The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-03-23

THE faces OF the four men about
the table testified that the confer
ence was of the most important ma
ture and that the situation was far
from satisfactory. The tall, raw-boned
man, with the eyes which seemed to
turn inwards. jammed himself still
deeper into the easy chair in which
he sat, bit off a mouthful of plug to-
bacco and, turning to the slender man
to his right with the piercing black
eyes and the prematurely gray head,
asked:
Brooks, are you sure these are all
the votes we can get?"
"Dead sure" was the reply. There
isn't single other fellow who is even
wavering."
The tall man turned to the hand
some, dapper, well-groomed, middle
aged man on his left.
''Are you sure we can depend abb
solutely on all of these, Murray?" he
asked.
Every one," replied Murray. "At
least for to-morrow's ballot"
"We're only one shy" remarked
the tall man, turning his eyes inwards
again and speaking with great delib-
Grafton. 81 wouldn't care so much
about shutting off the graft for the
boys-although it would make it a
dry session; but am afraid that it
will give the other fellows control OF
the organization. That's what Hat
field is figuring on. He wants to be
governor"
There was murmur of surprise.
brooks whistled and said, softly:
Its more important than ]
thought. Why, Hatfield is impossi-
BILE. If he were to be elected we might
as well get off the earth. Are you
sure, Joe?"
dead sure" was the reply. "And
this is his opportunity. II they beat
us tomorrow, it will be heralded all
over the state as victory over the
doodle gang and Hatfield will get
the credit for it. Then look out for
the band wagon fellows. They will
jump to get next to the other crowd,
and we will be unable to figure on
anybody-hey, Murray?'
Exactly" replied Murray, gravely.
"It's a very devil of situation. Can't
In passing the confounded bill. Bet
\ ter let the graft go than to lose the
4 organization"
NO. replied the tall man, setting
his heavy jaw and knitting his bushy
brows. ''The trick would be too cheap
and transparent. l wish to Heaven
we had never started to fight the in
fernal thing, but we can't back out
now"
There was a silence of some min
n utes, when suddenly the leader arose
with resolution written all over his
lanky frame. He strobe across the
room and pushed a button.
"Find Dilly O'Connor, and tell him
+ want to see him." he said to the
bell boy.
N "How much money can be used? p
he asked the short, stocky man with
the gray side whiskers.
We've spent lot, you know" re-
piled Lester. still. we must not lose
control. How much must we have?'
''Ten thousand; maybe fifteen"
"Whew!" whistled Lester, archine
his eyebrows.
'sThe situation is desperate" said
the leader. I'VE must resort to des.
perate action"
'1'll get the money" replied Lester
after a moments pause. whats the
game, Joe? There's positively not an.
other fellow who can be touched with
money"
The leaders eyes became duh and
rxpressionless as he remarked:
Il have an idea that Hatfield may
not be present to vote tomorrow"
Hatfield" exclaimed the three in
unison. 'You wouldn't offer him
money!"
Certainly not" replied the leader
"but l have a presen;;ment that he
may be i'll tomorrow"
Just then the door opened, and a
short, thick-set man, with a heavy
black mustache and rather low fore.
head, hustled in. evidently greatly
pulled up at being summoned to the
inner councils of the party leaders.
"Can you trust this woman you spoke
of the other day-tha one you got to
pump Tolman while se was drunk?'
asked the leader.
'.Sure," replied O'Cennor.
Has she nerve? viii SHE do some
strong work for big money!"
shes oul for the dough, and she's
dead game" replied 0'Connor.
4 "O'Connor,r said she leader. eyeing
the man, sharply. II the TEillyn biz