Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-02-08

Nor took q drink" added Sledge,
and another sigh, which was almost
like a sob, impeded his utterance.
by the way" Phil informed him,
Sunny Jim Keller is dead" "
Gee, the boss is cut up about BobT'
Phil reported to Blondy. 81 told him
about Sunny Jim, and he never even
grunted. That means the, whole third
wards gone"
Sledge was not so unimpressed as he
seemed to be, however, for presently
he sent for Phil and instructed that a
big floral piece be sent and that the
widows affairs be looked into.
Bendiy came in by and by, looking
very much worried, and sat down heav-
lily. r.
"How's Bob?" he asked.
Hes all right" declared Sledge.
Not a whimper out Of him."
Bendix hesitated a moment.
did you hear that Sunny Jim Keller
is dead?" he inquired. :
Sledge nodded. ...
There amt man up there could
take the leadership of that ward" went
on Bendix, much discouraged. TITS the
Third that has always saved us"
Sledge, sitting heavily, did not an
swer. He seemed to have collapsed
like a huge figure Of dough settling
into pan.
THAT means we lose the Third
ward" Bendix spiritlessly pursued, 80
were in bad, politically"
Sledge was still motionless.
II looked up Marley's Ridgewood
avenue franchise" resumed Bendix.
"It's good. all right. Yesterdays meet
ing was bright one for him. A few
shares of traction stock traded hands
on the board today. The last lot
brought fifty-one. Bert Glider is float.
ing his amusement park. Hes made a
dicker with the company already form.
ed to abandon the Lincoln Road park,
and they're to take over the Person
tract The Lincoln road property is to
be used for car barns, according to the
latest dope from Marley, and Glider
gets $4,000 in stock and management
Of the park. 1t looks like cinch for
pretty Bert" =.
Sledge raised his chin half inch
and dropped it again.
81 saw Bozzam," Bendix. went on
with his report. ''He claims that,
while you own Is per cent of the stock
Of the new traction company and could
swing everything in vote, he is the
duly authorized agent Of the company
and has the right to sell its franchises
at the best price he can get, SO he's
going to close with Marley"
"Hunh!" srunted Sledge.
$50 we lose there, relentlessly pur-
sued Bendix. "At this stage of the
game you had expected to have Marley
entirely frozen out and to own the ma
jority of stock yourself, announce the
purchase Of the franchises and raise
the stock to par. Now the stocks go
ing up, and most of it has been grabbed
by Marley. figure he'll clean up
about 100000 on this deal"
SIedge favored him with the begin
ming Of chuckle at himself. but that
was all.
Waiver has decided not to sell his
house. He'll go to Switzerland, all
right, but he prefers to keep his resi-
dence here"
Sledge smiled. ,. 1t was like the gri-
mace Of man in the electric chair.
but the worst is yet to come" per-
sisted Bendix, beginning to have Ger.
tain lugubrious enjoyment in the inter
minable list Of disasters. "Schwarz.
man tells me that Judge Lansdale
positively refuses that appointment as
attorney for the anti-dry movement. If
he stays on the bench, Sledge, nothing
on earth will make you right. With
all your power, and all your influence,
and all your money, and all your
friends, you can't get away from that
trial; and if you ever come to show.
down they'll get you. The best you
can do will be two years away from
the sunshine. When you so out for a
walk you'n have your hand on the
shoulder Of the man in front Of you,
and when you get back into the Occi-
dent you won't have enough of the or
ganization left to act as pallbearers.
Sledge's chin sank little lower on
his collar. He had never permitted
the shadow of defeat to touch even the
hem of his coat, but now its dimness
seemed very close to him. and in that
shade there was chill.
Adolph brought in letter, a square
white envelope which looked strangely
out Of place on the edge of a beer tray.
Bendix took it, sent Adolph out with
a jerk of his thumb and started to
open it, but the flap was sealed with a
fancifully wrought monogram stamp.
ed in gold sealing wax. and after a
moment Of reflection he passed it 81.
iently over to his chief.
Sledge opened it mechanically and
drew out neatly engraved card, which
read as follows:
Mr.. B. Franklin Marley
... bSgs to announce the