The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-02-07

The Old Man now deemed the
time propitious for putting on the
screws" Politically, Mason was Gin
the ditch" but there was still a
chance for him to crawl out, if he
had an absolutely solid machine"
backing. And. if he refused to come
to terms, the machine" could pile
commercial wreck on top of the
other.
I'VE have him now where we
want him. said the Old Man. Get
your ordinance ready. If we cant
force it through now we can't do 1t
at all-until there's new council"
The Old Man played for large
stakes and he was both crafty and
patient. He never gave up. But in
this instance he made a mistake.
Mason was desperate, but despera-
ton did not make him tractable; in
fact, it had very opposite effect.
He had been longer than year
in the council and the notes he had
given to raise money for his cleo
ton expenses still remained I'M
paid. Somehow, with a much small
err income from the store and in
creased personal and family ex-
penses. every cent had been
needed.
In despair he went to one of the
men to whom he had given his
notes. intending to be absolutely
honest with him.
sfT'r,o in hoJ rx,pvp no Cqi6 81
meant to take up that note before
this, but everything seems to have
been against me. Politics has been
a costly thing to me-"
"Now, you needn't worry about
that note" explained the man. ''1ts
in the hands of friend of yours.
He came to me more than six
months ago, told me the predica
ment you were in, and said he
wanted to help you in quiet way
by putting that note where it
couldn't possibly bother you, so I
let him have it."
"Who was the man." asked Ma
son. astonished and startled.
HE said his name was Philip
Harkins," answered the man.
Never heard of him BEFORE" ex-
claimed Mason.
Then he fastened to see about
the other note and found that
Philip Harkins had that, also.
When the street railway COM
pany made it's coup, the Old Man
decided that the time had come for
action, and Philip Harkins sought
out Mason.
"You do not know me, alder
man." he said, "but my name is
Harkins."
"You have two notes of mine"
interrupted Mason, for he instantly
recognized the name.
yes" admitted Harkins, sur
prised.
do you want them secured?"
asked Mason.
mo; l want them paid"
81 can't pay them now" said Ma
son.
81 thought not" said Harkins;
that is, was pretty we'll satisfied
you couldn't pay them in cash"
Mason had learned to be quick at
drawing differences since he had
got into politics, and his brow
clouded.
what kind of a devils PROPOSE
ton have you got to make?" he
demanded, angrily.
None" answered Harkins,
suavely. "My proposition"
Don't lie to mel" cried Mason
you've got some disreputable
scheme on hand or you never
would have bought those notes.
What do you want?"
"Mr. Mason" said Harkins, with
cold deliberation. for it was not his
cue to be stirred to anger, 81 rep
resent two parties-the people be-
hind the gas measure and the peO-
pie behind the street railway fran
chise Those two ordinances are
coming up in the council shortly.
1t rests with you to decide whether
| shall destroy one or both of the
notes in your presence the morning
after these measures have been
aced upon"
"You damned scoundrel, you
want to bride me, tool"
Mason was pale with anger.
81 have not said So" returned
Harkins, quietly.
mo; you people never say any
thing that man can get grip
on retorted Mason, "but you
mean it, just as the street railway
people meant it, and I'll give you
the same answer. BY God! I'm not
to be bought at any price! Now get
Quit"
"Have you stopped to think"
1--WE thought of everything. Get
Quit"
Harkins was backing slowly to-
ward the door now, while Mason
stood, gripping the back of a chair
and restraining himself with an
effort.
''If we sue these notes"
at will ruin me-" broke in Ma
son. at will bring other creditors
down on me, and III be closed out
in "a hours. The railway people
have killed me politically and you
can kill me commercially. Good
Lord! Don5t you suppose I've
counted the cost"
well, perhaps the franchise is
not just what II ought ID be-" con.