The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

ON THE ALTAR chose to frown upon it, simply because the idea had found its inspiration in the other place. — Colonel Hawk and his associates, however, shrewd, practical men that they were, had not underestimated the difficulties in the way, and had fully taken into account the popular preju- dice likely to be aroused against their enterprise. It was the board of alderman, they argued, and not the citizens of Doodle- burg, who had it in their power to give or withhold -.the desired franchise; and they were not unfamiliar with the truism that municipal authorities can often be induced to act in direct oppo- ' sition to the wishes of their constitu- ents. It is needless, therefore, to inquire too closely into the methods pursued by the astute promoters; suffice it to say, that in due course of time they found seven members of the council who were open to conviction. Seven members they had secured; but only seven. That was a mere bare majority of the board, and, unless two more votes were forthcoming, a veto from the mayor would turn their tri- umph to dust and ashes in their mouths. Jake Shaw, Colonel Hawk’s trusted emissary in these delicate negotiations, renewed his efforts and bestirred him- self as he had never done before; but in the end he had to confess himself baffled. The remaining aldermen stood like a stone wall in their incorrupti- bility. “Well,” commented Colonel Hawk, vigorously chewing at the end of his unlighted cigar as he listened to these gloomy reports, “in that case it is up to the mayor.” “ And I suppose you think he’ll put his little o. k. on the scheme as quick as he can get hold of a pen to do it, eh?” questioned Shaw cynically. “Never hope for anything there, colonel. It’s too close to election time for him to dare go against these howl- ing dervishes in this matter. Why, they wouldn’t be content with simply beat- ing him; they'd tar and feather him to hoot, if he’d ever approve that fran- chise,” OF PATRIOTISM. 95 “That may all be 80; but what else can we do? Mayor Holbrook is a clever fellow, and his great ambition is to boost this town of his along. Now, if we can demonstrate to him that the line will really be an immense advan- tage to Doodleburg, why is it not pos- sible that he could be brought to rea- son?” Jake Shaw considered. “Well, as you say,” he finally admit- ted, “I don’t see but that he’s the only show we have left to jam the thing through; but I don’t believe that any politician on earth would take the chance he’ll have to, for purely patri- otic reasons. Ill tell you; let me sound him and find out his price, and then, if he isn’t too all-fired high, we might do business with him.” “No, no,’ the colonel interrupted hastily. “ You are all off in your reck- oning. Holbrook is as square as a die, and any move of that sort would only tend to set him unalterably against us. We've got to work‘ on his local pride, and show him how Doodleburg will benefit. That is the only way we can ever land him, take my tip for it.” Accordingly the-next morning and for several succceding mornings the colonel persistently visited the city hall and spent long hours explaining and expatiating upon the manifold advan- tages which Doodleburg would reap from the proposed trolley line. _Mayor Holbrook listened politely and interestedly ; but he remained resolutely noncommittal. Try as skilfully as he might to force some confession of opin- ion, the colonel completely failed in gaining the slightest insight into his in- tentions. “"A man might as well talk to a wooden Indian,” he growled disgustedly to Shaw, “ for all the information I can pump out of him. For the champion close-mouth, I'll back him against all the oysters in the world.” “Well, what are we going to do about it?” returned his lieutenant anx- iously. “The franchise comes up for action to-morrow evening, and seven votes are all we can possibly get.. What shall we do? Chuck the whole scheme into the air?” The colonel hesitated. COMRRIC LOO YN S COL