The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-04-28

| "Oh the prlce--preSeuts ! should
say-is quite satisfactory" Sullivan
hastened to interpose. And = ID
terms?"
"Cash in advance. It'll cost me just
as much II we lose the ward as II we
carry It, because I'll do my best any
way. Cash in advance, my dear Mr..
Sullivan"
The nominee weighed his wallet In
his right hand and went through
mental calculation. Then he re-
turned the roll OF bills to his pocket
and. reaching for pen, drew a check
with flourish.
Clay, the opposing candidate, was In
the Office within "a hours. He found
some difficulty in broaching the sub
iect Of his visit. and nervously pol
ished the nap of his silk hat upon
the sleeve Of his coat as he waited
for Dan to receive him.
He went away somewhat dazed. He
told his incredulous advisers that
Crimmins had been deeply shocked at
the suggestion Of money and that he
thought he might have secured his
support IL he had not tackled on the
substantial consideration.
Then began the battle royal. Sulli-
van was completely lost sight Of. The
question really at stake was simply
the problem OF whether Crimmins
owned the Fifth ward. Clay went in
with an open and avowed determine
ton to clean up Dan once and for all.
And for the first time in his career
Dan was actually nervous.
For a week before election day the
Fifth ward enjoyed one prolonged
holiday. Everybody celebrated. while
Clay and Crimmins were footing the
bills. Votes were at premium. and
the voters knew it.
Then came the finish. AS chairman
Of the ward committee, Dan had
named the election inspectors and,
contrary to his usual custom, he
placed himself at the head Of the list.
Its best to be on the inside" he
said, when Sullivan questioned the ad-
visibility OF his action. Cant tell
how many votes you may need bout
midnight, when the count is on"
The count promised to be tedious
because the task was mammoth one,
but Dan and his inspectors drew it
out at slow rate. One by one the
hangers-on tired of watching the rou-s
tine and left the polls. Vote after
vote showed the tell-tale cross over
the Clay ticket, and the outlook was
ominous for Sullivan. Dan was nerv-
Gus. and in an undertone adnionished
the inspectors to drag the count out
Clay stayed in the Fifth with Dan
and the inspectors till midnight, when
he seemed to have majority Of 100,
with three-fourths Of the vote counted.
well. guess I've got the job" he
shouted at Dan as he left the polls.
Dan was unusually sober. He
chewed the ends Of his mustache in
deeply meditative mood as the inspec-
tors called off the votes against his
man. Sullivan was furious. He
paced up and down In front Of the
temporary wooden railing like Gagged
animal
:If / lose this ward I'm goner,
sure" he cried what d'you s'pose
paid you $4,000 for! Jest to sprinkle
round 'mong your friends? amt
dealin' in any such business"
At the inspectors table. where he
was assisting in the canvass. young
Dan raised his head in surprise at
the mention of the price which Sulli-
van had SO openly suggested in con-
nection with his father.
! He threw down the stubby pencil
with which he was registering the
tally, and, thrusting his hands deep
in his trousers pocket, he strode over
to Sullivan.
"If you've got any more to say
about that $6,000." he said, slowly.
throwing the words squarely into the
face Of the nominee. 'just come out
side and say 'em to me. I amt used
to hearin' tn governor mentioned in
any such language, an don't pro-
pose to start any innovations this
campaign"
At midnight the count was finished
The Fifth had turned small majority
for Clay. The inspectors drew back
from the long tables in evident re-
lief as the tally sheets were signed
Dan took a long preliminary whirl
with the pen as he started to sign
the report which ofhcially turned the
ward against him for the first time,
and irretrievably ended his regime as
Boss. The thought occurred to him
OF the ease with which the result
might be changed and the many
times it had been accomplished
Then he caught young Dams eye. and.
quickly dipping the pen in the spa
cious ink well, scrawled of his name
at the foot Of the register.
Just as the lights were being turned
out Sullivan rushed into the place.
Il need just three votes" he cried, in
frenzied excitement. "Cinch, amt it?
We kin fix that without stretchin' our
consciences more'n we kin sleep on
over night. All tn wards are in but
this un, an ran all tn way from
tn city hall to hit of TIL tip to you