Evening star., 1919-04-27
BY SEWELL FORD

. manner, tudt ah IL
hardly the person to be intrusted
with the conduct Of our schools. IL
McCabe wishes to have his past"
Say" | breaks in, iii you think
there's anything in my ring record
that I'm ashamed OF you've got an
other guess"
STILL" says Bixby. 'in this con-
nection it might have the desired ef-
feet il all the details appeared in
print at the time a petition for your
removal was being circulated"
And say he was dead right. l could
see that with one eye shut. The Hon.
Hi. had the editor OF the local paper
right under his thumb. He could
make him jump through hoop. "Pu-
gilist on school board" That would
make nice headline. wouldn't 1t!
Specially for lot Of woman voters
to read
"Bixby," says !, when I meet
skunk in the road I don't argue with
him as to who has the right Of way.
So you win. My entry is scratched"
Scratched nothin'" Erowls Brick
Hogan wait. II Mr.. Bixby wants
to dig up past records ! guess we
can accommodate him. He's lived a
few years himself and maybe there's
one or two little incidents in his
career that ain't buried so deep but
what they could be dragged out. Any
way, l know Of one in particular"
And them keen eyes Of Hogans is
fixed steady on the Hon. Hi.
Bah" says Bixby, startin' back at
him. Every one In this town knows
that my life has been as an open
book"
Yes, you've got most OF 'em buf-
faloed, I'll admit" says Brick but I
happen to know Of page or so In
that book that's been gummed down"
Just what do you mean by the
innuendoc" demands the Hon. Hi.
81 expect 1t was what you'll call a
little romance" says Brick" although
/ should say it was kind Of late for
that sort of foolishness. In the
forties weren't you? And You must
have had a swell time squaring your
self at home. too. But you did it
flushed up the girl. too
BY this time the Hon. Hi. was
I" ltCHlu HIS hHScTS anu 6cttth puC-
pie behind his white side whiskers.
'"This-this is a baseless' slander. Ho-
gan. and you are we'll aware of it."
he finally gets out throaty.
Brick is leaning across his desk.
them eyes of his never waverin'. and
one Of his big ham fsts stretched
out. Shall tell you the young wom-
ans nameT he asks
And say, never expected to see
the Hon. Hi. squirmin like that
Twice he opens his mouth to say
something. but each time he chokes
it back. Then. after he's paced nerv-
Gus up and down the little Office .
couple of turns. he seems to get .
grip on himself
This is absurd: Hogan" says he.
Whoever told you such a ridiculous
story must have been---''
ut didn't strike me as 50 absurd or
ridiculous" says Brick. II didn't got
it second handed. either. You know
you hadn't treated her quite right.
Not the way you'd promised. And
she stood it without whimper until
she was nearly down and out. Thea
she came to me for help. They used
to. you know. when l was runnin' the
district. Even now. She didn't mean
to tell. But when l began asking
ouestions--WeN it came out. The
whole story. Not much proof beyond
her word. Only a scribbled note or
so. Possibly not enough to go before
jury with. But l could find a law
yer who would take her case"
The Hon. Hi. is pale now. but he's
got over his case Of fidgets. He
lunches his shoulders careless. Very
WELL says he. But the very day
you start such an action | shall have
you both arrested on a charge OF
blackmal."
"Of course" says Brick. You might
get away with it, too. And expect
you could keep 1t out OF the papers.
But that wouldn't stop it from being
circulated. Oh. no. Bixby. 1t would,
be whispered in corners at the clubs.
passed around on the train gossiped
about at teas and dinner parties 1t
would spread until there wasn't
grown person in Rockhurst who had
MT heard Of 1t. You think you have
lot OF friends. eh! Just test 'em