The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-24

the B. Line Third Rail-Didn't YOU
know about it?-What? Didn't know
THAI Williams has sprung the vote-a
gay early-that he was here this morn
lnS-that the county is in a panic
that he viii win his bilI:"
Tompkins, his hands shaking so that
ne could hardly hold his derby hat.
stumbled to his feet What, The vote
was on. His county panic-strickenl
He rushed to the house doors through
crowd of men. The clerk was call
Ing out, in sing-song, monotonous
tones:
House bill No. 2s-Being an act-to
perm1t-the Interstate Railroad conpa-
ny-to equip its B lines-with third
rail-"
A messenger. seeing him. slipped a
note in his hand
"Here,' ne shouted to his county
member. ''held them, Delay the vote
do anything
He opened the paper nervously. He
read:
Il rely upon you to vote for the bill.
Williams"
He left the house on the jump.
Where's Williams?' he said, catch
ing by the arm a man who was hurry
ing in the opposite direction. The lat
ter shook his head.
Up there" said another man, point
ing up the lobby TO the boss's office on
the floor above.
He rushed headlong up the marble
stairway into the presence of the boss.
Here, Williams" he cried, impetu-
ousiy- What do you mean by spring.
ing the vote on me this way?"
The short, thin-faced man with the
steei-gray eyes and the square jaw
swung round in his revolving chair
coolly.
What do you mean by it?" said
Tompkins, stepping up to him, his
voice shaking with anger.
Well" said Williams calmly, st
ought not to make any difference to
you. Your county's solid. isn't it?"
He was looking at the little member
from TOmpkinsville through half-shut
eyes that had a dangerous, red, angry
CLEAN in them which Tompkins didn't
notice. He was tapping the desk be-
side him with one hand as he spoke.
But I'm not ready-I haven't had
time-I can't go back into that house
and vote nowr'
"Oh. yes. you can" said Williams.
you can do just that
Tompkins stepped toward the boss of
the lobby fiercely. He had seen his
county; he knew what they were going
to do. He had the whip hand now him
self
81 know your tricks. Williams" he
cried You think you've got me- But
I'll tell you something that perhaps you
don't know. In three minutes from now
I'll"
What will you do?''
The boss had risen from his seat, his
jaws working. He advanced a step
toward Tompkins menacingly He
opened his watch with sharp click.
'In three minutes from now" he
said, and there was not a break in the
even, angry rise of his voice ''in three
from now you'll go back into
that house and vote my billi'
Look here," said Tonpkins, roughly.
He had shrunk back against the door
as the boss approached. Now he
stepped forward himself angriiy.
"Loolx herel" he said, and there was
a sheer in his voice. Perhaps you
don't know, Mr.. Williams
Perhaps I do" said the boss. He
stepped close to Tompkins. his fingers
twitching, his Jaws working. his face
livid with sudden anger. He shook his
fist in the little mans face. do YOU
suppose I don't know you" he said;
that ] haven't followed you ever since
you came to this house and began your
little caucus politics tricks. that I ]
wanted I've done in cases before like
my fish myself? Your-oounty-to a
n-will-vote-my
''Whatr' said Tompkins, his little
weak watery eyes dropping back I'M
der the savage. hard gaze OF the boss. |
'Bought-every one of them-bought |
back again this morning said the !
boss.
He hardly glanced at the little,
form in front of him
And you" the voice of the boss |
was again cold and sneering. "You will |
vote it, too; not because you are going |
10 get even the little that your county |
members will get from me. You're go |
ng to vote that bill because 1 tell you |
TO. You won't, eh?'
He tore an envelope from his pocket |
and shook it at the little member an
yrily. "See that. Can you read your
)wn handwriting Nice thing that was /
% do, For $500 viii hold my coun-
Y in line. l will give you until tomor-
'ow night to decide The boss
aughed again seornfully. Thought
Tou had me sure, didn't you? Walked |
light into the trap. Until tomorrow !
lightr" He laughed and glanced at
rompkins. who had shrunk back
Lgainst the wall his eyes staring at the |
'aper in Williams hand, his dry lips
'pening and shutting. Now do you
zee why you'u vote my bill?" sasi Will II
Jams. He turned on his heel and. put I
ing his hand on his chair, SWING it Il
round A half-laugh escaped him /
then he turned again quickly toward /
he cringing little form whose face was II
Tawn. pale. as if in physical suffering, h
whose eyes We're fixed on him with the II
usvering fear that every han had felt II
sho had ever been cornered by the II
'oss. whose right hand crepr up to his II
hroat and fell back again
ssYou-eow he said. II
Out through the silent aisle. 0own