The Washington herald., 1914-08-02

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get me?"
you're a wonder, Rawsonp cried the
, district attorney enthusiastically. But
er-have you arranged with the mayor
to come? He might object to being
seen going into your ROOM"
"Oh, I've fixed that up all right,
laughed Rswson. Il shan't be there as
myself or as president of the Greater
Grafton Public Service Corporation.
am to appear in an entirely new guise-
as the Rev. Harrington B. Jones, gen.
eral secretary of the Progressive Mis-
sionary League of Hawaii, come to talk
over Sunday school organization with
the superintendent of the Hill Church
Sunday School. It's a rather slick ar
rsngement and quite necessary, for !
want to tell you, and those back of you
in this investigation, that your mayor is
about as polished gem in the grating
line as have ever encountered in or out
of reform circles. Subtle is his middle
name, and it is a wonder to me your
people haven't tried to use him instead
of Juggling him. He'd make an ideal
governor for lot OF fellows that know
just what they want"
You have an entire misconception of
the character of our people here, Mr..
Rawson," said the district attorney cold
ly. "My fsther-in-lsw's motives in this
case are wholly disinterested. Quite as
much so as my own"
"Oh, all right" said Rawson. "All
right, Mr.. Bobleigh. Nevertheless, if
this thing falls through you might bear
my suggestion in mind. Meanwhile get
me the $1,000 in nice, fresh hundred
dollar bills, please, and get Mr.. Jimpson
to fx matters up with the manager Of
the Grafton House so that can have
my dictagraph installed"
I'll have our own electrician attend
to it for you at once said the district
attorney.
No" said Rawson. Don't bother. l
prefer to use my own electricians"
To say that those gathered in Room
33o on the third floor of the Grafton
House were in state of futtering ex-
citement bordering upon nervous pros
tration on the evening OF May 10, the
date set for the final landing OF his
honor the mayor, is to put it with an
almost ethereal mildness. Even Wog-
lom, the imperturbably cool past master
in the devious ways of promotion, was
all a-quiver, and the district attorney
whose own eye had been fixed for years
on the mayoralty, could almost feel the
weight of the yearned-for mantle rest
ing upon his shoulders, his chief rival
the present incumbent, having fallen by
the wayside.
Jimpson and the two stenographers
alone remained outwardly cool, although
inwardIy they were consumed by the
fires of an excited anticipation compar-
able only to that of lot of children
face to face with a new and mysterious
toy. A large and expansive megaphone
stood on the center table connected with
the detectaphone in Room 2o, first floor
front below, and yawned silently upon
the gathering. Across the square the
town clock doomed out the hour of 8,
and then even whispered conversation
ceased, for this was the hour set for the
supreme act OF the drama OF landing the
mayor by the astute Rawson.
Suddenly, in tense moment, the meg
aphone reported the opening of door
in Room 20, followed by sounds sug-
gestive of the dropping OF suitcase
to the floor. Woglom's eye flashed as
his finger was lifted to his lips, enjoin-
ing all to stop, look and listen, and the
first words came over in the unmistake-
able tones OF bellboy.
Ice water, SIR"
No, thank you" said deep and most
unfamiliar barytone voice. "Is supper
still on?'
Eyes, sir" said the boy. "Dinin'-
rooms open till $50"
Thank you," said the barytone, and
then the slamming of the door was
heard as the boy departed.
Guess we've got EN- cinched this
time" said the district attorney in a
stage whisper. THE machines working
like dream
Ssh" hissed Woglom, holding up a
warning finger, for the megaphone had
begun to speak again.
AT lastT came the deep barytone
voice, in which there seemed to be con-
centrated all the honeyed sweetness of
a million years cf bee life.
This was followed by a long-drawn
out sibilance,, half suggestive of man
trying to start a reluctant horse, and
then a merry little feminine laugh.
Didn't Aunt Maria look funny!" said
giggling voice.
The district attorney scratched his
head in puzzled sort of way and stared
blankly at the machine.
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