The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-25

L
| "All's fair in love and politics,
Iasserted the Old Man, carelessly.
That's why I'm here" retorted
Corbett. II have a love story"
why don't you print it,? asked
the Old Man.
81 may" answered Corbett, "but
II thought you'd like to hear it
first"
The Old Man, both disturbed and
puzzled, decided that it was time
for little dignity.
"You got hurt" he said, land 1t
was your own fault. I haven't time
tot listen to hard-luck tales or to
| threats. I don't care what your
story is, either. Print it, if it's a
good one"
Now, don't be hasty,' cautioned
| Corbett, coolly.: You'll lose some
good men, if Mason isn't elected;
and you'll lose some more, if he is
elected and his election is con.
tested"
The reference to a contest
startled the Old Man.
"And you know best" added Cor
bett, whether any of them would
talk freely. if they got in tight
place. think you'd better listep><0
me-"
well, waht is yosp story?"
growled the Old MaS>angrily 1t
hurt his pride tQ>Make this conces-
sion, but hs>eas too wise to let
pride lea>rhim into danger.
"ItS the story of Mason's can
didcy and campaign" said Corbett.
ut begins with the effort to pledge
him before the nomination. After
that comes the little affair of the
Safety league pledge and the story
of how Darnell defied you right in
this room would make mighty inter-
esting reading"
The Old Man scowled, but he
passed the matter off lightly.
What those boy may say won't
do any HARM" he asserted, although
the mental picture of the ridicule
that would be directed at him was
not pleasing "The split with Ma
son is pretty well known already,
and the public naturally expects
him to pose as a victim"
Il would follow this" Corbett
went on, with some details of
treachery and crooked work that
would tend to corroborate the truth
of his claim I would print a fac
smile of a certain precinct regis
tration sheet on which the dummies
are marked, or else | would turn
that sheet over to the Citizens
Safety league, so that the men who
voted the dummy names could be
watched, arrested and prosecuted.
Corbett spoke slowly and distinct
ly. The Old Man searched the face
of his vis-a-vis for some evidence
of a bluff, but could find none.
You don't know which precinct
that is" added Corbett, significant
ly.
The Old Man saw the point. Not
knowing just where the danger lay.
fraudulent voting would be blocked
in every precinct in the ward. But
he quickly recovered his composure
DO you dare insinuate that
have anything to do with such
crooked work." he demanded.
mot directly replied Corbett,
calmly, "but when trouble begins
one never knows where it will end.
don't pretend to say that 1t would
ever get to you, but 1t would get to
some people you would miss. On
the bottom of that registration
sheet a note is scrubbed in pencil.
It reads, Vote names marked as
directed and is signed with
j initials. If the names marked are
voted it might make trouble for the
man whose initials appear. ex-
! pect you to stop it to save some
useful men and prevent scandal"
"Corbett," said the Old Man,
CURLY, you're pretty good fell
low, but you shouldn't try your
hand at bluffing" .- .t.4.
Perhaps | don't make the situa-
| ton clear" returned Corbett, ig-
noring this intimation that he was
lying. ''If Mason is elected and
no contest is attempted there will
be no story to print and no prose-
cution to make. But If Mason IS
not elected, | will know the reason
| why, and if do not receive your
| assurance that he will be elected
not later than the second day be-
| fore the election the story will be
printed If you give me that prom
Use and are false to it, the Safety
league will have the evidence need
ed to send some people to the peni-
, Tertiary"
; Ito be continued.)