The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, February 07, 1913, Page PAGE SIX, Image 6
PAGE SIX THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1913. HIS RISE TO POWER By Henry Russell Miller, Author of "The Alan Higher Up" Copyright, 1911, by (be Bobbs-Merrlll Company SYNOPSIS Senator Murchell, leader of tho state machine, and Sheehan, local boss of New Chelsea, offer tho nomination for district attorney to John Dunmeade. Dunmeade Is Independent In his political Ideas. Dunmeade tvlll accept the nomination. His father, a partisan Judge, congratu lates him. Ills Aunt Roberta urges John to call on Katherlno Hampden, daughter of a capitalist. Katherlno Hampden Is a worshiper of ruccesB. She and John are friends. Jere my Applegate, a political dependent, cam paigns for John asd the state ticket. In Netf Cliclsea Uvea "Warren Blake, a model young bank cashier, connected with Hampden In "high finance." They try 'Without success for John's aid. The rottenness of politics In his state and party as revealed In his campaign dls- 1-.: Jchs. " nails upon Katherlne. Katherlne's peril In a runaway re veals to her and John their unspoken olve. John publicly "turns down" the machine of his party. John will not compromise with his conscience even for tho sake of win ning Katherlne, and the two part. The course of his son Is disapproved by Judge Dunmeade. John Is elected and puts Sheehan on trial for political corrup tion. Sheehan is convicted and flees. John meets Hale, a novelist, who Is introduced to him by Warren Blake. Halg and John visit the Hampdens. Blake proposes to Katherlne and Is re jected. Ho praises John to her. Murchell has a visitor. Tho visitor is Sackett, head of the Atlantic railroad, trying to keep the Michigan out of the Steel City. He wants JIurchell to retire. The lat ter cannot induce John to stop his attacks on the machine. John and Katherlne meet. She still thinks John a follower of Im possible ideals. Ho loses In his fight for cleanliness In state politics and falls ill. Slurchell offers financial aid to the Dun meades. John recovers and continues his fight, aided by Halg. In tho Steel City ho meets Katherlne, who Is courted by Gregg, a linanclany successful man. Murchell loses control of tho machine to Sherrod and retires nominally from poli tics. Sherrod gets drunk, and a messen ger Is sent to Murchell for aid. Sherrod has embezzled $900,000 of state money. Murchell resumes control after aiding his foe to conceal tho crimo and make restitution. CHAPTER XV. John Heath Makes Restitution. T EN hours later Sherrod opened ills eyes. He started up, with it groan, and beheld the man who sat by the window. The man Murchell heard tho movement and came to the bedside, ne stood looking down pitilessly at tho half re cumbent sick man. Sherrod stared back, with bewildered, fearful eyes, for a moment. Then, with another groan, he fell back. His parched Hps tried to frame a question, but nothing came of the effort save a dry, croaking sound. Then Murchell spoke. "Who," he do manded, "Is John Heath?" A spasm of far eveu more acute con Iraetert Sherrod's face. "Wh-what do you know?" "Who." Murchell repeated, still In :he pitiless tonc-"vho is John neath?' "lie Is the political account." "Of which you're the receiving end?" Sherrod's Hps formed a soundless "Yea." "How much are you short?" "Nine hundred thousand dollars." "What have you got to show for It?" "Some securities oil stocks." "Worth what?" "Three hundred thousand about. I don't know exactly." "Where aru they?" "In my private safo nt the office." Murchell turned sharply and left tho room. Almost nt once ho was back, accompanied by Watklus. "Glvo Wat kins tho combination," ho commanded. Thero was another moment of hesita tion, of Inward struggle. But a great fear was upon Sherrod, swallowing up even hate and anger. Ho mumbled the combination. "Have you got that, Watklna? Then you and Paiuo fetch here all tho se curities In the safe. Everything you can find. Bo quick." Watklns obeyed, us promptly and unquestlonlngly as the soldier on tho field of battle obeys his superior of ficer. As ho went ho found time to wonder how tho Impression had ever got abroad that this man of instant de cision, of crisp orders, was a useless victim of tho decrepitude of age. "Wh-what," Sherrod quavered, "are you going to do?" Murchell shook his arm free. "I am going to get you out of tho muddle you liavo got yourself Into, you" Ho left the sentence uncompleted, as though he could think of no adequate epithet. Sherrod gaped foolishly, trying to comprehend tho Incomprehensible that tho man abovo him, who least of all the world owed him service, would lift him over tho impasse around which no way appeared. Then sudOeniy lie BroKb m"tor tears nnei maudlin babblings explanations, con trition, gratitude, promises mingling disconnectedly. Murchell listened In cold contempt. 'You don't mean n word you say," he Interrupted tho flow nt last. "You're only n coward frightened out of his wits. You'll bo tho same treacherous hound when It's over I'm not doing It for you." Ho turned and went out of the room, not to return until Watklns and Palre. the messenger, arrived with the sec .rl ties. An aftcrnoou 'trnin, rolling dot n out of the hills into the flat land.,, bore William Muroholl to the city that had witnessed the last step In his over throw. A cab took him, by nppolutmcnt. to the home of Philip Wilder, where ho lay overnight. Philip Wilder was not n monarch, to be sure, but he was a prince of the blood, and he ruled over a province of street railways. Many things did this princely gentleman de sire, and for them he was willing to pay the least price that must be paid. Ho, like Miss Roberta and Watklns, was astounded when ho beheld, not a shuffling, harmle&s shadow, but a man who showed tho marks of age's bat tering, yet wns clear minded, hale and hearty, who had not forgotten how to drive a close bargain, who knew ex actly what ho wanted and who got it. So pleased was he by his discovery that tho next morning, breaking a sol emn promise to Murchell, he reported it to Sackctt " 'Richard,' " ho declar ed. " 'Is himself again.' " But by that time Murchell was well on his way back to the capital. A rumor that the once great poli tician was on the train quickly spread among the passengers, and many of them found occasion to stroll past his seat. But there was no Visible ripple of emotion to betray to their curious eyes the swelling sense of triumph within him. When, his energy sapped up by the sickness, the seriousness of which he did not yet realize, he had confronted Sockett and declared his purpose to quit, ho had spoken in all truth; but, the operation over and strength creep ing back into tho body whoso tissues austere living had never devitalized, the hunger, the need for action reas rerled itself. Hence he planned, not consciously to reseek his old power and responsi bility, but from his castle in tho forest o make sudden, unexpected forays to harass those who had deprived him of his glory. Then came the opportunity to wreak the sweetest of all revenges, to suvo those who had thrown, him over, to torture his enemy with the sense of Inferiority and obligation, perhaps the warrior soul leaped to make of revenge also a lever to open tho gates In the road back to su premacy. Under tho stimulus of sharp, suc cessful action he felt almost the strength of his prime. Whirring wheel struck from rail an iron spng of triumph in which his soul joined the mad, exultant shout of the viking re turning victorious. But ho found a Sherrod who had had time to think, to measure the situation, who had recovered his nerve. And of Sherrod this may be written: ho was a great fighter, cunning and daring, conscienceless, proud, disloyal yes hut even his treacheries were ac complished with a certain reckless grace and decision that gave them the seeming of the born master's In stinctive strategy. And ho had what Murchell had not, a personal magnet ism that often won faith even where Interest failed; (hough ho lacked what made Murchell great, inflexibility and self control. Coward ho was not. Al most any man, beaten by the same knowledge of crime and imminent dis covery, with so much to lose, would have suffered a lapse from courage. But the hour of cringing and weak ness was past. Murchell found him In the same hotel room, through the open windows of which n biting wind had swept tho last trace of tho fetid fumes of tobacco and whisky. Murchell carefully closed and locked tho door and, without speaking, sat down across tho table from him. Sherrod's eyes, cool, not defiant, but aggressive, menacing al most, locked with MurcuoU's steady ones. "Well?" The voice was cool. "I wont to Wilder," said Murchell, almost In a whisper. "Ho is selling your securities today at tho market Ho will lend you the balance. To morrow a man will come with tho cash." "And in return?" Sherrod knew tho prince. "Ho wants some charters in Adelphla and some traction legislation, no will explain in detail when you see him. I have promised him what ho wants. You will see that he gets It." "Yes. The balance you say It Is a loan. How am I to repay?" "That i3 for you to say." Murchell paused, then added, "1 understand banks aro still paying for tho prlvllego of stato deposits." "now much do Palno and Watklns know?" "As much as I guessed." "I can keep their mouths shut." Again silence, broken first by Sher rod. His Hps twisted In a faint sneer. "Aro you waiting for my gratitude? I havo none. I'm sick still, hut I'm not afraid, as I was yesterday,xaud I understand tho situation. You haven't done this for mo." "Is there nny reason why I should do It for you?" Sherrod began to feel that ho could no longer enduro the other's contemptu ous, relentless gaze that, In splto of his wlll,.hl8j9i?n was wavertng.TJio coolness vanished, ne almost uiaseu out his words. "You came here expecting to gloat over me, didn't you? You think bo cause you've caught mo with tho goods on you're a superior being. You uecdn't Everything I am. Bill Mur chell. you arc. I s'posc when you were sick you had tho parson around to pray over you, didn't you? When you were praying did you toll tho parson how you got to be so rich?" "At least." Murchell said quietly, "1 didn't steal it from the treasury of the state." Under the taunt Sherrod seemed to lose all hold on himself, no sprang to his feet. His face was convulsed. His voice nnd tho pointing hand shook in a very hysteria of hate. "You dare call mo a thief! You! How about the market tips you got for your votes In tho senate, tho bribes you authorized to be given, tho black- mall you levied for your influence in the legislature? Maybe you called them legal fees? You a lawyer, when there Isn't a business man in the coun try would trust you with a case!" Into Murchell's eyes had come a steely gleam that In a saner moment would have restored Sherrod to self control, but now was unheeded. But his voice continued cold, cuttingly con temptuous. "Thought you'd come into this affair and use the knowledge as a club to bully mo out of politics with, didn't you? Well, swing your club. I'm not afraid. I know why you did It, not for mo, but for yourself. You're trying to sneak back into tho game after you've been thrown out, and you know that this thing if it came out would kill your chances as well as mlno. It would help nobody but that fool Dun meade, and by helping mo you've made yourself an accessory. So then crack your whip if you dare!" Murchell got slowly to his feet. He spoko still In tho cold, even voice that cut. "Just why I have done this isn't im portant at present. I had a good many reasons, some, probably, that you are not qualified to understand. And I'm not trying to sneak back into the game. I've never been out of It As to whether I want or dare to swing my club that remains to be seen. You'll have to chance It, Sherrod." Sherrod laughed, a harsh, sneering cachlnnatlon that must havo carried Into tho adjoining room. "I'll chance It! You're not the kind of man in whoso hands such knowledge is dan serous. And I know all about your game. Do you think I've been fooled by your pretense? I know all about Wash Jenkins' gumshoe campaign for delegate's. 1 can bo nominated gover nor even from behind tho bars of the penitentiary!" Murchell was fully master of himself once more. "That," he remarked, "would be a fitting residence for you In the meantime, we'll put It out of your power to seek tho nomination from that quarter." Hn left the room nbruptly, returning immediately with Watklns. He care fully closed the door behind them. Then he faced tho two men. "Watklns, it's fortunate that you're cashier In tho treasurer's office." Watklns agreed. "Because from this minute I am state treasurer. Sherrod will be nl lowed to sign vouchers that I approve that's all. You will report to mo once a weok In person. And not a voucher must be cashed until O. K'd by me. You understand?" Watklns looked at Sherrod, then back to Murchell. Ho nodded. "Sherrod will do nothing to disturb this arrangement. If ho tries let me know. Good day!" no went out of tho room, quietly closing the door. CHAPTER XVI. A Deserted Jordan. IIE consternation In tho royal palaco was great when tho S3 news came that tho bolea guered stronghold had fallen Tho Michigan had won into tho Steel City. Two men were scrambling over each other, turning tho stato upside down because each lusted for power and hated the other. Victory by either, if ono might judge by the past, meant corruption, thievery, oppression, in Justice, and it would bo won for him by characteristic means. Tho people know it. Between tho two camps wandered a lonely voice, preaching honesty, do cency, liberty, equity. He was worthy to preach. He was tho sort of man to whom other men gladly entrust their most important private affairs. Ue was fitted by capacity, by study, by ideals, for tho pure function of gov crument. no had put nsido prefer ment, money, love tho trio of rewards for any one of which men dally sell their souls that he might bo tho fitter for his task. And as ho went about that spring preaching his crusade scanty audiences listened carelessly or with suspicion bred of many deceptions and systo matic mlseducntlon; let us bo just indifferently responsive. John was lu tho Steel City ono uight speaking at a public meeting. Ho was often laughed at for proffering old fashioned oratory In tho day of tho ublqultious nowspaper. But it was tho only way in which ho could roach tho people, since tho columns of tho sub' sldlzcd press were not open to him or his crusade. Ho went away from tho hall heavily downcast. Tho audience had been small, anything but cnthusl astlc, and ho had spoken poorly. Thero Is no discouragement liko unto that of the man who believes ho has a message to givo and knows that ho has deliv ered it inadequately. Ilia way to tb.ehoipl i.ookjilm.ajqryj the city's principal street, ne waiKeo slowly, scrutinizing tho passersby with that interest in city throngs which the country bred man never quite loses. Ho enruo to a corner where another crowded thoroughfare crossed. He stopped and leaned against tho wnll of Iho bank that stood there. The theaters were just letting out, and nround him swirled a stream of humanity, tho sound of many voices and twice ns many feet rising In a peculiar, unmusical roar. John won dered ns tho endless strcnm of hu manity swept by him if it were true, ns Halg had said to him once that 090 men in 1,000 tn the cities were dependent on the thousandth, and that six men had It in their power to "turn on n panic," to "put on tho screws." What, if tho screws were put on. would these men do fight or submit? But it wns not that which made the lond of despondency hang heavier. Once, seeing a thousand men gathered In the square at homo, ho had thought of tho power there, "the power and tho glory." Now he saw tho people, not In their immensity, but in their Infinite multiplicity; so many men with so many Interests, each living in his own restricted sphere. Was Halg then right? How could a dreamer or a thousand dreamers by word of mouth teach these men to think what their lives taught them not to feel- that a social problem was their prob lem, that political putrefaction was their peril, that the masses' Interest was their interest? Ho walked on, tortured by doubts. yet clinging, as tho shipwrecked mnrl- nor clings to his raft, to his dwindling faith In the people. As he was passing through tho lob by of his hotel tho clerk motioned him to the desk. "Say, there's been a big tough guy in three times tonight ask ing for you. Says it's important, and he'll be back again. Name is Maley. I guess," he laughed, knowing his guest, "it's some political bum want ing to make a touch." Butch Maley of New Chelsea, former "heeler," doubtless! John, curious, found a seat in tho lobby and waited. He laughed inwardly, not pleasantly, at the recollections called forth by the name, whfch ho had almost forgotten. Butch Maley was tho first to be con victed In that crusade of nearly six y.enrs ago. ile had not long to wait Maley was the same bestial creature who had stood trembling in the dock and march- Id away, mouthing imprecations and largo threats, to the penitentiary. That ae was prosperous, tho yellow diamond n his necktie loudly proclaimed. He rolled toward John, grinning affably. "nowdy, Johnny?" Ho did not of fer to shako hands, for which John was thankful. "How aro you, Maley?" "Me?" Maley drew up a chair and deposited his huge bulk in it. "Oh, I'm llvin' on No. 1 Easy street. These hero is good times fer fellers like me." With an apparently unconscious ges ture ho lovingly stroked his paunch. "So I should say. Same old profes sion?" "I got a half intrust in a booze Joint. That's my business. As fer profesh', I'm still a statesman. Only yuh'd have a-fine time gittin' the goods on mo now. I learnt," he grinned, "a lot from yuh. Say, I'm wantln' sump'n." "What can I do for you?" " 'Tain't for me." He assumed an air of extreme caution. "S'posln' they wuz a feller wot never done yuh no dirt nnd at tho same time, not beln' In ycr game, yuh got him foul. An' then s'posln' ho beat It, not wnntin' to servo time, an' then, bein' up against It In a pertlckler way, he wanted to see yuh. AVould yuh see him?" "Slay ton or Sheehan?" "Sheehan." "I guess I'd see him. Where is he?" Mnley winked solemnly. "I don't know nuthln' till I know yuh won't havo him pinched. That's the point will yuh havo him pinched?" John thought a moment before re plying. "Well, I guess I wouldn't so long as ho stays out of my jurisdic tion. I couldn't make him more harm less now by having him arrested." "Then go In tho little room back o' the bar, an' I'll havo him with yuh in no time, ne's waitin' not fur away." In a few minutes Mnley returned, leading tho fugitive. Thero was an embarrassing moment as John rose to greet the man whom ho had broken. Ho hesitated, hardly knowing how to address him. Shoehan's hand started forward In nn uncertain gesture, then dropped back to his side. On n kind ly impulso John hold out his. The other caught it almost eagerly in a soft, damp clasp. "I hope you aro well, Sheehan." "I look It, don't I?" Tho fugitive gave a half hearted laugh. John was obliged to confess to him self that ho did not look It. Ills cheeks," once so rubicund, were sallow and pimply. Flabby pouches had gath ered under his eyes, which were fur tively restless, as though continually on tho watch for somo pursuer. Ho was fatter than ever. But whereas his stomach had formerly been of tho graceful rotundity of semi-activo pros perity, it had now becomo a paunch, liko unto Mnley's own. "Sit down," said Maley hospitably, "an' havo n drink on me." John sat down, but declined tho drink. Sheehan and Maley ordered whisky. Tho drink seemed to restore to Sheehan n part of his nerve. With out further preliminaries ho blurted out, "I want to go back." John waved his hand and remarked, "Tho railroads aro still running," a pleasantry that seemed lost on Shee han. "It's that cursed sentenco that's troubling me." "That's nuthln'," Maley Interposed cheerfully. "It's only four months In n There Was an Embarrassing Moment. the workhouso. I got a year in the pen." nis tone might havo led one to believe him boasting of a distinction. "I should think," said John gravely, "you would find It almost a relief to have it served and over." "So I would," answered Sheehan, with an emphatic sincerity that was not to bo doubted. "But I've got a family." "A little lato to think of them, isn't It? The sentence would have to be served." "It wouldn't if you said tho word." John shook his head. "Besides, I'll not be district attorney much longer, and my successor mightn't be com plaisant." Sheehan leaned over tho table and clutched John by the nrm, his face twitching nervously. "I guess you think fellers like me haven't got any heart? Lot me tell you something. I've got a wife and two kids that I think as much of as if I was an edu cated reformer. I haven't seen them In nearly five years, for fear you would trail mo through them. But now they are In trouble. Money affairs are all balled up. And the wife's got to go under an operation. I don't know whether she'll pull through or not. I ought to be there to take care ct them." A doubtful blessing to them. John thought, studying the dissipation mar red countenance. Still ho was not there to pass on Slieehan's value to his family. And he remembered having heard that In former days Sheehan had been very proud and fond of his wife nnd children and eccentric vir tue nmoug Ills kind faithful to them. "I didn't think you'd lot me off. You reformers" hero was bitterness "use always bent on sending somebody to , Jail. But will you do this give me two or tnree montns until tiie wire gets out of the hospltnl and I've got things straightened out some? Then I'll take inv medicine." (Continued in Next Friday's Issue.) Seeking Revenne. Music Teacher So you want your little boy to take lessons on tho pi ano? Parent Yes. I think that is a better way of getting back at my next door neighbor than building a spite wall Philadelphia Telegraph. Angels. I gazo upon my angel trim, But she's not from tho stars. She sits behind a counter grim And hands ut black cigars. Milwaukee Sentinel. 1 eaze upon my angel trim, But she's not from tho stars. Bho wields a good big rolling plu And hands out family jars. St. Louis Times. PAID POLIGE $50,000 GRAFT. "Big Bill" Keliher Says He Gave Lieu I tenant $200 Nightly. New York, Feb. a. If the federal authorities permit, it was reported "Big Bill" Keliher is to bo brought hero from tho Charlestown stato prlsou, in Boston, where ho is serving an elght- eon year sentence, to testify ngulust I a ono time police dfllclul who, he says, ! aided him and Martin Walsh, recelv- lug 50,000 of their loot In return for his services. If possible, Keliher may also bo taken before tho Curran committee to testify to tho relations alleged to havo existed between this police official and the fake faro bank Keliher bended. Tho mau in question is alleged to havo received $200 a night for guarding tho band and their fake faro bank. Ho Is now retired on a pension and is en gaged in a busluess, to establish which Walsh is alleged to havo given him ?25,000. District Attorney Whitman is report ed tc havo said that ho will ask the federal authorities for permission to havo Keliher brought here. John L. Bates, ono time governor of Massa chusetts and at prespnt receiver of tho National City banjr of Cambridge, from whlca George W, Coleman, tho youth ful cashier who was ono of Keliher and Walsh's victims, stolo $350,000, has volunteered to aid District Attor ney Whltmnn In every possiblo way. Mr. Bates has learned from Keliher where Walsh hid his share of tho loot Tho money has been attached by Mr. Bates, who has begun suit to recover PROFESSIONAL GAUDS. Attornevs-nt-Lnw. H WILSON, . ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office adjacent to Post Office In Dlmralck olllce, Ilonesdale, I'd WAI. H. LEE, ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office over post olllce. All legal business promptly attended to. Ilonesdale, Pa. EO. MUMTORU, . ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office Liberty Hall building, opposite ths Post Office. Ilonesdale. Pa. HOMEK GREENE. ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. Office: Relf Building, Honesdale. nHAULES A. McOARTY, J ATTORNEY & COUNSELOR- IT-LAW. Special and prompt attention elven to the collection ot claims. Office: Relf Building, Honesdale. ME. SIMONS, . ATTORNEY A COUNSELOR-AT-LAW, Office in the Court House, Honesdale Pa. SEARLE & SALMON, ATTORNEYS A COUNSELORS-AT-LAW. Offices latelv occupied by Judee Searle flHESTER A. GARRATT, J ATTORNEY A COUNBELOR-AT-LAW, Office adjacent to Post Offlce,!Qonesdale, Pa. Physicians. PB. PETERSON, M. D. . 1120 MAIN STREET, HONESDALE, PA. Kve and Ear a specialty. The fittinc of class es elven careful attention. F. G. KICKARD Prop WRST-CLASS WAGONS, RELIABLE HORSES. Especial Attention Given to' Transit Business. I STONE BARN CHURCH.STREET. LEGAL BLANKo ror sale at The Citizen office: Land Contracts, Leases, Judgment Notes, Warrantee Deeds, Bonds, Transcripts, Sum mons, Attachments, Subpoenas, La bor Claim Deeds, Commitments, Ex ecutions, .Collector's and Constables' blanks. W. C. SPRY I5EACI1LA1CE. AUCTIONEER HOLDS SALES ANYWHERE tS STATE. 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