Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-02-04

:: Nellgan, in obedience to his chief
had opened the outer door. Standish
after quick and seemingly indifferen
look that itemized the rooms occu
pants. walked forward. Neligan care
fully closed the door behind him.
The men nodded stifily, uncomfort
ably, in response to the visitors Sigh
bow.
Good evening. gentlemen" sait
Standish pleasantly. This setting Q
the stages seems to suggest Daniel IL
the lions den. hope none Of 20,
has made the error of casting me fol
the role Of Daniel"
Neligan's lips few apart with thu
force OF retort that leaped to them
But the words were never formulated
For Blake, beaming on the newcomer
like father upon his dearest lovet
son, exclaimed affectionately: H..
i why, how are you, my boy? How
are you? Take a chair. Neligan. gel
him "a 4
Thanks" declined standish. Il cal
talk better on my feet" ~,
"Oh!" deprecated Blake, In pathetic
disappointment. You've come to talk
l was hoping you had come to"
ITO lie DOWN." supplemented Stand
ish. .Sa ...s-
"Well." answered Blake oracularly
"the man who lies down can get ur
again. But the man who is knocked
down, is apt to take the count.
THE question is this, Mr.. Standish.'
broke In Mark, impatiently at his IA
,ther-in-law's slower method Of reach
ing the point. 5"'Will you support us
or will you not?' .s e /,
II will not" returned Standish.
"Or at least resign your leader
ship p =
mo. thought we had settled all
that"
Then. asked Van Dyke. you are
prepared to take the consequences.
Mr.. Standish?"
III there are onsequences-yes."
.Oh, there'll be consequences, all
right" Blake assured him. "Hell's full
of consequences So you won't even
protect the Woman"
& You haven't found her yet.
Mop smiled Blake. "Son, told
you there was trap. Well. it caught
her. And we'll have her name in halt
an hour at most. Probably sooner. II
you think that's bluff. you're wei
come to. But you've only a halt -houI
to keep on thinking It," 81
Look here. gentlemen" said Stan
dish, turning to the others. "All this
does not interest me in the least
came here tonight for just one rea
son-to appeal to your sense OF JUS
dce."
A ripple OF derision from his hearers
stirred his slow voice to slightly faster
measure. &.
"You can't beat me-" he went on
"And you know it as well as do.
am secure. But. for the sake Of others
I ask you not to make political capita
out OF something in my private life.'
Gregg's loose mouth parted In 9
grin. Neligan laughed aloud. But
Mark Robertson could see no humor II
the situation. Va, b
You're wrong, Standish." he de
clared. .''This scandal will beat you
= LET us suppose. for arguments
sake that 1t would agreed Standish
Cant appeal to your honor? Wont
you fight fairly?" 4
well publish the truth retorted
Mark. 1T that's unfair, s$s@
1T is unfair. If not to me. then tc
the Woman, 4 vi. I. s5s y. Y 4 4 .sss BIS &
1T is too late to go into that matter
now, Mr.. Standish. Your presence
here tonight is. by itself, strong proof
against you; If further proof were
needed" .zf q. II
standish made a gesture OF weary
impotence. ,...ii & 5a .fts., hi
z "Proof?" he echoed II don't deny
the story. You wouldn't dare use II
II you couldn't prove it. But. gentle
men, there comes time-even in poll
tics-when we've got to be men first
and politicians afterward. isSs
& "Then." suggested Blake. "be a man
Give up the fight"
"No," replied Standish. II won't be
blackmailed. The affair was over and
done with before / asked the people to
accept me as their leader. Long be
fore. 1t has no bearing on my pres
ent fitness.
That's your misfortune" sneered
Mark. "The people have a right to
know who represent them. In the
newspaper articles we have prepared,
there are no facts we cannot prove;
your affair with the Woman-your
failure to carry out your pledge to
marry her" Il
Then the story, is written?" ex.
claimed Standish.
1T is In type" put in Van Dyke,
"and waiting our word to send 1t out
to the whole country"
II see." unused Standish. "And see
how such a story will be handled in
print. You'll use every trick Of sug.
gestion. every fact inferring lie"
And" cried Mark, ut will beat you.
1t will beat you. man---and that's what
we've been working for, for years"
.Im not beaten yet. ;" retorted Stand
ish. ."And ! advise you, Governor Rob
ertson, to be careful"
"Oh. we shall be careful" returned
Van Dyke. "The proprietor Of the no.
tel is coming tonight. The hotel where
Mr.. and Mrs. Fowler were registered.
We may not need him to identity her.
But he'll be on hand in case we do,
Take my word for 1t, Mr.. Standish,
you'll save great deal Of unneces.
sary trouble If you'll quietly step down
and out"