Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-21
CHAPTER XXXIV
In the Desfibule OF Tragedy

VICTOR Robinson after bidding
v the girl good-by at the elevator
Communicated with the local chlet OF
the Federal Secret Service. and spent
the remainder of the afternoon in court
Returning to his office at o'clock, he
gave his attention to certain perfunctory
matters that awaited and then with a
sigh of relief yielded. up his mind en-
tirely to blissful consideration of Sylvy
Aurentsky. His heart leaped at the
thought that he was to see her again
tonight. For the time being he forgot
that grave business which was TO bring
her TO him with hee father; but even
tually he remembered and called up
the Secret Service man again.
Come over!' said that official. with
an excited hop in his voice. Il want to
Victor hung up the receiver and start
ed for the elevator. His way to the
branch home of the Secret Service would
take him directly past the massive front
of Buckingham's offices. About the time
Victor returned to his Office from court.
Jerry Archer had come to the offices
in response to Mr.. Buckingham's re-
quest.
Jerry. of course. could have been
high-headed. He was victor. He could
have said loftily that the distance was
no farther from Mr. Buckingham s Of
flee, to his than. from his to Mr.. Suck
inghams. which would have been in
effect to say if Mr.. Buckingham wanted
TO see him he knew where to find him,
but Jerry Archer just wasn't that sort.
Mr.. buckingham was an older man than
he and gentleman of standing" in
the community, Though his treatment
of Jerry at their last meeting had been
cavalier and even harsh, yet triumph
wiped all resentment of that out of the
nous nature.
Well" grumbled buckingham as
Jerry entered, you seem to have been
able to take care of yourself"
/ n 20 nh,
led Jerry.
1T was a fair fight and you won,"
admitted Buckingham grimly.
Eve won, but / don't think Il was a
fair fght." retorted Jerry with level
eyes. "Your whole proceeding was cruel,
unjust and probably ilIegal!'
AS far as that goes" flashed MIR.
Buckingham. your own fight was pretty
Injured tone, you've actually got me
identified In the public eve with this
whole system of contra -bOsses In
Philadelphia politics--with their nasti-
ness and meanness and corruption. The
papers tha* dare to do so openly align
me with the policy OF government by
murder. as they call it--they charge me
with holding. a machine In power that
gets its majorities with poIicemen's
clubs and the blackJacks and auto
matics of professional Eunmen. Others
veil their insinuations, but make them
just the same. i am charged with pev-
sOnifying all these things. 1t is unjust
to me and to my family and | don't like
it."
There was a note of reproach and a
hint of sadly outraged feelings in Mr..
Buckingham's tones, at which Jerry was
honestly astounded.
I'm the first place" he qualified. 'let
me deny responsibility for anything the
newspapers may have said or intimated
concerning you. ] promised Ruth
would keep your name out Of 1t and per-
sonaly have. But in the second place,
n-a l~.. y~r~ IA l.
that you can complain At being Identified
rs the chief supporter OF political cor
ruption in philadelphia"
why, there you go!" exclaimed the
injured Mr.. Buckingham. throwing up
his hands. as IL Jerry himself had ad-
mitted guilt. You might as well charge
me with it,"
81 do hesitatingly." responded DER
ry, leveIing an accusing finger. "You
l'tried to ruin my father, because yOu
saw me putting the skids under the con
traetOr-boss machine. When you saw II
In danger, you set yourself ny as its
champion. To save II you were willing
to do cowardly, cruel. outrageous
force in Jerry's arraignment that made
his last adjectives ring out like sue
cession of blows and caused Mr.. Buck
| ingham to look more injured than ever.
But | don't conniye at the things
| they do" he protested. II don't advise
| or encourage them. ! stand for them
merely because they-they are conserva-
tive. reasonable men In financial mat
| ters."
"But--you stand for them!" Again
,Jerry's finger was leveled like bulldog