Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-09

which insured Molly and Bert and
himself an entrance into a new life
and new opportunities, which made
him safe from Sledge. and yet he felt
no great exultation.
1t was a relief to him when Molly
had him called to look at her where
she stood at the head Of the stairs In
her bridal gown. fresh and glowing
vision in her pure. sbimmerfng white.
The sight of her gave him thrill or
hopefuness too, the first Of the day.
You're beauty. Molly" he called
up to her. II declare. don't see how
| have been lucky enough to keep you
with me SO long as this"
That's nice daddy" she gayly as
sured him.
Bert came in from the conservatory
for the glimpse of her which he was
to be permitted, and naturally he
spoiled the picture by starting to dart
upstairs, an action which had the re-
suit Of sending not only Molly and
Fern, but the admiring maids scurry-
ing back to the boudoir. the door of
which sacred apartment they locked
| and boted and would have barred had
there been any means to do so. Bert,
quite properly defeated. came back
down the stairs and joined Marley.
"A bridegroom doesn't aElo1nt t.
much anyhow" he conventionally ad-
mitted
And a husband to less" supplement-
ed Marley. You'll discover by and
by, my boy, that the lords Of creation
are only lords by proxy"
You're trying to scare me-" protest
ed Bert.
mo. only to encourage you" insisted
Marley. THE happiest man in the
world is one who finds a wife capable
Of directing him and generous enough
to let him think he is doing it all him.
| self"
That's a new idea to me- pondered
Bert complacent through condescen-
sion only as he stroked his carefully
curled mustache and reflected upon his
own ability.
/ The worst of 1t is you have to grow
old to realize it. Marley gently insin
uated. Il was smart man until my
wife died. Won't you have drink
NO. thanks refused Bert. walking
disconsolately to the library. II prom
Used Molly the minister shouldn't smell
it On my breath.
"Afterward. them laughed Marley,
and, returning to his den, closed the
door just as tie bell of his extension
| telephone rang.
Hello. Marley" hailed the voice Of
! Willie Walters. Had your franchises
cancelled and regranted:"
! Don't need it, replied Marley. re-
fleeing instantly that he was out Of
the franchise worry. but curious never
! the less. What do you meant
I The Allerton bill was put through
I its final passage last night" explained
! Walters.
oh. yes. the Allerton bill" smiled
Marley. Il knew all about that
You don't seem to have got in early
on the advantages" remarked Walters.
seeming Il story. It's law now. OPP
erative from its passage"
1t won't hurt anybody" chuckled
Marley. There wasn't much Of i'm
pOrtance in it
Mo- qCeried Walters. Just enough
to make a political corpse Of Allerton
They'll emDroider that fifty year fran.
chise clause on his shroud"
franchise clause? | don't under
stand"
Il thought you didn't know the pro,
visions Of the BILL" went on Walters,
delighted to have unearthed a new an
gle to the story. The thing is so
beautifully juggled that it automatical,
!y extends all franchises granted with
III the last ten years to an extra fifty
years of lifetime on the same terms as
their original charter"
Good" returned Marley. "All my
franchises have been renewed within
the last ten years"
Now l know you've been asleep" re-
joiced Walters. not that he had any
enmity for Marley, but merely that he
liked good story. The bill specifica-
y does not apply to renewals, but to
original franchises Why. yours abso-
lutely expires in three years, if that's
the case; moreover, the franchises at
the end Of that time belong to Sledge's
company"
"lmpossible..' gasped Marley.
Get your alarm clock fixed" advis.
ed Walters. Monday night the coun-
Gil in secret session granted franchises
to Sledge's company covering every
street in the city, including-now, listen
including those streets now covered
by franchises when those franchises
expire"
For Just moment Marley felt the
strength leaving him. a spasmodic i'm
pulse due to an entirely automatic men
tai impression that he still owned the
old company.
Its bald faced stealw he hotly
charged, indignant at Sledge's whole
sale appropriation.
IT'S pippin." agreed Walters.
Fact Of the matter is. Marley, that
unless you completed that consolida-
ton with Sledge at the expiration Of
three years he can make you tear up
your rolling stock and other trash.
Did you consolidated"
IN