Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-11-05
CHAPTER Y.


tion day-three O'Clock in maestrom, a
vortex
Percy Kane had reached the acme, the
apotheosis, Of his career at that hour, yet
here, amid turbulent, excited political con-
freres, he was the coolest person in the
room.
1t was at the central headquarters of
the party-or rather clique-which he
had chosen to bear him, the great trust,
On 10 power and fortune.
Wires, constant ticking, in other rooms,
the incessant Jar of telephone bellS-mes-
sases, telegr&nS, hurrying, scurrying pre-
c.nct leaders, more dgnihed officials, a
jostling, seething mob half exhausted af
ter day at the polls in a contest that in
sixty minutes more would free or enslave
q great State!
There had been peculiar rumors afoat
since about dawn, for at O'Clock mask
ed batteries had appeared all along the
line.
Almost to a man the potent Amalga-
mated. which Kane and his hirelingS had
believed to be servile under spell of
dread and influence. had swung into ac
tion boldly masSed for the opposition.
ties came the rumor of trade in candi-
dates that meant the swamping of five
needed representatives The western pre-
cincts, too, reported strange and myster-
GUS defections among the ranks of the
faithful
Il can't understand it," anxously as
serted Kane to powerful political boss
at his elbow-'it looks as though con-
certed action had been planned months
and months ago.
Its new play in politics, then" de-
clared the other, for we did not get
hint of it in advance"
Can they win out?" questioned Kane
seriously.
with our lead. and our money! de-
risively smiled the BOSWELL, hardly !"
1t was a restless hour for the trust
4nagnate. He sat turning over accumu
lated reports on the table before him.
listening to the statements of new ar
rivals. The minutes sped by. 1t was
four o'clock. For veal or woe the die
was cast; the election was over.
Kane arose at the striking of the clock.
passed some words with his managers,
and was driven to the principal hotel in
the town, where the president of the trust
had agreed to report to him on company
matters that evening.
He found Worthington awaiting him
A first sight of his wretched, twitching
face told him that he was the bearer of
no encouraging news.
That morning the misappropriated Sc
curities had been placed in the local
banks, the agency man hoodwinked the
statement of new assets wired to New
York
Then Kane had advised his partner he
had done his all. Pending strict undivid-
ed attention to the political situation, he
must not be disturbed with news of the
financial outcome, good or bad, until the
election was over.
What have you to report?" he inquir-
ed rapidly scanning bis companions face.
THE worst, Kane-the worst" half
groaned the unhappy president.
"Our stock?"
1T hasn't budged from last nights low
est figures
What. The new statement, the heavy
buying we ordered?'
The president shook his head YEARLY.
1.-The public are scared-warned Kane:
blight has fallen upon US! Someone
with the completest knowledge of our
most secret affairs is directing this attack
upon our stock. The final blow"
How, ~
1.-The owner of the mixed metal process.
our biggest hold for profit, has gone over
to the Bennerhasset combine"
"Impossible.' ~
Its true Kane, I'm frightened I'm
l. .t,o t. ;r
leaking out that we have hypothecated the
trust securities, and
He paused. 1t was needless to go on.
Percy Kane's face was the face of
man who knew that the final blow had
come, and ruin was their portion.
In his mind at that moment was
quick, wild suggestion he treasured for
final desperate action; to run for it,"
with what of ready cash he could secure,
If the day ended with no change in the
situation.
Kane drank deeply the few remaining
hours of daylight. He managed to get
rid of his limp weak financial colleague.
and sought more congenial company
among his political friends.
Of half a dozen choice party leaders, oc-
cupying a room in the hotel that looked
directly out upon a great blank sheet
OF which the returns were to be thrown
from a stereopticon.
The returns were mixed" and slow in
coming in. This gave Kane time for =
hope-time, too. for planning what be
would do if inevitable crash was not TO
he averted.
If the election went favorable il would
suggest one salient point to his industrial
rivals: the trust would practically con :
trol the State-a power, this, more valu-
able than an unlimited franchise for mo-
ropoly.
~ the fumes Of liquor rose to his clear.
steady brain. in reckless desperation Kane1
encouraged a picture in which he figured
as a fugitive, but with an abundance OF
stolen means. and a lovely bride to share
his forced sojourn in some safe and re-
u,ote foreign cline.
M his friapdS adiournad |