The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-08-12

tfsSSed- He resolved on bold stroke
Lets not beat about the bush
Poundstone." he said with the air OF
father patiently striving 20 induce
his child to recant lie, tell the truth
and save himself from the parental
wrath. you've been doing business
with ogilvy; know Il for a fact. and
you might as well admit H."
Poundstone looked up. red and en-
harrassed. III had known" he be
gan.
Certainly, certainlyl 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
a frnnchiser
There was no dodging that ques-
tion. A denial. under the present cir
c4imstances. would be tantamount 10
an admission: Poundstone could not
guess Just how much the Colonel really
knew. md n would not do 10 lle 10
him, since cvenfinily tho lle must he
discovered. He resolved to "come
clean"
''rhe city council has already grant
ed the N. q. 0. a temporary fran
chise." he confessed.
Pennington sprang furiously TO his
feet. Dammit" he snarled. why did
you do that without consulting mef"
Didn't know you were remotely In
terested." Now that the Ice was bro
ken. Poundstone felt relieved and was
prepared to defend his act vigorously.
"And we did not commit ourselves ir-
reyocably," he continued. 'The tenn
porary franchise will expire In twen-
ty-elght days-and In that time the
N. @. o. cannot even get started"
Have you any understanding as to
an extension of that temporary fran
chise, 10 case the n. G. o. desires 1T"
"Well. yes-not In writing. however.
gave 0gilyy 10 understand that If he
was not ready In thirty days, an ex-
tension could readily be arranged"
"Any witnessesf"
II am not such a fool, sir" Pound
stone declared with asperity. Il had
notion--I might as well admit it
that you would have serious objection
10 having your tracks cut by jump
crossing at 3 and Water streets" And
for no reason In life except 10 justify
himself and inculcate IN Pennington
an impression that the latter was deal
Ing with crafty and far-seeing
mayor. Poundstone smiled boldly and
knowingly. He leaned back nonchai-
antly and blew smoke at the ceiling.
"You oily rascal !" Pennington solilo-
quized. you're a smarter man than
thought. You're trying TO play both
ends against the middle" He recalled
the report OF his private detective and
the incident OF Ogilvy's visit TO
young Henry Poundstone's office with |
a small leather bag; he was more |
than ever convinced that this bag had |
contained the bribe, In gold coin,
which had been productive Of that
franchise and the verbal
for its possible exten-
sion.
"OgIlvy did business with You
through yonr son Henry" he chal-
enged. Poundstone started violently.
How much did Henry get out of III"
Pennington continued brutally.
''rwo hundred and fifty dollars re-
Amer. and not a cent more" Pound
itone protested virtuously-and truth
ully.
you're not so good a business man
is gave you credit for being" the
,olonel retorted mlrthfully. Two hun
Ired and. fifty dollars Oh Lord
tombstone, you're funny Upon my
rord you're a scream" And the Colo
el gave himself Up TO a sincerely
earty laugh. "You call IL retainer"
e continued presently, but a grand
ury might call II something else. How
YER" be went on after a slight pause