Arizona republican., 1911-05-02


Neither of the three suspected that
Vining might have had dealings with
Tank on account of his own private en-
terprises which placed him absolutely
in the power of the boss.
Then we're agreed on the PROPOSE
tion?" said Manning, looking at Don
nelly and Macy, both of whom nodded
assent.
There was in Donnelly. surfeited
with overmuch power, more than a
trace OF boastfulness. Feeling no COM
junction for the treachery 10 an accom-
plice and with an exaggerated sense of
the importance of his own acts. he
brought his fist down upon the table
sharply. saying in tones of bravado:
Tank is done for,
At the very instant OF speech the
door of Manning's private ONCE opened
and Daniel Tank himself entered the
room A half-jovial look OF assurance
was on his face as he appeared In the
doorway, and his mouth was open, no
doubt to utter some jocular explanation
Of his hurried entry unannounced
though none might have been consid-
-
fee of Manning the four had render
voused almost daily for years, and
between the hours of eleven and twelve
on any day but Saturday. either Of the
auartette would have felt quite certain
of finding the others there.
But the jocular expression leaped
like a sunbeam from the features OF
the Boss. In its stead came hard
setting of the muscles on the great
face. while the auburn brows were
lowered and under them the two small
blue eyes burned fiercely. Tank walked
deliberately to the table. and laid his
huge fist by the pudgy hand Of the sur
prised Donnelly.
What was that you was sayin'? y
he asked, in low. tense voice, passion
mastered by self-control, quivering In
the tones.
Donnelly hesitated while he rallied
from his surprise, but he was not
coward He countered with question,
You heard me?" he said.
yes" said Tank.
Then l guess we'll let It go at that,
responded Donnelly, coolly.
The Boss Strengthened his great body
He could have crushed the skull oil
Donnelly with blow He could have
set the building vibrating with the bel
lowing of his great rage. But he did
neither. Tank, in the volcanic heat oil
wrath was one OF the most violent OF
men, but he never seemed TO lose con
troll Of his temper except when passion
played into the hands of purpose. JUS
now his purpose was to enlist the
hearty support OF these men in ar
effort 10 save him from prosecution.
well. I'm not done for" he said
with considerable warmth. and In
not going to be. but you are. all three
OF you. il you don't quit this croque'
game you been playin' and get out or
the coachin' lines. There's three thing:
you've got to do right to-day. Give on
signed interviews that you're against
the graft prosecution being carried any
further becaus, they're hurtin' the
town; put the Press and the Mail Il
hammering the prosecution on TIL:
ground along with the Telegram, anC
in any other way that you can; anC
put the screws on Dunno through the
banks and through the heavy adver
tisin' merchants. You got TO get this
goin' right now to save me-"
I'VE are not going to save you" saiC
Donnelly, coldly.
Tank looked quickly into the faces o.
Macy and Manning, only to read thu
same answer.
Great heavens he shouted. Ar
you crazy? We sink or swim together.
al do not think we do" said Man
ming, in those bitingly precise tones
with which, adder-like he stung thu
man whom he had chosen for his vic
tim. 81 do not think, Tank, you car
blame us for feeling that we canno
afford TO interest ourselves in you
fight. You seem 10 be going down ant
out. AS long as you had matters vel
in hand. we could stand by you and dC
business with you. but now-well. II Il
going TO be different. Mind you, we d.
not depose you We merely recognize
the fact that you are deposed.
Tanks face was the picture OF amaze
ment. amazement at such folly-amaze
ment that rapidly gave way to DISCUS
and outrage.
When he spoke II was in voice lik'
the distant rumble of an Ktna-a tom
that was low. low as his first self-con
trolled words on entering the room
but so full of the tensity OF biting pas
sion that it sounded like the rumb1nt
cannonade of volcanic thunder.
"Tll put you in he pen for this" n
said. eff money can ever be sent u
| iaiI. III send you there. so help me God
And if | have to go, myself, to get you
there. I'll gladly stay a year for ever!
minute of your time, and hope you eaci
stay there a million years" A grea
gulp of something like exultatiol
gripped his throat for a moment. III
send you to the pen. | will! l VIII
So help me God, Twill!
1t has been remarked, whether justl!
or not, that the more money man mas
| the more timid he Is. or these three
men, Macy was richest. How much o
these riches had been piled up quickl.
! in the last ten years out OF the ire
use of the city's funds. which by mean
| of a heavy bride to Tank were annu
ally deposited in his banks, it would d
| difficult to compute. but the proportion
was large. The cocksure arguments o
Donnelly and Manning of quarter o
an hour ago. now appeared inconclu
siye to him at least. The fiery presenc'
| OF the man who in moment had beer
| turned from q loyal friend to an i'm
placable foe seemed TO linger in thu
| room oppressively. Cold sweat stoot