Arizona republican., 1911-04-12
DAN TANK, PATRIOT By p. C. Maefarlane.
Copyright, 1909. by the Pearson Pub
 fishing Company.

than nowhere. It occurred to him to say something nasty, to take advan- tage of Tanks frankness with him whose methods were distinctly snaky. So he said:
 Do you realize that if I should detail the substance of your revela- tions to me this afternoon to the papers 1t would create quite a sensa- tion, to say the least?"
 It was, indeed, nasty speech.
 Tank turned abruptly, standing erect, his great height and huge bulk all a-quiver with a kind of fine self control that was almost dignity, and the little blue lights burning at the cat-heads again. He spoke quietly, but there was a fine tensity in his tones.
 Yes" he said. And I realize that if you did, the Grand Jury would in- dict you before twelve o'clock for of fering me a bribe." Tank coughed twice, whereat an innocent looking door on the left opened and two men who had evidently been standing against it listening walked in a leis- urely way across the room and out and down the stairs.
 The face of Vining went bloodless.
 Tank looked at him steadily for a moment.
 Was that sQuare?" Vining gasped, the cold precipitation on his brow.
 "So blamed much squarer than you are that you needn't lose any sleep over 1t unless you try something crooked on me, and if you do I'll get you in my two hands and take you to pieces one bone at time"
 Vining shivered so that the ferule of his cane rattled up and down on the floor.
 Sorry you have to be goin'," ob- served Tank. by way of reminding his visitor to pull himself together and get out. He himself was again fumb- ling for match, this time, however, in a box that he had dug up from somewhere.
 Vining, without any words of fare well, started for the door, walking with fiat, wooden footsteps.
 Tank watched him go. his hand on his hip, a cloud of smoke above his head-watched him, saw the malicious gleam of his eye. the tightening lips with a sullen downward dip of the lower one, and the protruding chin. He also heard the stubborn clump of his cane upon the stairs as he de- scended.
 And that" he said. turning to his desk, "ain't the last of him by long, long shot"
 But 1t was ten days before Tank heard from him again. and then indi- rect.y. Murphy, chairman of the Committee on Public Service. came in with some excitement two hours be- fore the committee was to meet and pass finally on The New Telephone franchise. They were, according to program. to report favorably the next night at the council meeting, and the council would act immediately.
 Winnings got to our boys on the committee with an offer of ten thou sand apiece to turn down the fran chise, exclaimed Murphy.
 If the committee did not report it, tke council could not pass 1t.
 "He figured" said Tank. that that was more than they were getting to vote for 1t.
 "I reckon" answered Murphy.
 "WeTI, what are the boys doin'?" !" asked Tank, not anXiously but casu- ally.
 They're takin' his money. of course" recounted Murphy. as If an nouncing that which could hardly be otherwise with practical men such as Tanks majority on the Public Service Committee certainly were. They're takin' his money. but they'll vote ac- cordlng to orders.'
 Tank smiled a grim. sardonic smile. This was not his ethics, but if 1t were the ethics of his majority on the Pub lie Service Committee he would not interfere. He ruled by the freedom he gave. He was not a teacher of ethics. and besides he was willing to sec viaing spend forty or fifty thou sand dollars CT any other reasonable amount to leain who was passing on municipal legislation in this town, anyway.
 But at ten o'clock that night came a hoar5e voice over the telephone, that Tank instantly recognized as Mur- phys. He'll, the voice said, the committee turned the franchise down. :"
 Down! exploded Tank with a snort Of wrath. Hang up and come lere,"
 Murphy reached the presence of his lord as .art as whirring rubber could carry him from the City Hall.
 "Yes. sir" he reported emphati- cally: turned it down by jingo."
 Who'd they get?" asked Tank la- conically.
 It should be explained that Tank balanced up his committees carefully. He wasted nothing. and put no more rnen out than were needed. Hence the Committee on Public Service con- sisted of Murphy. Dobinson. Vernle and Harper. all straight organization men who took orders docilely, and constituted the majority. The other three members were Irwin, Andrews. and Frelinghuysen, highbrows, who counted themselves among the respect able majority which opposed the rule of the machine incarnate in the Boss