The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-29

98IkGO.
Even 80" replied the professor, ibis
nigh handed career Of graft In Reuton
most come to a speedy close. He Is OF
aVpe fast vanishing through the
awakening public conscience And his
0ree- will end, assure you. despite
ne fact that you. Mr.. Magee, have
seen fit to send our evidence scurry Ing
through the night at the behest Of a
chit Ut girl. beg your pardon--l
shali continue. Young Drayton, the
neY county prosecutor, was several
ysam back favorite pupil of mine
Amer he left law school he fell under
0e;spelI Of the picturesque mayor Of
ksuton Cargan liked him and he rose
rapidly. Drayton had no thought os
Svg turning against his benefactor
when he accepted the first favors, but
laor tho open selling Of mems souls
oeeAn to disgust him. When Cargan
oa1ed him the place Of prosecutor q
few months ago Drayton assured him
that he would keep his oath Of office.
IT wm In me. remember" he went
On. that Drayton confided his resolve
10 serve the public. was delighted
et the news. A few weeks ago he In
formed me his first opportunity was
ot hand. Through one Of the men In
BE ofice he had learned that Hay
den Of the Suburban Electric was seek.
tne to consolidate that road, which
had fallen into partial disrepute under
his management during the illness of
Thornhill. the president. with the Civ
e. The consolidation would raise the
value Of the Suburban nearly two mil
Non dollars-at the public's expense
Hayden had seen Cargan. Cargan
had drafted ordinance No. 45 and In
tbrned Hayden that his price for pass
Nc II through the council would be
W sum you have juggled In your pos
asssion on Baldpate mountain-$2OO..
co"
nero trine. /" remarked Magee sar-
eostically.
80 Cargan made Hayden see.
Through long experience I'm these mat
eeS the mayor has become careless
He n the thing above the law, II not
The law itself. He would have had no
fear In accepting this money on Main
street at midday. He had no fear
when he cane here and found be was
being spied on.
But Hayden-there was the difficul-
" that began the drama Of Baldpate
Inn. Hayden had few scruples; but, as
events tonight have well proved, Mr..
Aagce. he was a coward at heart.
DO not know Just why he lies on your
bed upstairs at this moment suicide.
That Is a matter between Kendrick
and him and one which Kendrick him
self has not yet fathomed. As say.
Hayden was afraid OF being caught.
Andy Rutter, manager OF Baldpate Inn
for the last few summers, Is In some
way mixed up In the Suburban. II
was he who suggested to Hayden that
IN absolutely secluded spot for passing
this large sum Of money would be the
INN. The idel appealed to Hayden.
Cargan tried 10 laugh him out Of It.
The mayor did not relish the thought
of q visit 10 Baldpate mountain In the
dead Of winter. particularly as he con-
sidofed such precautions unnecessary.
Bm Hayden wns firm. This spot. he
pointed out. was ideal. and the mayor
at last laughingly gave In. The sum
involved was well worth taking u lit
tie trouble to gain"
Professor Bolton paused and blinked
his dim ole eyes
80 the matter was arranged" he
><RsxFt nj. L.
Haydou's employ. was sent up here
with the money. which he placed In
the safe on the very night Of our ar
rfval. The safe had been left open by
Rutter. Bland did not have ne COM
bination. He put the package inside,
swung shut the '!oor and awaited the
arrival OF the mayor"
"r was present" smiled Magee, lat
the ceremony you mention"
: "Yesf All these plans. as I have
said. were known to DraytOn. A few
nights ago no came to me. He wanted
to send an emissary to Baldpate-a
man whom Cargan had never net--One
who could perhaps keep up the pre-
tense Of being here for some other
reason than connection with the
brtbe. He asked me to undertake the
mission. To see all I could and II pos
sible to secure the package Of money.
This la.' T"eued hardly likely. At
ANY Fate. was to gather all the evi.
dence I could. hcsitatcd.
IL had loudly proclaimed my cham.
pionship OF civic virtue. however. and
here was a chance TO serve Rcuton. I
acquiesced. The day was To start up
here poor kcndrick came back. He,
too. had bcen student Of mine. a
friend OF both Drayton aud Hayden.
Seven years ago he AMI Hayden were
running the Suburban together under
Thornhill's direction. The two young
men became mixed up M rather
ahady business deal which Waa rnnr,