The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-16

David's last hope shifted his cigar from the speaking corner of his mouth to the chewing corner and spoke. As he spoke he eyed David through half closed eyes and cloud of cigar smoke. Yet, despite these obscura- tions, David felt as though certain part of his soul were being keenly searched and shrewdly appraised.
 MT. Temple. if you're the kind of man we want, this will turn up to be your luclziest day in a month of Sun days" Timothy Rourge began. He stopped for moment to get part of David's measure from his first words. But David merely nodded gravely. "1 suppose you know my brother is at the head of the party that's at the head Of this here city, don't your"
 Again David nodded. He felt an in stinctive distrust of what this man had to propose and had no intention of making Rourke aware of how sorely any proposition of work would tempt him at this time.
 Rourke narrowed his eyes little more. This young fellow wasn't giv- ing away any too much of himself. he thought. He wasn't any one'Sfool. This meant that Rourke would have to play most of his cards face up with him, or as much so as poli- tician dares, to make his game plain. ''well MT. Temple, the brass tacks of it is this: Rourke & Burke need good architect on their staff, and the job means all sorts of good things to ,ira III willin'!' he said significantly.
 willing to do what?" David asked quietly.
 "oh, all sorts of things" Rourke re- piled, vagueness in his words but not his meaning. Wil1in' to do team work with the people who pay him his good money Willin' to show ap- preciation to the party that's giving his bosses their good fat city con- tracts. By the way, what is your poli- tics?"
 'T don't belong to any political party" David replied.
 Good. Then there won't be no trouble in your joining my brothers party" Rourke said heartily.
 That will stand thinking over" David said after a pause.
 ''No more than just this one thought. my friend" Rourke said, taking his cigar out of his mouth to point em- phasis to his remark. If you're irl- terested at all in the proposition of hooking up with Rourke & Burke and 8 big future you'll have to hook up with the political organization that's behind them"
 And the big future for me-is wbat?" David asked.
 ''Figure it out yourself, young manF
 IA<xar flYr note of triumph in his voice. 'The city builds dozens of schools, libraries, free baths, courthouses and whatnots every year. And Rourke X Burke does most of the city's work And their architects do their architecting. Do you begin to see light, young fel- ler?''
 Not altogether" David parried. "You've come to me with this offer of a job for which many a man of my profession already in your organi- zation must have made a strong bid. Do you know anything about me?'
 Don't worry; we've looked you up. DO you know that 8 factory l drew up plans for collapsed?" David felt he could gauge what Rourke wanted of him by the kind of record Rourke had found out about him.
 "Happens in the best of families, Mir. Temple" Rourke waved the question off cheerfully. Sure I know about that. Looks like grating contractor had used scrap iron instead of steel in the beams and you wasn't to blame at all.''
 David was so startled at Rourke's sighting of what to another prospec- tive employer would be a fatal ad- mission on the part of candidate for work that he felt lie needed time and thought before he accepted Rourkes offer-or rejected 1t.