The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-08
CHAPTER \.
Lucy Takes the Platform.

The streets of West Gap were thronged with visitors. All the morn surrounding country Every w. C.. and R. B: car was packed to the guards. The roads leading into town swarmed with runabouts and small tourirg ears loaded with the rural population of the three counties served by the road.
 The nass-meeting was to start at 10:So. If necessary to run it into the afternoon, there would be a re cess for lunch. The bondholders' committee and the Main Street Asso- chants of the city, had got their heads together to make this a big day. The Governor was coming down from the State capital to preside at the meeting. This was a concession to the stockholders. because the Gov ernor was expecting to stand for re- election and he couldn't afford to an- tagonize them.
 The band played in front of the opera-house an hour before the meet ing, and long before half past ten tho building was filled as full of hu- manity as tire is of wind. It seemed as if the walls must bulge Truly. the railway issue was live one.
 stockholders in the audience. with good many of their wives, daughters, relatives and friends. The Review next morning called it a large and
 
 de Ia creme of the citizenry of the State.
 William D. Wilton, president of the w. G. and R. B., was on the platform early. Clarke Pollard had a note from him twenty four hours before the meeting. Here it is:
 Dear Pollard:
 have changed my mind about the meeting tomorrow. I have you feI- lows licked, anyhow. The stockhold- CTS know what is good for them. In reference to our conversation the other day, let me say that I have no intention Of becoming personal un- 1esS-You know what the result will be if you start anything. I will be present and, with the permission of the boldholders, address the gather ing. I have called a stockholders meeting for the evening, so the whole business will be cleaned up, and we will know who is boss. I want the thing decided on it's merits. Your mass-me eeting idea is a good one, bet ter than I thought. I don't know what your plan is, but we will leave the decision in the hands of the people.
 Yours very truly,
 William D. Wilton.
 "Son of a gum" said Clarke to him. self. T wish I thought he'd keep his word. But he's a slippery one. He's certainly got a nervei"
 He could see there was only one thing for Wilton to do-b1uff it outi So far as Wilton knew. Clarke and Lucy were the only persons Tn town who were aware of his past, and they would be puretty sure to keep quiet.
 Clarke Pollard was in the un- enviable position of choosing to save the road from a defaulter, crooked promoter, and all around black-leg at the expense of his wife's reputation or keeping still for Lucy's sake and seeing Wilton walk off with the vic tory.
 If he only could believe that Wilton meant what he said when he proposed to have the people decide the case on it's merits without dragging in any personalities! One thing was sure Wilton would follow that course so long as things went his way; but if they d:dn't-could he be trusted? /? Will ton was nervy and desperate oper- ator, 1t was plain Pollard was wor- ried.
 The band stopped playing on the sidewalk and filed into the opera house, where it took up. a position at the back of the stage and play Hail to the Chief" when the Governor came in, and followed it with "The Star Spang1ed Banner and "There'u Be a Hot Time in the Old Town To- night
 Then the Governor opened the meeting, and the minute he began speaking it was plain he regarded this as an affair of stockholders and their