The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-06

Shacklett. 1t said:
81 have just heard, from a man whom 1
shall hate to my dying day. that you were
part of the gang which bought up the Les
islature for the notorious Chicago bills;
that you were given $4,000 TO get the vote
OF senator named Mcnamara from down
in the State, but he was so honest that
even that fortune could not tempt him. and
you failed. Do not imagine that / believe
this. II did would not tell you. But the
evidence is so strong that / must ask you
about it, Did you approach Senator Nc
Namara with large sum of money in the
interest of the bills in that Legislature? II
your answer Is No., wire II to me quick.
for / shall die If this state Of mind con-
tinues much longer.
eff you cannot answer No you had best
not answer at all. You will receive this
reach me by noon In any event. II II is
not here by Monday noon / shall know that
you cannot say No. and
81 do not know just what will become OF
me, for, unfortunately. people do not die
when they ought to. / suppose it will be
like bad wound that finally gets well, but
always leaves scar. / do not see now
, mine can ever heal, but they tell me that
wounds do generally.
But the surgeons knife sometimes is the
least evil. II you are that kind of man
/ should feel at the altar like woman
going on boat that the inspectors had
condemned throughout. or course, some OF
them reach port again, but most OF them
do not, and it Is only a matter of time
when such a man wrecks his life.
1T is not that 1 am afraid for myself
entirely. The essential question is whether
could love you then. 1 love the man
learned to know here. but could I love the
other man / found later on had married.
as development would come along the lines
of character he chose? That is the great
thing, for IL 1 did not love my husband
both Of us would be driven farther into
the whirlpool, and both of would be
more unhappy than If We separate now.
1t seemed sensible letter. but Shacklett
had vie q
have nabbed the stakes, what's the use Of
keeping on playing the gamer" were his
first words after reading the letter. His next
thought was being worked out by his pres
ence at this downtown hotel, where he
was seldom seen. Now, as he read the let
ter over yet again. he was revolving other
plans In his mind. The thought of telling
the truth, which would place him on a
pedestal. never entered his head. And
although this fight was finished he began
| to plan for the next one as naturally as
| clerk takes up another letter when the first
is written. Everything that he had con-
sidered to be two weeks ahead was pushed
| forward two years. But life was longer
than the two years, and this was a case
| of having to win. These things were not
| thoughts in his mind; they were percep-
lions. coming to him, apparently, exactly
as did the fact that the door was between
him and the hall.
| A few taps on the door changed the trend
| of his mind instantly. Shacklett called out
| an invitation to enter without taking his
| leg off the arm of the chair or looking up.
Not until the door was fully open did he
slowly rise and greet his visitor. He had
| none of the air of host; he was rather
the man who has casually met another on
the curb and stopped for moment to chat
about a little matter still unfinished.
It was Galloway who entered, and before
he had closed the door Sommers arrived,
looking furtivey up and down the hall.
| Both had been followed by the reporters
| for some distance, but Galloway had
dropped his squad in the mazes of the park.
through which he drove slowly. greatly en-
| 1oying the freshness of the morning, while
| Sommers. had passed through one of the
other hotels too swiftly for his shadows
Shacklett had arranged the chairs and
the table, and when he motioned each to a
| seat and sat down in the only remaining
chair, 1t happened that they were seated
| with the table between them. Shacklett
| began to speak al once, and his tone was
low and distinct, his words clear cut, but
with an apparent slight drawl on each that
indicated little genuine interest in the first
sentences spoken.
Gentlemen" he began, before I saw
the Times this morning had made up my
mind to a certain line of action. and don't
feel like having my plans disturbed by a
little thing like that. So I've thus far kept
on the route 1 had chosen. I've the game
l Al IN,
drew the card last night that made me win
ner. After I've smashed to smithereens the
lies in the Times, which I can do by 8
o'clock. nothing can beat me. I'm keeping
off Of debatable ground; didn't invite you
here for argument" And his eyes twin
killed. with that sparkle that won over people
at whom 1t was directed.
"But some of my private affairs have
gone wrong back where my brother lives -
he went on, without pause or change of
manner. land I'll lose a pot IL stay here
and fool any longer with this fight. I'm
going to quit. gentlemen. and leave the
game with you. with your permission, and
lay down my royal flush, so that you can
continue to back your full house and your
two pair"
The other two men were taken off their
guard that they made little attempt to
keep their feelings from showing in their
faces. Shacklett saw the look of alarm In
Sommers's eyes. 1t was quickly followed
by the one that shows in the pupils OF
cornered, desperate men. He also noted the
relief in the face of Galloway though the
old politician quickly hid 1t under look
merely of surprise and polite interest
Shacklett kept on talking smoothly
'Sommers, you don't know me little bit
/ don't punish my enemies that way In
not going to throw you over the cliff, anC
until just now 1 didn't know which of yo,
was the several kinds OF idiot that was be
hind the Times. And Galloway, 1 know
ought to send Sommers back to his justic,
shop I'm La lara and let you hold a wax,
here on his political remains but i dom
do those things; Ii isn't my way.
what I'll do. under certain easy condi
lions, is to get out bag and baggage and lie
you two grab whatever each of you can o.
my estate in the Legislature. 1 won
throw a vote to either of you. I'll say t
my people. Go where you please and II
stick to that. Each of you get what you
can, understand? That is. if you meet m,
terms. If you don't both come in the on,
that does will get votes enough to elect hin
mt TO accept my generous offer I'll let tn,
private business go, and tomorrow morn
ing will the game and tn,