Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-03-09

@HAT sterling friend of the pop
ulace, that stalwart defender
of the rights and the morals
and the welfare and the purses
Of his admiring constituents, that vo-
citerous choice of the people. State
Senator Allerton. was discovered bv
Sledge in the act Of serving the public
interests by playing poker in the rooms
OF Assemblyman Buckley. and with
these two conscientious patriots, deep
also in the exercise Of their duties to
the commonwealth, We're the very men
Sledge wanted to sec-Franchise Wal
tiers, who was heavy set, but not fat,
and who looked like a prosperous shoe
merchant, and old Pop Gresham. the
red eyed administration wheelhorsc
from Pickerel county, and Calvin IT..
Luther, the ministerial looking profan-
ity expert, and Cap Digglcsby, the
avowed and professedly bitter enemy
Of Sledge, whose every white whisker
was needed as q calendar for his many
Z, honorable scars Of forensic battle.
1t was Cap Digglesby who was the
first to hail the visitor as he entered
the door.
"Hello, malefactor Of great wealth."
he called. Have you a spare queen of
clubs about your persona"
sim shy on queens" confessed
Sledge, looking down with Indifference
at the game he played so indifrerently.
Buckley, I'm dry"
Grant vo, 70 - ola -,o,D ,onI:.1
Buckley easily. He was a spare person,
with the neatly combed appearance Of
g dancing master, but with intensely
clear eyes and deep creases in his
cheeks. II sent word to the bar as soon
as the phone announced you. Your
stein will be right up"
Thanks" grunted Sledge, and con-
stderately fell to estimating the jack
pot.
Allerton, q smooth featured man
with u good forehead and a smiling
eye, picked up the two cards which
had been dealt him, compared them
judically with the three he held, fold
ed them together with minute care
and tucked them neatly under the
deck. Looking up, he caught the cold
ly disinterested eye Of Sledge. Every
man Of the six at the table had tried
that same thing, but Allerton was the
only II who succeeded. Sledge, paus-
ing to inspect carelessly the bountiful-
ly arranged sideboard, moved into the
adjoining room. Allerton arose from
the table.
Deal me out for a couple Of rounds"
he suggested. Buckley. watch my
stack. There's twenty-three fifty in it,
and Pop Gresham's pile is mighty
low"
y Pop Gresham tool ten blues from
Allerton's assortment and added them
to his own.
"Charge nj ten from your friends
treasury, Buckley" he chuckled, with
q playfulneSs intended to conceal his
real satisfaction.
"Well. what's new?" asked Allerton,
closing he.1oor carefully behind him
and sitting on tho edge Of Ruckley's
bed. "
Street car business" returned
sledge.
81 see VIC have two companies down
home" remarked Allerton. (Which
n are you imp
"New one. Seven hundred and fifty
thousand
"Whew." whistled Allerton. ANY
money involved?"
"All cash." Sledge told him. ION the
level"
"You must have a good outlook"
wondered Allerton.
"NaWw repudiated Sledge. It's rot
ten! No franchises"
81 thought you held easily salable
ones, from what I saw in the papers,"
puzzled Allerton. IF you haven't,
= however, you can easily get them from
the city council"
They're no good" insisted sledge.
"Short terms"
That's right" agreed Allerton, be-
ginning to see the light. franchises
in this state can be granted for twenty
years and are renewable in ten year
periods at the option Of the city coun-
Gil. 1 suppose your new franchises are
for twenty years."
"Uh-hunh!" assented Sledge. That's
when the profits begin"
"For both the company and its Off
cial friends" smiled Allerton. ITS
rather a good provision as far as the
public is concerned. however. 1t gives
the people a voice"
why" demanded Sledge. "They
only ride"
"And pay" amended Allerton. I'VE
talked this over before at Waivers
house and at your Office. 1 think 1
called attention to the fact that the
people were beginning to expect a con-
sideration for such valuable property
as franchises"
"They expect n private car for a
NICKEL" claimed sledge. I'VE need