The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-06
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was rude and his figure of rhetoric UNI
conventional.
mo, / will not. You will take your
chances like anybody else. l will keep
nothing quiet Every dashed upstate son
of hayric1 thinks he can come down
here and play the goat and go back home
an fergit it. If my towns tough it's
~you boosters that come down here an
turn yourselves loose an make 1T so.
And it's me the newspapers roast.
At this point James Olson of the naugh-
ty city was inspired to remember that
James Olson of the good little city owned
a block of delegates at the State capital
and was high in the good graces OF
Great Parsonage. He recited his titles
to respect and mentioned the Great Per
sonage.
II don't care who you arc or who you
know Numbered the Olympian in a pas
sion of recitude that made HIM superior
to grammar; 81 don't owe you money nor
anybody else; you can go tell him SO. m
not put here to do favors; I'm put here
to execute the law, and you bet your life
I'll 90 it!''
This was diplomacy. There are forms
of speech in the Great Republic which
it needs long initiation to interpret;
and James Olson was initiated. The chief
had the most exalted friendship for the
Great Parsonage Mr.. Olson had named.
1t was the custom of that Great Person
age from time to time, when he suffered
with the spleen, to speak his mind to the
chief with an unreserve which made the
chiefs eyes water-with affection! When
Mr. Olson had withdrawn from the Front
Office the chief made the telephone wires
hum with hurrying calls to trusted lieu
tenants with names suggesting that gifted
race whose people can govern everybody
except themselves. When Mr. Olson re-
turned with his credentials his reception
reminded him that Mr.. Olson of the other
place was not the only man in the naughty
city who is blessed with a metaphysical
double.
Have already moved in that matter of
yours, Mr.. Olson; an accident that might
happen to any gentleman.
Even to an upstate son or hayrlck.'
said the facetious Olson.
81 will have your property delivered to
you at nine in the morning at your
hotel" said the chief; "and meantime if
! there are any little corners of the city
that you would like TO look into, l shall
be glad to place a competent guide at
!
/ your disposal
81 might find some things that would
| be of service to me in directing our home
! interests: lam actively employed in local
affairs" said Mr. Olson.
Happy to be able to do anything for
you 1 can" said the chief, offering the
glad hand.
"A pleasure to have made your ac
quaintance," said Mr.. Olson, accepting
| the glad hand.
This also was diplomacy; the rest was
| business The chiefs face when he met
| his lieutenapts was a hurry-up order per
sonified. He named dozen powers and
potentates by their homes de guerre and
indicated their customary places OF re-
! sort His instructions were figurative:
RAKE this town with fine-tooth comb;
I want 'em here by / o'clock. If they
don't understand kindness, pinch EN-
There is a wireless telegraph system
in the Under World which is quite as eff
| fective as Marconi's, and it was soon
noised about among the guns that there
was to be roundup at the Front Office.
The interview took place in the chiefs
private office.
Curly" he asked in confidential tones,
addressing the man from Frisco, what
do you know Ibout the touch that was
pulled off over in Jersey this morning
on the trolley? Somebody got a thimble
(watch) and a roll of dough-
First I've heard of it, chief, l don't
know nothin.
Its up to you, McIllowd.'
I'm dead about it, too, chief Just
got out a-bed little while before Curry
found me-
How about you, Billy?"
Dead, too. Keeps me busy kcepin'
track o touches this side of the river"
"Weh, a touch came off, an 1 want the
thing cleared up. III give it to you fel-
lows straight-the touch never should "a
come off, an it's up to me to get the gun
an the things. I've got you up here to
read the riot act to you, an you'd better
read K to the rest O the gang. I've been
easy on some o you blokes cause know
t you've got families here an want to
stay with EN- but Ill tell you on the
level that if you don't cough up that gun
I'll put deadline around this whole
town. Now, you can take your choice
That's all I've got to say to you; but
want you, McKlowd, to wait a.little."
The consultation with McKlowd was
short but significant.
"Ruderick, I might as well give you the
truth as 4 steer The sucker that was
touched is a friend o his Nibs-you
know who 1 mean-an' his Nibs is hostile
It's the second time t he's had crouch
on, an I've got to put UP a good front.
If the thing don't go right I'll be in
hell of hole, an I want to know if
you'll pull it through. I can't get that
gun inside of a month If you blokes don't
help Inc, an I've kept the sucker here
IN town on the plea that it'll be all over
in day or two, Will you get the push
to cough up?"
| "Anythin' doin' aftorward?"
Il can't make no deal with you, Ruder-
| ick-you know that well enough I've
been pretty square with you an the
push, amt I? Well, it stands to reason
| t l amt goin' to get crouch on if you
an the push do me favor, don't it?'
Alright. Forty-eight hours you said,
| didn't you? If it's only twenty-four you
won't object l suppose?"
It'll make my rep all the better if it's