Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-18
The Best of Chester
K TALE OF RED ROSES
BY George Randolph Chester
Asshss Of Co. R,ch .Quak wsiaostord, &c.
cop,rsuatst n Bottle coapsv
CHAPTER XVI (Continued)

CHAPTER XVI (Continued)
"Keep your seat, Sledge," he observ
I'd. as he nodded to Cap. Digglesby
Bledee's bitterest and most relentless
foe on the floor of the house Of repre-
sentatives
eyes, keep it five handed" urged Dig
vlesby. 81 want to stretch my legs a
Few minutes, and a four handed poker
game Is about as exciting as a prayer
meeting"
Digglesby walked around the room
two or three times, and looked at the
patriotic pictures with which the walls
were plentifully decorated for the ben
efit Of Buckley's earnest constituents
then he sauntered into the hall, and
stretched his legs into the next room,
where tho senator, In deep thought,
awaited him.
DxRlesby returned to the poker
game by and by, and, as he sat down,
smiled cheerfully at Buckley. Buck
ley, who had been playing casino,
seven-up and pinocle with his poker
cards, and making a mad havoc In Al
lerton's chips in consequence, immedl-
ately drew a pair to his triplets, and
.sbet his head of" with keen zest.
Digglesby gave no sign or glance at
9ledge. but, nevertheless, after another
deal, Sledge arose stohdly from the
table. and, without making any bones
about 1t, walked directly into the bed
room. Allerton was lounging in a
cuahioned window-sill, smoking Gig
Arctic, and with his foot pushed the
biz leather rocker around to more In
vttinx position.
u Tho old veteran found way" he
comfortably explained. IF we attempt
cd to railroad a bill empowering the
Kranting Of fifty-year franchises with
cut remuneration, 1t would be showed
under 80 quickly that the teller could
not keep track of the votes. There
aren't ten men In the capitol building
would dare 90 home to their constit-
uents IL they supported such meas
ure"
sure not" agreed Sledge. "Never
let anybody do anything in law;
keep ON from it."
That's the idea" assented Allerton.
Restrictive legislation. The people
are strong for that just now, anyhow.
Digglesbys idea is to call the act "A
Bill for the Protection Of municipalities
Against the Monopolistic Perpetuity OF
Street Car Companies
Great" approved Sledge. 1T
sounds fierce If they get it. don't my
self, but know It's against the monop-
olies."
.'It's almost harsh with them dryly
commented Allerton. THE bill will re-
strict the car companies to painful
degree. 1t will make it a penal Of
tense on the part Of the officers to bond
q company for more than it's capitali-
zation.'
Sledge chuckled.
"The bankers convention will in
dorse that" he said.
"The bill will prevent street-railway
companies from running open or sum-
mer cars when the thermometer is be-
low forty degrees Fahrenheit. 1t will
prevent the running of winter cars
without doubleglass protection for the
motormen. 1t will be made illegal to
have more than one strap in every
eighteen inches of space. 1t will be
made illegal for a full car to run by a
signaling pedestrian and it will be
made illegal, although this will be scat
tered in three or four places in the bill,
and surrounded with a lot of ambig-
uous language, for any franchise to be
granted for as long period as fifty
years
That's the talk nodded Sledge.
Restrictive legislation
II thought you could get along with
forty-nine years and eleven months
stated Allerton. Moreover, I think we
can frame the bill to protect the people
~Can you slip 1t through
"Digglesby thinks SO; although he
agrees with me that, about six months
after It's done, somebody will explain it
70 that voters will understand it, and
the man who fathers it will have his
name chiseled alongside Benedict Ar.
nold's"
Hes dead" commented Sledge,
with keen philosophy.
Exactly conceded Abortion. with a
philosophy which, though unexpressed,
was still keener. There's only one
political post of any worth which would
be open to him after the prejudiced
public had it's erroneous Judgment per.
manently fixed"
"The senate guessed Sledge.
The United States Senate" firmly
repeated Allerton looking Sledge
squarely in the eye That's the one
place in which political opprobrium can
not reach man."
Sledge studied long and carefully,
md made some painstaking readjust-
ments. In order to make place for
Dne man, he had to do considerable
shifting on his political chessboard, and
eventually push pawn of the edge.
"Ill see what can be done about
shat" he promised. .....
"That matter being clearly under
stood. as we'll as the others we men,
tioned-the legal representation and
the amount of stock am to acquire
! think the bill feasible one, and the
legislation to be exactly such as is
needed by the changing requirements
of our modern civilization"
applause" observed Sledge, devel-
oping an unexpected turn for repartee.
Twill Digglesby fight the bill himself?'
"No. he'll nut Bailey COODer on the