because [ am com
PEELED to do so-naturally not from
choice destroys your confidence in
me and makes you believe that I am
unworthy Of your suffrages and there
by unfit to fill the office to which |
aspire for your service, it is for you
to decide At any rate, 1 declare to
you. what is now quite evident, that
so far as [ am oncerned-cOnscious
that however you may regard this
solitary episode in my life, which /
confess to my sorrow am now as
confident of my competence and my
integrity to do what l said l would
do If you elect me as L was before
the disclosure was made.
q have informed the chief of po-
lice in closing that this statement is
to be sent to every paper in the city.
He and those associated with him
who authorized this Matchmaking
proposition-and / point out that the
fact that they made it is evidence OF
their quallty-may do whatever they
please in the premises. 1t only re-
mains to add that in the west for some
boyish whlm [ went under the name
of George Fordyce. Tho last is my
middle name, and | sign this state
ment therefore
GEORGE FORDYCE GORMLY"
Why, you internal fool!" roared
the chief, you're not going to give
the whole thing away like that?"
Mr. Conneu, that statement goes
out, and by the hands of Somes, to
every paper in New York as quickly
as il can be tyDewritten,. Mr. Chal-
oner, will You please make the very
best speed possible to you?"
IVES, sir"
1T won't serve your purpose" blus-
tered the officer. In the first place
can deny my part of it do deny it.
You hear me, you shorthand man. be
fore you so, and you, you English
wheip! say it's a damned lie! I
never made any such proposition TO
him. Tts just one OF his grandstand
plays
4 beg your pardon, sir. said
Somes. addressing his master. but 1
can testify that he did make such
proposition"
How can you testify2" asked
Gormly.
II listened. sir. at the door; my
ear to the keyhole"
You hound." cried the officer.
Il don't generally resort to that
practise Mr. Gcrmly, as you know.
sir" pleaded Somes.
Il believe you. Somes.
But in this insc,sal,,~ did it be
cause knew the man was up to mis-
chief and l thought you might want
q witness, sir You know am sufi-
GENTLY devoted to your interests TO
have kept silent, if you had wished
me, sir"
Your statement is Of the utmost
value said Gormly, smiling. 1t Will
be entirely useless in the face of this
proof for the chief of police to deny
that he came here and for what pur-
pose. You see there is my word. tue
word Of Somes yonder. the corroborat-
i've evidence OF Mr.. Chalouer that YOU
were here"
And what about my word -
wen, If you say you weren't here,
said GOrmly. coolly, "thatu be about
the strongest evidence that could be
presented that you were"
"TH swear that its a damned con
spiracy; that you inveigIed me here.
knowing that this was going to be
made public, and turned it to your adj
vantage in this way"
TYou can swear anything you like. ="