Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-06-25

BE frank with me, PoundstoDe. ]
am not a child. What would like to
know Ia this: will you exert every ef-
fort to block that franchise In the firm
conviction that by so doing you will
accomplish laudable public serviceT
Poundstone squirmed. "when
have had time to look into the matter
more thoroughly"
"ruttut, my dear mani Let us not
straddle the fence. Business Is a
game, and so IL politics. Neither
knows any sentiment. Suppose you
should favor this N. @. O. crowd in
mistaken idea that you were doing the
right thing. and that subsequently
numberless feilow-citizens developed
the idea that you had not done your
public duty. Would some Of them not
be likely to invoke recall election
and retire you and your city council
In disgracer
II doubt II they could defeat me-
Colonel"
81 have no such doubt" Pennington
replied pointedly.
Poundstone looked up at him from
under lowered lids. as that
threatY' he demanded tremulously.
"My dear feIlowi Threaten my
guest" Pennington laughed patroniz-
ingly. ~ am giving you advice.
Poundstone--and rather good advice.
Il strikes me. However, while we're
on the subject, have no hesitancy In
telling you that In the event OF dis
astrous decision on your part, !
should not feel justified in supporting
you"
He might, with equal frankness,
have said: 81 would smash you" To
his guest his meaning was not obscure.
Poundstone studied the pattern Of the
rug. and Pennington, watching him
sharply, saw that the man was dis
tressed. He resolved on bold stroke.
Lets not beat about the bush,
Poundstone," he said with the air of
a father patiently striving to induce
his child to recant lie, tell the truth.
and save himself from the parental
wrat,:. You've been doing business
Will Oklify Il hiOW II Aoi N iaSt1 uhu
you might as well admit It"
Poundstone looked up, red and en-
barrassed. III had known" he be-
gan.
Certainly, certainly realize you
acted in perfect good faith. You're
like the majority Of people in Sequoia.
You're all SO crazy for rail connection
with the outside world that you jump
at the first plan that seems to promise
you one Have you promised Ogilvy
franchise?"
There was no lodging that ques-
ton. A denial, under the present cir.
cumstances. would be tantamount tc
an admission; Poundstone could not
guess just how much the Colonel really
knew, and II would not do to lie tc
him, since eventually the lie must b.
discovered. He resolved TO "coine
clean"
1.-THE city council has alveady grant
ed the N. q. D. temporary fran
chise." he confessed.
Pennington sprang furiously to his
feet. DAMMIT" he snarled, why die
you do that without consulting mer
Didn't know You we're remotely In
terested." Now that the ice was bro
ken. Poundstone felt relieved and wat
prepared to defend his act vigorously
"And we did not commit ourselves ir
revocably." he continued. "rhe TEN
porary franchise will expire In TWEEN
ty-eight days-and In that time tn
N. G. o. cannot even get started
slave you any understanding as L
an extension of that temporary fran
chise, In case the N. Q. o. desires Ut
"well. yes--not In writing. however
I gave OgiIvy to understand that II b
was not ready In thirty days, an e1
tension could readily be arranged"
ANY witnessesr
81 am not such fool, sir" Pound
stone declared with asperity! Il ha
a notion-I might as we'll admit 1t
that you would have. serious ob1ectio
to having your tracks cut by JUMP
crossing at 3 and Water streets" An
for no reason in life except TO Justif
himself and inculcate in Penningto
an impression that the latter was dea
Ing with a crafty and faI-seein
mayor, Poundstone smiled boldly an
knowingly. He leaned back noncha
antly and blew smoke at the ceiling
"You oily rascal |" Pennington solil'
, quized you're a smarter man than
thought. You're trying to play bot
!, ends against the middle" He recalle
the report OF his private detective an
the incident of 0gilvy's visit
young Henry Poundstone's office wilt
a small leather bag; he was moi
than ever convinced that this bag ha
contained the bribe, In gold col
which had heen productive OF TIL
: temporary franchise and the verb
!. understanding for its possible exte
= sion.
"Ogilvy did business with "
through your son Henry" he cha
lenged. Poundstone started violentl
"How much did Henry get out OF II
e Pennington continued brutally.
1.-TWO hundred and fifty dollars =
. tainer. and not a cent more" Poun
stone protested virtuously-and trut
~ fully