Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-01-25

4 . +
sect out Of my stomach, stockhold-
en-" he grufly ordered and pushed lit
tie Henry's derby tightly down over
his ears just as another machine drew
out of the fretting rearward line and,
stopped by the ragged gutter. rested
abreast Of Marley's machine. The con-
ductor having restored the lights, the
attention u the uncomfortable passen.
gers was now directed to the new
conner. a heavy, .jowed man of middle
age, who sat as stolidly in his run
about by the side Of his driver as If
he had been at home dining.
cts Sledge," said the man with the
frayed cigar. "He gets his little old
rakeoff, too, from ja1nming sixty people
into forty passenger car. While he's
running the town this rotten old line
won't have any competition
.Mr. Sledge is a good customer Of
mine," observed the fat butcher.
"There's one thing about Ben Sledge
he always keeps some big city i'm
proyement going on announced the
Irishman who had extinguished little
Henry Peters. y,
Little Henry pulled his derby audi
bly, off his head and rubbed, the red
circle it had left.
"Mr. sledge is the workingman's
friend" he declared.
Jaw, shut up!' ordered the gannt
Celtic laborer and kicked his ankle by
way of accidental emphasis.
1t was strange that, while everybody
on the car kept the name Of Frank
Marley sacred to their hatred, the name
oe Sledge, who was notorious through.
out the United States for his utterly
conseienceless methods Of public theft,
was received with equanimity.
Meanwhile Sledge, turning to see
who his neighbors might be, met the
eye Of Frank Marley and nodded per-
functorily and then bent his entire at
tention on Molly. gazing at her in stol-
i'll concentration. with no more change
of expression on his heavy features
than If he had been reading a time
table. Bert Glider noticed his rude
ness and tried In mood of intense
aggravation to catch Sledge's eye and
reprove him with a savage frown, but
he might as well have tried to catch
the eye Of an oyster Sledge, perfect
~ contented with the pleasing picture
which sat before him, continued to
stare calmly until Molly, discerning
from Bert's countenance that some.
thing was wrong, turned to meet the
small gray eyes Of Sledge fixed thought
fully upon her. She wheeled abruptly
to her father.
"Isn't that the scandalous Sledge3'
she asked, annoyed and still amused.
Her father nodded his head and
smiled. his nose becoming still more
pointed in the process
"Well. introduce him.. can make
him stop staring. them" she ordered
"He can't drive on"
~ say, Sledge." called Marley, lean,
ing forward. 'This is my daughter,
Molly
Sledge tugged at his hat and smiled
his acknowledgment Of the introduc,
ton.
"Glad to meet you," he told Molly
II didn't know you had sucha fine
looking girl. Marley. She's a corker,'
and once more he viewed Miss Molly
with quiet appreciation. in which there
was dawning gliinmer Of quite I'M
Sledge-like enthusiasm.
81 think so myself laughed Marley.
First thing I know she'll be getting
married."
'Suren' agreed Sledge, contemplate
Ing her earnestly in this new light.
I'D marry her myself"
The street car ahead gave forward
lurch, and the hamingly indignant
Molly darted into the opening.
"The ugly brute!'' she gasped.
There arrived on the morning train.
escorted to the platform by a distinct
~ worshipful porter. a tall. big boned
gentleman in q light gray suit Of fine
texture, plump. careless man to
whom one would instinctively turn for
a tediously funny story, and a hard
jawed man of most forbidding eX-
preston, who looked about as commu.
NEGATIVE as cabbage. This gentle.
man ioafed about the hotel with his
mouth shut. while the other two
secuted" Promptly at IL o'clock they
returned from their various directions
and gathered in the room Of the smil-
ing tall one in the gray suit.
- swell, Timbers. Is 1t as cheerful as
we thought?" asked the host. settling
himself In the most comfortable chair.
Looks gay and merry to me. Boz
zam.". replied Mr.. Timbers. folding his
hands on his fat knee and frowning
intently at a little slip Of paper he held
between his thumb and ,forefinger
"Sledge IS, of course. the whole works" "
whats the approach to Sledge?'
'Tom Bendix." returned Timbers
promptly. consulting his slip OF paper.
He Sits everything before it gets to
the big boy, and you don't need any
introductions. The best plan Isl to go
right to his Office and give him the
Straight story"