Times-promoter., 1907-10-18

Wn20 Joe enCereQ the Louis QulilZC
room" which some decorator, drunk
with power, had mingled into the
brewers villa, he found the owner and
Mr.. Sheehan, with five other men, en-
gagged in meritorious attempt to tone
down the apartment with smoke.
Two of the five others were prosper
known to the public (whose notion of
what it meant when it used the term
was something of the vaguesD as poll
ticians; the fifth was Mr.. Farbach's
closest friend, one who (Joe had heard)
was to be the next chairman of the
city committee of the party. They
We're seated about a table, enveloped
in blue clouds and hushed to grave
and pertinent silence which clarified
Immediately the circumstance that
whatever debate had preceded his ar
rival, it was now settled.
Their greeting of him, however,
though exceedingly quiet, indicated a
certain expectancy as he accepted the
chair which had been left for him at
the head of the table. He looked thin
ner and paler than usual, which is say
ing great deal, but presently, finding
that the fateful hush which his en-
trance had broken was Immediately re-
sumed, twinkle came into his eye,
one of his eyebrows went up, and a
corner of his mouth went down.
"Well, gentlemenw he said.
The smokers continued to smoke and
to do nothing else, the exception being
Mr.. Sheehan, who, though he spoke
not, exhibited tokens Of agitation and
excitement which he curbed with diff
ficulty, shifting about in his chair,
gnawing his cigar, crossing and un-
crossing his knees, rubbing and slap
ping his hands together, clearing his
throat with violence, his eyes fixed all
the while, as We're those of his COM
panions, upon Mr.. Farbach. So that
Joe was given to. perceive. that it had
been agreed that the brewer should be
the spokesman. Mr.. Farbach was de-
liberate, that was all, which added to
the effect of what he finally did say.
"Choe," he remarked placidly, "you
are der next mayor off Canaan"
"Why do you say that?" asked the
young man sharply.
"Bickoss us here" he answered, in
terlocking the tips Of his fingers over
his waistcoat, that being as near fold
ing his hands as lay within his power,
"bickoss us here shall try to fix it so,
und so hef ditcided."
Joe took deep breath. "Why do
you want me-"
dot" replied the brewer, 'iss some
ding l shall tell you." He paused to
contemplate his cigar. "We want you
blckoss you are der best man fer dot
positsion."
Louie, you mustn't make a mistake
at the beginning" Joe said hurriedly.
Il may not be the kind of man you're
looking for. If went in He hesi-
tated, stammering. ''It seems an I'M
grateful thing to say, but-but there
wouldn't be any slackness-I couldn't
be bound to anybody
"Holt up your hossesw Mr.. Farbach
once in his life was so ready to reply
that he was able to interrupt. "Who
hef you heert speak off bounding? Hef
I speakt off favors? Dit say der
shout be slackness in der city gofer'-
ment? Litsen to me, Choe." He re-
newed his contemplation Of his cigar,
then proceeded: Il hef been t'inkin' it
ofer now couple years. ! hef mate
up my mind. If some peobles are
gombelt to keep der laws and oders are
not, dots a great atwantitch to der
oders. Dot iss what iss running der
goundry, und der peobles iss CON-
mencement to take notice. Efer'veres
in oder towns der iss housecleaning.
Dey are reforming und indieding, und
pooty soon dot mofement comes here
shoo-er! If we intent to holt der pardy
in power, we shout be leetle ahead
off dot mofement so when it shout be
here we hef q goot 'minadstrakon to
fall beck on. Now, dere iss anoder
brewery opened und trying to gombete
init me here in Canaan. II dot brew
cry owns der mayor, all der tsaloons
buying my beer must shut up at 'leven
O'CLOCK und Sundays, but der oders
keep open. If l ewn der mayor,
make der same against dot oder brew
cry. Now, am pooty sick off dot
ways off bitsness und fighting all times.
Also," Mr.. Farbach added, with mag
nifcent calmness, "my trade iss larchly
0witside off Canaan, und 1t iss bedder
dot here der laws shout be enforced
der same fer all. Litsen, Chloe! All us
here beliefs der same way. You are
square. Der whole tsaloon element
knows dot und knows dot oil voult be