The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-25

OF the Sagebrush State, and the central
figure around which the story of cor
ruption and bribery would center
would be his father! For i've hong
minutes he sat in grim silence, frown-
ing at the miserable traitor. who was
shifting uneasily in his chair under
the cold glare OF the hereditary Blount
eyes. But when all was over the trai-
tor had gained his point.
60 to it" said Blount sharply.
Swear out your own affidavit and get
as many more as you can TO back it
up. Bring the papers here 10 me be-
! tween / and 2 o'clock this afternoon.
That's all! Now go before am
tempted to throw you out neck and
heels. If somebody doesn't kill you
for this piece of treachery you will
be playing In big luck"
When Gryson was gone Blount put
On his hat and went straight to the
editorial rooms Of the Daily Capital.
Blenkinsop, the thin faced. long haired
editor, was bumped in his chair over
his desk blue pencning copy like a
man running q race against time.
TN Just q minute" be said when
Blount stood beside him. And then,
sticking the copy on the hook, Nov
I'm with you"
Blount had marked the unusual
daytime activities in the newspaper
Office and had instantly put two and
two together.
you're at work pretty early for
|
Blenkinsop?" he asked
you bet we areP' was the quick re-
ply.
What is the matter?" Queried
Blount
Haven't you heardY' said the ed
itor. "Somebody-heaven only knows
who-has been gathering up a not Of
false registration evidence Involving
half a dozen OF the principal towns in
the state. The stuff came to us by a
sort Of underground route, but it's re-
liable all right It's n corker. There'll
be 10000 repeaters challenged in this
state at the polls tomorrow, and no
man living can tell what the outcome
will be-"
! Blount saw a great light, which sud
denly grew to clarifying brightness.
Whom does the scandal involve.
BlenkinsopT he asked quietly.
At this the long haired editor grew
J curtously embarrassed You're with
us, Blount, that know. But you ara
also your fathers son. There are only
) one machine and one boss in the Sage
brush State"
Blount nodded dumbly. Then.
when will you 60 to press with the
nrst edition Of the paperT
AT 8 a. m. sharp" was the reply.
Hlount turned to go. 81 may hBvc
5 another half column or so for you De
) fore that time" he said. 'but you
9 needn't hold the forms open for me.
: I'll call you over the phone If have
anything to say"
. Once in the street, Blount went
5 straight to the bank where he had
3 rented the safety box. Five minutes
9 Ia the privacy Of the vault anteroom,
with the unlocked box before him,
. confirmed his suspicious. The packet
3 which he had so carefully secured was
Q made up OF blank papers folded to ap-
Q pear like the originals, and 1t became
o convincingly evident that his Office
u safe had not been dynamited for moth
g ing.
e The matter which would appear I'M
der faring scare heads the next morn
% ing would be the evidence which he
8 himself had collected, carefully edit
8 ed no doubt, so that It would leave
% ! all Aho% Anr4-fV1afNokn
70 body but the machine and the ma
" chimes boss-his father.
With muttered threat Of vengeance
9 directed at his traitorous office force,
q Blount went slowly back to the Tenn
g pie court and sat down TO wait for
e Gryson's return, giving Collins orders
% to deny him to everybody else.
. Once again in the history of the race
q 1t had become the duty OF a son to be-
Q tray a father. Blount saw his way
% lying clearly defined before him. He
IS must take the af1davits which Cry
. son would bring and lay them before
Is Judge Hemingway, the one man In the
70 capital, II not in the entire state, who
% would have the courage Of his convic-
70 lions and the high sense Of duty to
- act, and act promptly.
70 Blount saw the dreadful conse-
quences marshaling themselves in
IL readiness. His father would be i'm.
8 plicated beyond any possibility or hope
e of exculpation, and the people OF the
state-stirred as they would be by the
widespread story Of fraud which he
" himself had gathered-would show lit
70 tie mercy to the chief instigator Of the
frauds.
During the last half hour OF waiting
10 Blount could no longer sit still, and he
g was pacing the door OF the private Of.
fee, ten steps and turn, monotonous-
" ly, when Gryson was ushered in.
;s i've got 'em, a full dozen Of 'emv'
growled the bride taker, throwing a
~ thick packet Of papers on Blount's
30 desk. Now, then, what do get out
;. Of itr'
Blount stopped short and whirled as
rs ba ~ had haay, N hToxu