Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-14
The Red Mouse
A Story of Love, Jealousy and Politics
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

lLlON OSBOkNE
Thorne, the next time the Legislature meets
To choose u senator"
Thorne's insolcnce had returned as he
demanded:
''Do you mean to tell me that your name
will be presented in the caucus|
That's precisely what I mean"
"Df course you'll try to buy votes with
the 'haloncr money you have
'l'll get the Votcs-ucver fear
TRY it, then--Ill match you dollar for
dollar"
"Not with dollars coined from Cradle
baughs, nor from Corruptions, declared
Murgatroyd
Thorne's eyes narrowed.
"Murgatroyd," said he, you reckon with
out your host--no matter who owns Cradle
baugh's-or runs II. The organization has
its finger on every Grand Jury, every petit
jury, every judge, You can't accomplish
the impossible until you've beaten Peter
Broderck and the organization, and until
you do this you can't beat me-you can't
prove your assertions--your hands are tied
The organization backs me up
'If your name" retorted Murgatroyd de-
liberately, "is presented for Senator, it will
be withdrawn, and mine will be presented in
its place"
Who'll present it, snecred Thorne.
That" smiled Murgatroyd, mysteriously,
"is my business and not yours. But mas
much as you told me your story, Thorne,' y
he went on "let me tell YOU mine now. All
my life I've struggled like the devil 10 get
the things | wanted, and ! failed. But a
big change is about to take place--here and
, now You stop right here: and where you
| stop. begin IT'S my turn! The things you
want want. Your surest and your best
desires are my desires, II you've got them
in your hand, as you think YOU have. why
then" he clenched his hands-"l'll take
them away from you. The time has come,
Thorne, when you are going to get the
things that you don't want, and you are
going to get them hard I'm going to get
the things you want, yes, and by George
I'll get you too That's all I've"
Murgatroyd did not iinish Thorne had
departed.
The next day at o'clock there was a
resounding rap on the prosecutors private
Office door.
Come in :" said Murgatroyd,
The door opened and Peter Broderck
| came putting into the room with perfect
nonchalance
He had had day to think things over
and he had made up his mind that the
Outburst of the prosecutor had been all
bluster. Selling a chair, he drew it up
| to the desk and sat down, saying
Il never refuse an invitation TO see a
| man alone; and now that we are alone,
don't mind telling you that I'm ready for
| another one of them good cigars
| The prosecutor passed a box, from which
Broderck helped himself to "A cigar. lit it,
| and after sending a few clouds of smoke
| in the air, went on
DO you know, Murgatroyd, that
| haven't had a good chance to talk to you
| since the Challoner case--you've been SO
blamed oflish all the time But now, here
| | am sitting here with you--you, the only
| mugwump in the town that | ever used tC
| be afraid of-and you know | can say
| any blamed thing | please to you. and you
got to take it and say nothn'. Do yol
| know that I'm one of the few that believe
| the truth about that bribe?'
| Murgatroyd smiled
| "In other words, you think we're botf
| in the same boats that it?'
| Not a bit OF II :" returned BroderiClS
| I'm in coal barge; you're in n motor
boat Why, Murgatroyd there's many {
| man been in honest politics all his life
| like me- for instance and who's never pulled
out three quarters of "A million Not much
| And out of one deal, too! Why look a
me?" he went on gliby, I've been in 10
| of deals; hut that gets me Three quar-
| ters OF a million and more on Just on
| deal, Confound II, man. do you know th'
most / ever made out of any one deal?'
| MurgatrOyd III 'leaI' lcdHeu pdCh "
his chair and inquired In an offhan'
| manner
How much?"
| Rrodericl shook his finger at him
| Foxy, foxy boy DO you think I'd Civ,
| up to YOU so easy? This particular dea
| I'm telling you about IL away back out
side the statute Of limitations. You couldn'
get me on it II you would II was tn
| Terwillger tract---I was chairman of tn
common council finance committee, you re
| member? Bought tho tract for twenty-fv
| hundred and sold II TO the city for tw
hundred and eighty thousand. That's me I!
Good work !" said Murgatroyd. witt
| genuine admiration II didn't know tina
| you were in on that.
| "In ON it?" snorted Broderlck. II wa
the whole show! That's where I'm COY
| NV dear hoy; IL takes Broderick to d
| these things but il takes a bigger man tina
| Broderick to find 'em out
Murgatroyd shook his head
"They found me out, all right he said.
Broderlck waved his hand and answered
mot a bit of it, It's all blown over. an
II IT hasn't. It will All they'll remember
| after a while Is that you've got wad c
money, THEY'LL forget how you got it, an
thew won't care" He puffed away an
purred contentedly.
you're a giant" he went on, IAN inte
lectual giant to bag six figures Then h
waved his hand about the room and salt
"You take this old courthouse, for ir
stance L was on the buildin' committee, bt
70 save my life1hold on minute" h
nuIled himself up with round turn, "tha
was outside the statute. OF course 1t wa
well 10 save my life l couldn't pull more
hundred and twenty-three thousand OF
oy n / came near gettia' caught, too ,
admitted. laughing
rRut you Werent" cor,mepfeo Apres