Page:Earl Derr Biggers - Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913).djvu/163

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
THE MAYOR BEGINS A VIGIL
145

educated men I want for eighteen dollars a week —but I'm up on Bonaparte."

"It seems to me," Miss Norton put in, "I have heard—did I read it in a paper?—that a picture of Napoleon hangs above your desk. They say that you see in your own career, a similarity to his. May I ask—is it true?"

"No, miss," replied Cargan. "That's a joking story some newspaper guy wrote up. It ain t got no more truth in it than most newspaper yarns. No, I ain't no Napoleon. There's lots of differ ences between us—one in particular." He raised his voice, and glared at the company around the table. "One in particular. The reformers got Napoleon at the end."

"But the end is not yet," suggested Mr. Magee, smiling.

Mr. Cargan gave him a sudden and interested look.

"I ain't worrying," he replied. "And don't you, young fellow."

Mr. Magee responded that he was not one to indulge in needless worry, and a silence fell upon