Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-03-09

park"
mot mine." corrected Bert hastily
"I'll get my money out Of 1t as quich
as I can, and I'll put that money
where Sledge can't reach It." a.F.
You're scared blue" charged Mar
ley contemptuously. How did you
come to get tangled up with SledgeT
81 met him down at the city hall. He
was wearing one of his fool red roses
and I think he saw me looking at It
Perhaps l did grin. At any rate be
stopped and asked me when I was to
be married to Molly" ,.-. g.
"What did you tell him"
christmas. Molly, yesterday after
noon. warned me not to tell any one
and particularly Sledge, that 1t is to be
Thanksgiving" 80 -,-,.
what did be say that scared you
SOP" ., "a ..
Nothing" confessed Bert. He only
smiled. felt as II l had been in 9
cold rain" -.
Same smile Molly described" Mar
ley laughed. though he was quite ou,
Of patience. II cannot understand
Molly's taking whimsical fright based
on nothing. but didn't expect 1t OF
you. Bert. I have myself found Sledge
10 be rather decent In the last few
days, and l am only annoyed because
he does not seem to see the necessity
of using his influence with Allerton to
stop this street railway bill. think
shall see Allerton myself tomorrow.
He comes home every Saturday night.
Pursuant to that happy idea, the
president drove out to Allerton's house
the next morning and found the sena.
tor In the luxury Of pajamas. easy slip
pers and lounging robe amid an extrav-
agant confusion of Sunday papers. AT
his right hand was taboret, on. which
bubbled an electric coffee percolator.
and at his left hand was a feather
weight serving table, on which was a
comfortable supply Of cigarettes. In
front Of him sat Ben Sledge. --.
"Hello, Marley" greeted the senator
You're just In time for coffee"
"Had mine hours ago." returned Mar.
ley, nodding his return to sledge's
-grunt. - n
"Then it's time again." insisted the
senator pleasantly, ringing for another
rup65fw6uid you prefer cocktaili"
"a little Of your exclusive rye. ]
think, If you insist on anything &C.
cepted Marley, drawing chair into the,
cozy little circle. you're trying to,
save that rye or you would have or.
fered it in the first place"
"No; only trying to promote sobrie-
ty," bantered Allerton. II suppose,
however, that a memory Of that good
Kentucky stock Is what brought you
out here on this peaceful Sabbath
morning"
Hardly" denied Marley. Frankly
| suppose ! came on the same errand
as my rival and competitor here
whats that" asked Allerton. with
a glance at Sledge. CO.,. -
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 low rumble
down in Sledge's throat, but neither
his face nor his eyes betrayed any SEN
timent or emotion whatsoever.
81 mean to protect the honest work
ingman. to save our houses and fre1
sides and add honor and glory to the
American fag." responded Allerton SOL
emnly.
Marley accepted that merry Quip
with the courteous chuckle which It de-
served.
"Outside Of that and drying the tears
of the widows and orphans, what do
you propose to accomplish by it? be
persisted In like vein. "If didn't
know you were above spitework |
should think that you had 1t In for the
street car interests"
Again the senator looked at him With
a puzzled air, then he turned to Sledge.
Doesn't be know anything" he
queried.
"Naw!" rumbled Sledge.
81 see," answered Allerton coolly. u
supposed you all knew that before the
bill was passed 1t would be amended
to conserve the important financial in
terests."
Marley pondered that statement
awhile, and then he laughed.
"Of course" he said. "It's only polit.
ical ciaptrap, intended to make the
voter think you are eternally on the
Job in his interests"
II wouldn't put 1t In exactly that
way soberly reproved Allerton justly
offended by this coarse method OF I'm
pugning his motives.
81 apologize" said Marley. = should
have said the bill displays that you
constantly have the interests OF your
constituents at heart We were rather
exercised about 1t. but we should moi
have been. for in your long service FOR
the public | do not think you have ever
promoted or fostered any legislation
which would be destructive OF capital.
Certainly not" agreed Allerton. who
never let down his pose IN the presence
of man who had not proved bis righ
to sit within the sacred circle. with
out the proper and legitimate fostering
of enterprises requiring extensive hnan
cial support there can be no naiona
prosperity"
That's sound enough doctrine,
commended Marley. What are th'
amendments which are to soften th'