The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

96 “Wait till to-morrow,” he said. “ I feel in my .bones as though something were going to happen.’ Strangely enough, the colonel’s pro- phetic skeleton did not play him false. The next morning he received a note from the mayor, requesting an inter- view, and when they were safely closet- ed together that functionary proceeded finally to unbosom himself. “I concede all that you say in regard to the advantages of your road to the eity of Doodleburg, colonel,” he began ; “but you must surely see that in ap- proving your franchise I would act in direct opposition to the wishes of the great majority of my constituents.” He paused and the colonel bowed a significant assent. “There is, however, a way by which ‘any trouble can be obviated,” resumed the mayor, “and that is what I desire to lay before your consideration. Now, for instance ” and his voice sank to a whisper; but as the colonel grasped the import of his plan, a broad and beatific smile dawned over his face. “Give yourself no wneasiness, my boy,” he reassured the other as they parted. “I guarantee you that there . shall be no hitch in the details, but that everything shall be carried out just as you suggest.” That evening the trolley franchise came up for action in the city council, and was passed by the expected major- . ity of one. Doodleburg roared in in- dignation, and promptly ostracised its offending aldermen; but when calmer reflection came, speedily cooled down. The mayor still had something to say before this pernicious bargain could be consummated, and Doodleburg rested serene in the belicf that he would promptly affix his veto. They had no doubts as to the pur- pose of their executive. Purchasable councilmen might be led to betray a trust; but he, they. knew, was unbriba- ble. Besides, an election was coming on. The mayor kept his own counsel. Not a word did he vouchsafe as to his intentions, except to observe that the law allowed him ten days for consider- ation, and that he would take no defi- nite action on so important a matter until the limit had expired. THE ARGODSY. Nine days passed, and still the fran- chise lay on his desk. Doodleburg waited uninterestedly for the veto which they felt sure would be forth- coming. Colonel Hawk sat peacefully in a tilted-back chair on the veranda of the Palace Hotel, and composedly smoked long, black cheroots. And then dawned the tenth day, and with it a sensation which split Doodle- burg from center to circumference with excitement. - At half-past nine o’clock in the morning, the mayor’s office was sud- denly invaded by a body of masked and armed men, and Mayor Holbrook, hav- ing been seized and overpowered, was forcibly carried away. A swift team | was in waiting just around the corner, and into this the captive was loaded and rapidly driven off. So astounded had been the persons in the vicinity by the suddenness of the outrage, that no one had lifted a hand to prevent it. Speedily, however, as the tidings spread, searching parties were organized, and every clue was hurriedly followed up. | All in vain. No trace could be found of the missing executive, or of the men who had so boldly kidnapped him. For twenty-four hours Doodleburg buzzed in a ferment; but on the eve- ning of the second day, Mayor Holbrook himself, unruffled and composed, stepped from the platform of an arriv- ing train and bestowed an enigmatical smile upon the amazed bystanders. To the anxious inquiries hurled at him he granted no further response than to request every citizen to be at the public square that evening at seven thirty o’clock, when they would receive a detailed account of his experiences. At seven thirty the public square was densely packed with people; but when the mayor appeared not a single cheer, not a hand-clap of applause, greeted him. Doodleburg felt that there was some- thing mysterious in this affair, and be- fore it granted him its approval it wanted an explanation. Mayor Holbrook swept the silent as- semblage with one comprehending glance. Then he began to speak. “ My fellow citizens of Doodleburg,” COMRRIC LOO YY \ S) COL