The Alaska citizen., 1911-01-16

NI. stone ltll the ClNte.
 ".
 The next morning things began ,o happen. The First National bank called up he buSin ss office of the RuI o.in and ordered it's advertise mtut discontinued. Not content alone with that. President De Graf called up Bobby personally. and in a very ,oll and dignificd voice told him that ue First National was compelled to with raw is patronage on account of he UnIieuitiel personal attacks in which the Bulletin was indulging Bobby whiStled softly. He knew De Gran quite well; they were, in fact upon most intimate terms. socially
 "I should think. De Graff." Bobby remOnstra' ed. that of all people the hanks should be glad to have all ] his crookodness rooted out of the city. As matter of fact, intended d -hur'lE to ask your cooperation in he formation of a citizens commit, lee 10 insure honest politics"
 T really could not take any active part in such a movement, Mir Bur nit returned De Graf. still more COlily. "l he conservatism necessary To my position forbids my connection with any sensational publicity what, sOCVer"
 An hour later Crone the adver- ti>ing manager came up to Bobby very much worried, 10 report that not only the First National but the : cond Market bank had stopped heir advertising. as had Trimmer E- of bo lrygoojs firms.
 "Of course" said Crone. your ed itorial policy is your own. but I'm araid that ii is going to be ruin 8uS to your advertising" T shouldn't wonder" admitted Bob JE dr. ly. and that was all the satis- faction he gave Crone; but inwardly he Was somewhat disturbed.
 He had mt thought of the potency if this line of attack. While he GEc" no.hng of the newspaper busi- Hcss. he had already surmised that h profit was in the advertising. IIe sent for Jolter
 Ben he asked, what is the con ncctiln between the First National and the Sec.nd Market banks and sam S:one?"
 Money said the managing editor promptly "Both banks are deposi. -.rics of city funds"
 @I sec said Bobby slowly. Do any other banks enjoy this patron, lgc?"
 The Merchants and the Planters and Traders hold the county funds, hich are equally at Stones dis. D sal"
 Bobby heard this news in silence, md Jpl CT, after looking at him mar. roNl for a moment. added
 I'll tell you something else Not 1ne of the four banks pays to the city r the county one penny of interest on hcsc deposits. This is well known - the newspapers, but none of them has dared Use it?"
 Co after them" said Bobby.
 Moreover it is strongly suspected shat tn banks pay interest private. Y to Stone, through a small and elect Ting in the courthouse and in he city hall"
 Co af.er them"
 "l suppose you know the men who ill bc involved in this" said Jol- ter.
 some of my best friends, ex- ct,' said Bobby.
 And some of the most influential Ci iZens in this town" retorted Jol. CT. They can ruin the Bulletin. They could ruin any business"
 The things crooked, isn't t?" de- manGed Bobby.
 As dogs hindleg."
 Co after them, Jolter." Bobby re- iterated. Then he laughed aloud. De Graf just telephoned me that the conservatism of his position for bids him to take part in any sensa- tional publicity whatsoever
 Comment other than a chuckle was superfuous from either one of them. and JOlter departed to the city editors room, to bring joy to the heart of the staff.
 It was Bugs" Roach who scented he farreaching odor of this move with the greatest joy
 You know what this means, don't you?" he delightedly commented "A grand jury investigation. Oh, listen 70 the band."
 h. Planters and Traders banks had " lttAl dN II lutlI duNeIllSc1lGntS.
 At about the same hour a particu- larly atrocious murder was commit cd in one of the suburbs. Up in the reporters rom of the police station homas. of the Bulletin, and Ora nam Of the ChrOnicl3, were indulging in Cuiet game of whist with two pf the morning newspaper boys, hen rOundsman stepped to the GOT and called Graham out. Ora ham came back moment later after his crat, with such studied nonchal- 2nce that the oth boys, eternally uspicicus as police reporters grow be. looked at him narrowly, and hOmas asked him, also with stud ed nonchalance:
 The candystore girl, or the one n the laundry office?'
 'BuSineSS, young fellow, busine ss," re urned Graham loftily q guess the Chronicle knows when it has a good man. I'm called to the office to save the paper. They're sending a cub down to cover the afternoon. Don't scoop him, old man."
 Net unless l get a chance" prom ised Thomas, but after Graham had rone he went down to the desk and, till unsatisfied, asked:
 'Anything doing, Lieut.. ?"
 Dead as a door-nail," replied the i u enant, and Thomas, still with m instinct that something was wrong, sill sensitive to certain suppress ei tingling excitement about the very atmosphere of the place, went slow ly back to the reporters room, where he spent worried half hour.