Arizona republican., 1911-04-16

| Harpers dull face remained a blank
for a moment, and then lighted with q
ray of heavenly hope
I'D like it," ne said frankly.
How's your nerye?" quer,ed Tank
Pretty near gone" confessed Har-
per; but I'm sewed up, Dan, and !
got sense enough to know it, and
nerve enough to stick it out and take
my medicine"
Then you got nerve enough to play
the hand out. amt you. if it's give to
your"
Try me" said Harper eagerly.
Winnings got son that's the dar-
ling Of his eye-and pretty Wild" at
frmed Tank, oracularly. That. for
instance. We can call tie ace Of hearts.
You see?"
Yes" lied Harper, no: seeing at
all but following with his open mouth
till he should see.
We'll. and the old mans got his
heart set on marryin' this son to old
man Ives's daughter. She's heir TO ten
millions. That's the ace Of diamonds,
for instance. You see. don't you, Har-
PERI"
Not yet, / DON'T" confessed Har-
per.
We'll. keep a-lookin'. Some young
buck shot red-light girl in a Tender
loin restaurant last week-didn't kill
her, but shot her. The girl wouldn't
tell who-but bad, rotten mess all
around, and 1t would ruin the pros
poets, matrimonial. financial. social or
any other kind. Of any young man If
it became known that he was in the
party and fired the shot. And that's
the ace Of spades. black, black, black,
A grave-diggin' for some young Teller
the ace Of spades. See?"
Harper's eye lighted. His mind ran
on before.
You bet see, he calculated.
Well, can give you the names Of
two walters who'll go on the witness
stand if compelled TO, aud swear that
young Vining shot the girl. And
that's the ace OF clubs" Tank leaned
forward. and with a great flourish
smote the fist of his right hand into
the palm Of his left before the very
face of Harper. Guess thatu knock
somebody ont, won't it, that ace Of
clubs?"
We'll, I should say" gasped Harper
with a low chuckle.
Now" asked Tank in a tone of
triumph. don't you want 10 go down
and see old man Vining?"
You better believe I do" said Har-
per, reaching for his hat.
That night was the council meeting.
Tank sat high in the gallery, chewing
the stub Of black cigar. Across the
aisle from him was Ezra Vinlug. Both
were gazing intently into the chamber
below. but Tank maintained at the
same time an air of easy nonchc!cnce
that was quite impossible to Vining.
Also Tank turned in his seat fire.
quently and sQuinted at Vining out Of
the tail Of his eye, while Vining
seemed oblivious to Tanks presence.
The Public Service Committee d.
vided in its report on the telephone
franchise-a clear majority. Murphy,
Dickinson, Vernle and Harper, all
straight organization men, voting in
favor Of the franchise; and the minor
ity. Irwin, Andrews and Frelinghuy-
sen, favoring q franchise to the now
company but with more restrictions.
and urging that the same be sold to
the highest bidder
The majority report was adopted
after debate, Tank had ARRANGED the
debate. Tho high-brows gpcCted to
their hearts content. When thew
were done. Tanks organization voted
to its hearts content. The benevolent
despot had spread a new decree upon
the records.
Then Vining arose to go. but there
stood the great body Of Tank. block
ing his way. and the heavy face with
the little blue lights burning under au-
burn brOws was there in front of him.
Tank was gloating over his enemy
1t was privilege he reserved to him
self.
Pretty straight dope, that you got
down to my place the other morning.
wasn't it? " he asked with a half sheer.
Viniug looked at his tormentor and
was silent.
Eyes" went or Tank, land it just
cost you forty thousand to find out
how straight 1t really was"
The serpent CLEAN flickered in the
eye OF the capitalist
Why don't you go TO the district
attorney about the way them council
men treated your" went on Tank.
q It's obtainin' money under false pre-