The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-16

lou follower ulul.
"Sure. That is what kept me so
long"
Hawk hung upon his decision for the
barest fraction of a second. Then he
gave his orders concisely.
Hunt UP DR.. Macquoid and get him
out to the club house as quick as you
can. Tell him to bring his hypodernic.
I'll be there with all the help he'll
need"
And when the young man was gore
Hawk srnote the air with a clenched
fist and called down the Black Curse
of ShieIygh, or its modern equivalent,
on all the fates subversive Of well-laid
plans.
A quarter OF an hour later. on the up
per floor OF the club house at the Cen
tlemen's Driving Park, four men burst
in upon a fifth, a huge figure in brown
duck. crouching in a corner like wild
beast at bay. A bottle and tumbler
stood on the table under the hanging
lamp; and with the crash of breaking
glass which followed the mad-bull rush
of the duck-clothed giant the reek of
French brandy filled the room.
Hold him still, If you can, and pull
UP that sleeve"
1t was Macqpoid who spoke, and the
three apparitors, breathing hard, sat
upon the prostate man and barred his
arm for the physician. When the
apomorphia began to do its work there
was a struggle of another sort, out of
which emerged a pallid and somewhat
stricken reincarnation of the Governor.
Falkland is waiting at the hotel and
he and MacB'arlane can't get together"
said Hawk, tersely, when the patient
was fit to listen. Otherwise we
shouldn't have disturbed you. It's all
day With the scheme If you can't show
up"
rba r-o,,a-,,,,. --,.o.,..s - -.
hand over his eyes.
Get me into my clothes-Johnson
has the grip-and give me all the time
you can" was the sullen rejoinder; and
in due course the Hon. Jasper C. Bucks,
clothed upon and in his right mind
was enabled to keep his appointment
with the New York attorney at the
Mid-Continent Hotel.
But first came the whipping-in of
MacFarlane. Bucks went alone to the
Judges room on the floor above the
parlor suite. 1t was now near mid
night. but MacFarlane had not gone
TO bed. he was spare man, with thin
hair, craving rapidly at the temples,
and a care-worn face; the face of a
man whose tasks or responsibilities, or
both. have oVermatched him. He was
walking the floor with his head down
and his hands-thin, nerveless hands
they were-tightly locked behind him,
when the Governor entered.
For large man the Honorable Jas
per was usually able to handle his
weight admirably; but now he chung
to the door-knob until he could launch
himself at a chair and be sure of hit
ting it.
What's this Hawks telling me about
you. MacFarlane?" he demanded,
frowning portentously.
I don't know what he has told you
do it, and that's all there is about it."
The protest was feebly fierce, and there
was the snarl of a baited animal in the
tone.
It's too late to make difficulties
now" was the harsh reply. You've
got 10 do it"
Il tell you I can not, and will not!''
"A late attack of conscience, eh?"
sneered the Governor, who was sober
ing rapidly now. Let me ask a ques-
ton or two. How much was that Sc
curity debt your son-in-Iaw let you in
for?''
1T was 10000 1t is an honest debt,
and I shall pay it,"
But not out Of the salary of Cir
cult Judge" Bucks interposed. Nor
yet out of the fees you make your
clerks divide with you. And that isn't
all. Have you forgotten the gerry
mander business2 How would you
like to see the true inwardness of that
l.. the newspapers?
The Judge shrank as if the huge ges-
turing hand had struck him.
You wouldn't dare" he began. You
were in that too. deeper than
Again the Governor interrupted him.
Cut it out, he commanded. L can
reward, and / can punish. You are not
going TO do anything technically lille
gal; but. by the. gods, you are going to
walk the line laid down for you. If
you don't, / shall give the documents
in the gerrymander affair to the papers
the day after you fail. Now we'll go
and see Falkland
MacFarlane made one last protest
For Gods sake, Bucks, spare me
that. 1t is nothing less than the foul
est collision between the Judge, the
counsel for the plaintif--and the
DEVIL"
"Cut that out, too, and come along"
said the Governor, brutally, and by the
steadying help of the chair, the door
post and the wall of the corridor he led
tie way to the parlor suite on the floor
below.
The conference in Falklands rooms
was chiefly monologue with the
sharp-spoken New York lawyer in the
speaking part. When it was concluded
the Judge took his leave abruptly
pleading the lateness of the hour and
his duties for the morrow When he
was gone the New Yorker began
again.
You won't want TO be known in
this, 1 take it," he said, nodding
at the Governor. Mr.. Hawk
here will answer well enough
for the legal part. but how about
the business end of it? Have you got
a man you can trust?"
The Governors yellow eyebrows met
in a meaning scowl.
I've got man l can hang, which
is more to the purpose. It's Major
Jim Guilford. He lives here; want to
meet him?'
God Forbid" said Falkland, fervent-
ly. He rose and whipped himself into
his overcoat, turning to Hawk: Have
your young man get me a carria ge,
and see to il that my special is ready
to pull east when 1 give the word, will
you?"
Hawk went obediently. and the New
Yorker had his final word with the
Governor alone.
Il think we understand each other
perfectly" he said. You are to have