The San Francisco call., 1904-10-30

Bucks made it promptly.
Ten thousand dollars; and you
promise 10 leave the State ana stay
away for one year from the first Tues
day in November next
That is until after the next State
election" Kent blew a Whit of smoke
TO The ceiling ana shook his head
slowly. 1t is not enough"
TIE Governor uncrossed his legs
cTOsseo Them the other way, and said:
III make il twenty thousand and
Two years"
or thirty thousand and three years.
Kent suggested amiabiy. or suppose
we come at once to the end of that
string and say one hundred thousand
and ten years. That would still leave
you a tau price for your block of Su-
burbsr property in Guilford and
Hawks addition TO the city of CASTOR,
wouldn't it?'
The Governor set his massive jaw
with sharp little click of the teeth
You are joying on the edge of your
grave, my young friend. I taught you
in Castor that you were not big enough
10 fight me; do you think you are big
enough n0W?"
i don't think; 1 know" said Kent,
incisively. And since you have re-
ferred TO the Castor days. let me ask
ii ever gave YOU any reason to believe
that / could be scared out?"
Keep TO the point" retorted Bucks.
harshly. This State isn't broad enough
TO hold you and me on opposite sides
Of the fence. / could make it too hot
10 hold you without mixing up in it
myself, but / choose to fight my own
battles Will you take twenty thou
sand dollars spot cash and MacFar-
lanes job as circuit judge when I'm
through with him? Yes or no."
No"
Then what will you take?"
Without committing myself in any
sense, might say that you are getting
OF too cheaDly on your most liberal
proposition. You and your friends
have looted a seventy-million-do dollar
railroad, and"
You might have stood in on that if
you had taken Guilford's offer" was
the brusk rejoinder- There was more
than a corporation lawyers salary in
sight. if you'd had sense enough to
see it."
Possibly. But stayed out-and
am still out"
do you want TO get in? Is that your
price?"
i intend TO get in-though not, per-
haps, in the way you have in mind.
Are you really to recall Judge Mac
Farlane with instructions to give us
our hearing on the merits?"
The Governors face was wooden
when he said:
rs that all you want? / understand
MacFarlane is returning, and you will
doubtless have your hearing in due
season."
Not unless you authorize it," Kent
objected.
And if / do? If I say that I have
already done so, win you come in and
lay down your arms?"
No"
Then I'm through. Give me your key
and write me an order on the Security
Bank for those papers you are holding
No" said Kent, again.
I say yesi" came the explosive re-
assertion; and Kent found himself
looking down the bright barrel of a
pistol thrust into his face across the
table
For a man who had been oftenest
an OnloOker on the football half of
life, Kent was measurably quick and
the weapon and turned il aside; in an
other he 5a;1med the fire end of his
cigar among the fingers of the grasp
ing hand. The Governor jerked free
with an oath. pain-extorted; and Kent
dropped the captured weapon into the
table drawer. II was all done in two
breaths, and when IL was over, Kent
flung away the broken cigar and light
ed y fresh one.
"That was very primitive expedi-
ent, your E1cellency, to say the best of
IT," he remarked. Have you nothing
better to ofIer?"
The reply was a wild-beast growl.
and taking it for a negative, Kent
went on.
Then perhaps you will listen to my
proposal The papers you are so anX-
ious about are here."-tapping the en-
veloDe on the table. NO, don't try
10 snatch them; you wouldn't get out
of here alive with them, lacking my
leave. Snch of them as relate to your
completely in the Universal Oil deal
are yours-on one condition; that your
health fails and you get yourself or
dered out of the State for the remain
der Of your term"
Nor thundered the Governor.
Very well; you may stay and take
a course Of home treatment, IL you
prefer. It's optional"
BY Godi 1 don't know what keeps
handsi" Bucks got upon his feet, and
Kent rose, also, slipping the box en-
velope into his pocket and laying q
precautionary hand on the drawer
pull.
The Governor turned away and
walked to the window, nursing hi:
burned fingers. When he faced abou
ii was to return to the charge.
Kent. what is it you want? Say /
in two words"
''Candidly..I didn't know. until a few
minutes ago. Governor It began with
u determination to break your grip OF
my railroad, I believe"
You can have your railroad, If yol
can get it-end be damned to it, ant
TO you. too"
II said it began that way. My sol,
idea in gathering UP this evicenc,
against you and your accomplices wa
to whittle out club that would max,
you let 20 Of the Transwestern. 70
Two weeks ] have been debating witt
myself as TO whether should buy yol
or break you; and half an hour befor
you came. I went to the bank ant
took these papers out. meaning. to g
and hunt you up
'WclI?" said the Governor and th