Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-01-28


Of the rights and the morals
and the welfare and the purses
Of his admiring constituents, that vo
ciferOus choice Of the people. State
Senator Allerton, was discovered by
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, were the very men
Sledge wanted to see-Franchise Wal
tiers, who was heavy set, but not fat,
and who looked like prosperous shoe
merchant, and old Pop Gresham, the
red eyed administration wheelhorse
from Pickerel county, and Calvin T.
Luther. the ministerial looking profan
ity expert. and Cap Digglesby. the
avowed and professedly bitter enemy
Of Sledge, whose every white whisker
was needed as calendar for his many
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 person?"
I'm shy on queens" confessed
Sledge. looking down with indifference
at the game he played so indifferently.
Buckley. I'm dry"
BEAT you to it, old man." replied
Buckley easily. He was spare person.
with the neatly combed appearance Of
a 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-
siderately fell to estimating the Jack.
pot.
Allerton, a, smooth featured man
with a 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 one who succeeded. Siedge. paus-
ing to inspect carelessly the bOuntiful
ly arranged sideboard. moved into the
adjoining room Allerton arose from
the table.
Deal me out for couple Of rounds"
he suggested. Buckley. watch my
stack There's twenty-three fifty in it.
and Pop Gresham's pile is mighty
low"
Pop Gresham took ten blues from
AllertOn'S assortment and added them
to his own
"Charge me ten from your friends
treasury, Buckley" he chuckled, with
| a playfulness intended to conceal his
real satisfaction.
well, what's new?" asked Allerton.
closing the door carefully behind him
and sitting on the edge of Buckley's
bed.
"Street car business" returned
Sledge.
II see we have two companies down
home" remarked Alerton (which
one are You in:"
New one. Seven hundred and fifty
thousand"
"Whew~ whistled A'erton. ANY
money invOlved?'
"All cash." Sleo-e loid him. ION the
level"
"You must have good outlook ~
| wondered Allerton.
"Naw! repudiated Siedge. ITS rot
ten! No franchises"
II thought you held easily salable
ones, from what 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-
ell. 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. "It's
rather gool provision as far as the
public is concerned, however. 1t gives
the peoDie a voice"