Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-30

1
! in tho firm conviction that by so do
ing you will accomplish laudaole
public service?"
Poundstone s6uIrmed. When !
have had time to look into the
matter more thoroughly"
"Tut-tut, my dear man! Let US
not straddle the fence. Business u
game. and so is politics. Neither
knows any sentiment. suppose you
should favor this n. c. o. crowd in
mistaken idea that you we're doing
the right thing and that subsequent
ly numberless fellow citizens de-
veloped the idea that YOU had not
done your public duty. Would some
Of them not be likely TO invoke a re-
cem election and retire ya" and y"ur
city council--in disgrace"
Il doubt if they could defeat me,
Colonel"
4 have no such doubt" Peuning-
ton replied pointedly.
Poundstone looked np at him
from under lowered lids. lis that a
threat he demanded TREMENDOUSLY.
My dear fellow Threaten my
guest" Pennington laughed patron
izingly. Il am giving you advice.
Poupndstone-and rather good adj
vice it strikes me However, while
we're on the subject. I have no hes!-
fancy in telling you tnat in the event
OF disastrous decision on your part,
l should not feel justified in support
Ing YOU"
He might, with equal franknesS.
have said: Il 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 distressed. He resolved on
Il bold stroke.
Let's not beat about the bush.
Poundstone," he said within the air
Of a fatehr patiently striving 10 in
duCe his child to recant a lie, tell
the truth. and save himself from the
parental wrath. You've been doing
/ business with Ogilvy; know it for
a fact and you might as well admit
/ it."
/ Poundstone looked up. red and en-
| barrassed. If l had known" he
/ began.
Certainly. certainly, realize YOU
! acted in perfectly good faith. You're
/ like the majority Of people in
/ Sequoia. You're ali so crazy for rail
| connection with the outside world
that you jump at the first plan that
I seems to promise you one. Have you
! promised Ogilvy a franchise
There was no lodging thar ques-
! ton. 4 denial, under the present
! circumstances. would be tantamount
to an admission: Poundstone could
not guess just how much the Colonel
. really knew. and it would not do =
lie TO him. since eventually the lie
must be discovered. He resolved 10
come clean"
The city council has already
granted the y. c. o. temporary
franchise" he confessed.
Pennington sprang furioUsly to his
fet. Dammit" he snarled. why did
you do that without consulting me-?
Didn't know you were remotely
interested" Now that the ice was
.
was prepared to defend his act Wig
orously. And we did nor commit
ourselves irrevocably," ne continued
The temporary franchise will expire
in twenty eight days-and in that
time the y. G. o. cannot even get
started"
Have you any understanding as
10 an extension of that temporary
franchise. in case the y. {. o. de-
sires it?"
We'll. yes-not in writing. how
ever. | gave OEilyy 20 understand
that if he was not ready in thirty
days. an extension could readily be
arranged"
ANY Witnesses
Il am not such a fool sir" Pound .
stone declared with asperity. Il had
a notion-I might as well admit it
that YOU would have serious objeC-
ton to having your tracks cut by a
Embarrassing at b and Water
streets" And for no reason in life eX-
cept to Justify himself and inCulcate
in Pennington an impression that the
latter was dealing with a crafty and
far-seeing mayor, Poundstone smiled
boldly and knowingly. He leaned
back nonchalantiy and blew smoke
at the ceiling.
You oily rascal" Pennington soil
loQuized. You're a smarter man than
thought. You're trying TO play
both ends against the middle" He
recalled the report Of his private de-
tective and the incident Of Ogilvys
visit 10 young Henry Poundstone's
office with a small leather bag; he
was more than ever convinced that
this bag had contained the bride, in
gold coin, which had been productive
Of that temporary franchise and the
verbal understanding for its possible
extension.
"Ogilyy did business with you thru
your son Henry" he challenged
Poundstone started violently. How
much did Henry get out Of it?' Pen
nington continued brutally.
Two hundred and fifty dollars re-
tainer and not cent more" Pound
stone protested virtuously - and
truthfully.
Tuu're moi 80 SOD :. s Business =? = !.
as I gave you credit for being the
Colonel retorted mirthfully. Two
hundred and fifty dollars! Oh LORD!
Poundstone,z you're funny. Upon my
word you're a scream" And the Colo
mel gave himself up to a sincerely
hearty laugh. You call it a retain
err" he continued presently. but
! grand jury might call 1t something
else. However," he went on after a
slight pause, you're not in politics
for your health; so let's get down tt
brass tacks. How much do you want
to deny the n. c. D. not only an exten-