The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-05-15

AulIClVdI HOIlIlSS. i law uSCu uD III
| arms-linguistic arms-against this odd
| character Cargan, who came from the
| slums to rule us with Il rod Of iron.
| Every one knows he is corrupt; that
he is wealthy through the sale of priv
ilege: that there is actually Il fixed
schedule of prices for favors In the
way of city ordinances. / have often
denounced him to my friends. Since |
have met him-well. it is remarkable.
is it not, the effect of personality on
ones opinions? l expected to face a
devil, with the usual ap~purtenances.
Instead | have found Il human. rather
likabIe man.
Mr.. Magee smiled over to where the
great bulk of Cargan slOuched In n
chair. :.' =
"He's a bully old scout he re-
marked.
"Even So" replied the professor, ..his
high handed career of graft in Reuton
must come to a speedy close. He is OF
a type fast vanishing through the
awakening public conscience. And his
career will end, l assure you. despite
the fact that you. Mr.. Magee, have
seen fit to send our evidence scurrying
through the night at the behest Of a
chit of a'girl. | beg your pardon-l
shall! continue. Young Drayton, the
new county prosecutor was several
years back Il favOrite pupil of mine.
After he left law school he fell under
the spell Of the picturesque mayor Of
ReutOn. Cargan liked him and he rose
rapidly. Drayton had no thought of
eve turning against his benefactor
when he accepted the first favOrs, but
later the open selling of mems souls
began to disgust him. When Cargan
offered him the place of prosecutor a
few months ago DraytOn assured him
that he would keep his oath Of Office.
1T was in me, remember" he went
on. that Drayton confided his resolve
to serve the public. l was delighted
at the news. A few weeks ago he in
formed he his first opportunity was
Ut hand. Through n of the men in
his Office he had learned that Hay
den Of the Suburban Electric was seek
ing to consolidate that road, which
had fallen into partial d%isrepute under
his management during the illness Of
Thornhill. the president, with the Civ
Ic. The consolidation would raise the
value Of the Suburban nearly two mil
lion dollars-at the public's expense.
Hayden had seen Cargan. Cargan
had drafted ordinance No. 45 and in
formed Hayden that his price for pass
ing it through the council would be
the sum you have juggled in your pos
session on Baldpate mountain-$2OO,-
Co.,"
"A mere trifie." remarked Magee sar-
castically. ...
80 Cargan made Hayden e
Through long experience in these mat
tiers the mayor has become careless.
He is the thing above the law, if not
the law itself. He would have had no
fear in accepting this money on Main
street ut midday. He had no fear
when he came here and found he was
being spied Oh. , ~ - "
But H~ayden-there was the Difficult
ty that began the drama of Baldpate
inn. Hayden had few scruples; but, as
events tonight have well proved, MIR.
Magee, he was a coward at heart. l
do not know just why he lies on your
bed upstairs at this moment a 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. 1t
was he who suggested to Hayden that
an absolutely secluded spot for passing
this large sum of money would be the
inn. The idea appealed to Hayden.
Cargan tried to laugh him out of it.
The mayor did not relish the thought
of a visit to Baldpate mountain in the
dead of winter. particularly as he con-
sidered such precautions unnecessary.
But Hayden was firm. This spot, he
pointed out. was ideal, and the mayor
at last laughingly gave in. The sum
involved was well worth taking a lit
tie trouble to gain"
Professor Bolton paused and blinked
his dim old eyes.
80 the matter was arranged" he
continued. Mr.. Bland, a clerk in
Hayden's employ, was sent up here
with the money. which he placed in
the safe on the very night of u ar
rival. The safe had been left open by
Rutter. Bland did not have the com
bination. He put the package inside,
swung shut the door and awaited the
arrival of the mayor"
Il was present" smiled Magee, lat
the ceremony you mention"
Yes? All these plans, as l have
said. were known to DraytOn. A few
nights ago he came to me. He wanted
to send an emissary to Baldpate-a
man whom Cargan had met-One
who could perhaps keep up the pre-
tense of being here for some other
reason than a connection with the
bride. He asked me to undertake the
mission, to see all l could and if pos
sible to ecu the package Of money.
| This last seemed hardly likely. At