The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-02-08

I
| would explain the reasonable rights OF
| the street car men.
On Saturday morning the visitors all
| went home, looking tagged about the
| eyes, without having done much more
! than pass some frothy resolutions and
| raise the feeble fund referred to and
| Investigate by electric light wha tever
the keys of the city would unlock; and
President Marley, staggering under the
| burden of his position, was very much
| worried.
He confided his fears to his future
son-in-law after he had seen the last
tired, hard working magnate on a train
headed for home and. remorse.
! II don't think these men appreciate
| as 1 do, the need of controlling street
car legislation he complained al
lerton's bill looks like menace to all
my interests, and 1 am little bit sur
prised that Sledge, since his entrance
| into the game on big scale, does not
seem more concerned about it,
ct was Sledge who arranged to have
these fellows come together Bert re
minded him.
Yes admitted Marley, ssbut he
seemed to have such feeble ideas about
what to do after he had them here
| 1t wasn't like his usual vigorous
| methods
'"Then he has something up his
sleeve" decided Bert. 81 wish that
fellow would drop dead. I'm afraid of
him.
You've been talking to Molly,
! laughed her father.
mo; I've been talking to Sledge,"
| lenfed Bert. II had just as lief have
rattlesnake devote its life to the am
| 3ition of sinking a fang into the calf
| # my leg as to have SIedge fussing in
With me- If l can find buyer for il
m going to unload my stock in that
musement park while the public still
links it will be built
Marley frowned his crushing dis
.easure.
you are expressing very small con
Ience in me- he reproved. II don't
&c why your nervousness about SIedgc
Aould extend to an operation which
apends on my judgment alone. The
idgewood Avenue extension is to be
.diit as fast as it can be pushed
rough. / have already ordered tho
Ills, the franchise cannot be disputed,
nd even if Sledge were to parallel
he RidgewOod avenue line it would
,nly bring more patronage to your
| park
mot mine,'' corrected Bert hastily.
as can, and I'll put that money
where Sledge can't reach it,
You're scared blue charged Mar
ley conternptuous Glow did you
come to get tangled up with sledge?"
81 met him down at the city hall. He
was wearing one of his fool red roses,
and think he saw me looking at it.
Perhaps I did grin. At any rate, he
stopped and asked me when I was to
be married to Molly
What did you tell him ?'
christmas. Molly, yesterday after
loon, warned me not to tell any one,
and particularly S1edge, that it is to be
Thanksgiving
seWhat did he say that scared you
sop
Nothing confessed Bert. .fHe only
smiled. I felt as if I had been in
cold RAIN
Same smile Molly described" Mar
ley laughed, though he was quite out
of patience II cannot understand
1olly's taking whimsical fright based
on nothing, but I didn't expect it of
?ou. Bert I have myself found Sledge
to be rather decent in the last few
days, and I am only annoyed because
he does not seem to see the necessity
of using his influence with A1lerton to
stop this street railway bill. I think l
shall see Allerton myself tomorrow
He comes home every Saturday night
Pursuant to that happy idea, the
president drove out to A11erton's house
the next morning and found the sena-
tor in the luxury Of pajamas, easy slip
pers and lounging robe amid an extrav-
iagant confusion of Sunday papers At
his right hand was taboret, on which
dubbed an electric coffee percolator,
and at his left hand was a feather
weight serving table, on which was
comfortable supply of cigarettes. In
front of him sat Ben Sledge.
"Hello, Marley,p greeted the senator
You're just in time for coffee
stHad mine hours ago. returned Mar
ley. nodding his return to sledge's
grunt
"Then it's time again. insisted the
senator pleasantly, ringing for another
cup. 'tOr would you prefer cocktail ?''
"a little of your exclusive rye, I
think, If you insist on anything ac-
cepted Marley, drawing a chair into the
coy little circle. You're trying to
save that rye or you would have Of
fered it in the first place.
mo; only trying to promote sobrie-
ty,'' bantered Al1erton. 81 suppose,
however, that memory of that good
Kentucky stock is what brought you
out. here on this peaceful Sabbath
morning
Hardly" denied Marley. Frankly
suppose I came on the same errand
as my rival and competitor here
whats that?' asked Al1erton, with
a glance at S1edge.
ITO find out what the dickens you
mean by that Infamous street railway
bill of which you are the disreputable
parent"
Allerton gazed at him blankly for
moment and again glanced quizzically
at Sledge. There was a low rumble