Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-29

a sRARLEY, es president of the
= Ring City Street Railway
i " company and as chairman of
4 the impromptu convention of
..,.st car magnates. was so full of
i hpsiuess that he felt stuffed like sau-
j ,,ys To his mind the fund they had
1 nsed to fight Allerton's Ubiquitous leg
4 ,,stion was woefully inadequate, and
4 =. men who should have been most
s,,srested were strangely optimistic
4 q. suggested 70 several of them that
.h.y appoint committee to see Aller
/ AN and arrange some sort of compro-
j misc but here again he found an unex-
,scted lukewarmness. Nobody seemed
i !, think that Allerton could be
reached" and as a matter of fact ev-
~ time he preached that subject he
sound his fellow magnates evasive
The newspapers need not have blazed
81 much about the probable corruption
hnd. because there positively was
osne. The subscription secured was
auly for the conduct of publicity cam
rsisn and TO pay for the services Of a
srfectly legitimate lobbyist, who
would explain the reasonable rights of
The street car men.
1 On Saturday morning the visitors all
vent 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 whatever
4 the keys of the city would unlock and
I President Marley, staggering under the
tarden Of his position. was very much
worried.
Il He con6ded his fears to his future
s0n.nlaw after he had seen the last
tired. hard working magnate on train
beaded for home and remorse.
Il don't think these men appreciate,
as do. the need of controlling street
car legislation" he complained. AL
leton's bill looks like menace to all
ny interests, and | am a little bit sur
prised that Sledge, since his entrance
into the game on a big scale. does not
seem more concerned about it
1T was Sledge who arranged to have
these fellows come together" Bert re
minded him.
Yes" admitted Marley. but he
seemed to have such feeble ideas about
what 10 do after he had them here.
Il wasn't like his usual vigorous
methods
Then he has something up his
sleeve" decided Bert. Il wish that
1 fellow would drop dead. I'm afraid of
him
You've been talking to Molly"
laughed her father
NO: I've been talking TO Sledge,'
denied Bert. Il had just as lief have
arattlesnake devote its life to the am
btiOn Of sinking a fang into the calf
of my leg as to have Sledge fussing in
with me. II can find a buyer for it
4 I'm going to unload my stock i'll that
amusement park while the public still
thinks it will be built
Marley frowned his crushing dis
pleasure
You are expressing very small con
hdence in me- he reproved. II don't
see why your nervousness about Sledge
should extend to an operation which
depends on my judgment alone. The
kdgew0od avenue extension is to be
Quilt as fast as it can be pushed
through. ] have already ordered the
rails the franchise cannot be disputed,
ana even il Sedge were to parallel
the RidgeWoOd avenue line it would
only bring more patronage to your
park"
Not mine corrected Bert hastily.
I'll get my money out of it as quick
as | can. and I'll put that money
Where Sedge can't reach it."
You're scared blue" charged Mar
icy contemptuously. How did you
come to get tangled up with Sledge"
met him down at the city hall. He
was wearing one Of his fool red roses
and think he saw me looking at it
fefhaps | did grin. At any rate. he
stopped and asked me when I was &c
De married to Molly"
What did you tell him.
christmas Molly, yesterday after
loon, warned me not 10 tell any one
!, end particularly Sledge, that it is to bt
Thanksgiving"
What did he say that scared yo,
sor,
Nothing" confessed Bert. He onl,
smiled. | felt as II I had been in
cold rain
Same smile Molly described" Mar
e! laughed. though he was quite gu
" patience Il cannot understan
aoiys taking whimsical fright base
Va nothing, but | didn't expect 1t o
''u. Bert. have myself found Sledg
se rather decent in the last fey
ys' and am only annoyed becaus
does not seem to see the necessit
using his influence with Allerton [
sup this street railway bill. think
al see Allerton myself tomorrow
comes home every Saturday night.
PURSUANT TO that happy idea. tn
resident drove out to Allerton's hous
e next morning and found the sens
III tne luxury Of pajamas, easy Sill
ss and longing robe amid an extra'
sent confusion of Sunday papers. a
nght hand was a taboret, on whic
uooied an electric coffee percolato
a al his left hand was q feathe
e'snt serving table, on which was
,orable supply Of cigarettes. !
sas Of him sat Ben Sledge,