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

because the task was u mammoth one,
but Dan and his inspectors drew "
out Mt slow rate. One by one tile
.hangers-o tired OF watching the ro,i-
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-
the inspectors to drag the count out.
Clay stayed In the Fifth with Dan
and the inspectors till midnight, when
he seemed to have IA majority of 100.
with tl1ree-fourths OF the vote counted.
well, guess I've got the job" lie
shouted at Dan as he left the polls.
Dan was unusually sober. He
chewed the ends of his mustache In n
deeply meditative mood as the In
spectors called off the votes against
his man. Sullivan was furious. He
paced up and down in front of the
temporary wooden railing like a Gagged
animal.
IF lose this ward I'm goner,
sure he cried. What d'you s'pose l
paid you $4,000 for! Jest to sprinkle
round 'mong your friends? 1 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 Sullivan
had SO openly sugg ested IN correction
with his father.
He threw down the stuhby pencil
with which he was registering the
tally, and, thrustins his hands deep In
his trousers pockets, he strode over
to Sullivan.
III you've got any more to say about
that S6.000." he said, slowly. throwing
the words square1y into the face Of
the nominee, lust come. outside and
say 'em to me. amt used to hearin'
TIL governor mentioned In any such
language. an don't propose to start
any innovations this campaign"
Sullivan was thunderstruck, and
cast "a quick, questioning glance at TIL
Boss. Crimmins sat with bowed head,
and the silence was intense.
That's all right. Danny boy" he
finally said. "Sullivan's only speakin'
flgura lively"
At midnight the count was finished.
Tho Fifth had turned.a small majority
for Clay. The inspectors drew back
from tho long tables in evident relief
as the tally sheets were signed. Dan
| took a long preliminary VIII rl With
the pen as he started to sign the re-
port which officially turned the ward
against him for the first time, and ir-
retrlevably ended his regime as Boss.
The thought occurred to him OF the
ease with which the result might be
| changed and the many times 1t had
| been accomplished. Then he caught
young Dams eye, and. quickly dipping
the pen In the spacious Ink well
scrawled off his name at the foot oil
the register.
i vet ha irpy, wv eF
out Sullivan rush ed into the place. q
need just three votes" he cried. lr
frenzied excitement. "Cinch. amt IL
We kin fix that without stretchin' oui
consciences more'n we kin sleep of
overnight. All tn wards are in bu,
this un. an I ran all thu way from
til city hall to hit off tn tip to you
4 I knew you was bound to win thai
i $4,000 somehow or other, and I didn'
want it doctored any more'n necessary
Been bad. wouldn't it. for you to have
been turned down? All that's required
is a few scretches OF tn pen. No
even as many as it took last time
Thus he rambled on as he took out hi
knife to reopen the ballot box.
well, / did my best by you. Mr.
Sullivan" said Dan. Course I'm sorr.
we had to lose. but we can consol
ourselves that we ran square dea
for once. But me and my son can
: help you any further tonight"
Sullivan looked dazed as Crimmn
} started for the door without Offering
! to break the official seal.
J There's somethin' on TIL table 70
J YOU" Dan called hack to the nominee
| pointing to the practically deserte
table, upon which fiuttered lone sill
Of paper. 1t was the check for 5000
hood. The old peace was again steal