The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-23

Dan nodded his lead. as broad,
sarcastic smile played about his large.
good-natured mouth.
"Wel---all --would--ah!- ahen. $3.-
600 secure the ward, Mr.. Crlmmins I"
Sullivan nervously opened and shut
the wallet, playing with the visible
ends Of the hank notes. Crimmins
slowly blew u great ring of smoke into
the air
my dear Mayor Sullivan" he said,
leaning over on his desk and talking
caller, you can't be elected In this
city without good. clean majority in
every precinct In the Fifth Ward
Isn't that fact" Sullivan nervously
beat the fingers of his right hand
against the knuckles of his left THE
people know you bought the upper
chamber and railroaded through the
water franchise. They know you are
right now. on the pay-rools OF three
big corpoI ations doing business with
the city. And. furth ermore know
1t. And. better still, you know It.
Now, II am to swallow all this I've
got to make peace with my COINCIDENCE,
and II can't be done for any $4,000.
I've got too good a conscience. But
business is business. Those four pre-
cincts in the Fifth ward are worth
$1,000 apiece. and my personal SER
vices In the present instance inventory
at $1,000 more. The mayors salary Is
worth Just $4,000 a year to you. my
dear Mr.. Sullivan. The mayors job
is worth $4,000 more, thanks to your
very judictuus business management.
| The price of the Fifth Ward Is $4,000,
Mr.. Sullivan. It's cheap to you at
double that figure"
| Sullivan was about RI 1pmilr. and
was putting his wallet back In his
pocket
'As matter Of fact" Dan careless
| ly suggested. II presume that the
ward is more valuable to Clay than 1t
is to you, anyway. and I guess
ooh! the price--present 7 should
say--is quite satisfactory" Sullivan
fastened to interpose. "And as to
terms?"
Cash In advance. It'll cost me Just
as much II we lose the ward as if we
carry it, because I'll do my best any
way. Cash In advance, my dear AR.
Sullivan"
The nominee weighed his wallet in
his right hand and went through a
mental calculation. ThenShe returned
the roll of bills to his pocket. and
reaching for a pen, drew check
with Hourish,
Clay, the opposing candidate. was
in the office within twenty-four hours
He found some difficulty in broa ching
the subject of his visit, and nervously
polished the nap of his silk hat upon
the sleeves of his coat as he waited
[ for Dan to receive him.
:. He went away somewhat dazed- He
told his incredulous advisers thai
Crmmins had been deeply shocked al
, the suggestion Of money, and that ht
} thought he might have secured hi.
J support If he had not tackled on the
, substantial consideration.
! Then began the battle royal. Sulll
van was completely lost sight Of. TIL,
: question really at stake was simpl.
the problem of whether Crimmin
| owned the Fifth Ward. Clay went II
, with an open and avowed determine
. tion to clean up Dan once and for all
: And for the first time In his caree
L Dan was actually nervous.
t For a week before election day TIL
i Fifth Ward enjoyed one prolonge'
/. holiday. Everybody celebrated, Will
t Clay and Crimmins We're footing TIL
. bills. Votes were at premium, an
t tho voters knew It.
I Then came the finish. AS Chairman
e of the ward committee. Dan had nance
the election inspectors. and, contrar
e to his usual custom, he placed himsel
a at the head Of the list. tits best t
he on the inside" he said, when Sui
: livan questioned the advlsability. OF hi
u action, Cant tell how many vote
: you may need bout midnight. who
; the count Is on"
The count promised to be tedious