The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-02

Yes" said Tank, as simply.
Who got tt? :" he questioned after
another interval. as of man In whose
mind ideas displaced each other with
provoking slowness.
81 give 1t to Reddy Halloran," re
piled Tank with good-humored indul.
gence.
Tom was thinking again, his stolid
eye resting steadily on the great,
heavy-bellied figure of the boss.
8 all right" said Tom finally, swal-
lowing hard, as If resolutely REFRESHING
one idea and preparing to disgorge an.
other. IS all right But. say!
wanna have that Food Inspectors job.
Can II" He forced his plea bluntly.
The Food Inspector was new official
just provided by the council The sal
airy was $4,000. The graft was worth
$4,000 or more. But the half of this
would 60 to Tank. The rest Of it
looked good to most people, however,
and made II one of the plums. None
yet had been SO bold as to ask for 1t.
Tank was picking the man carefully
some one he could trust absolutely
Some one attached to him personally
and not attachable to any one else
whom he alone could corrupt; bark
less bulldog, who would set his teeth In
when ordered, say nothing or talk in
grunts, and-hold on. A man who
would shut up the Union Stock Yards
If need be- and never flick an eyelid-
just shut them up and walt, and walt.
and wait until he got his. Was Tom
the man? For Orear's Job? No. It
would be laughable. But for this?
Perhaps; but Tank did not know him
we'll enough. There were reasons for
trusting him and others equally good
for distrusting him.
:" Can ~" pleaded the longshoreman
DULY, stupidity, with coarse insistence
in the eyes he fixed on the boss.
No" answered Tank, frankly and
just as bluntly, yet running a seeing
eye over the ungainly giant and realiz-
ing that there we're possibilities in the
man which by superior savagery he
might utilize some day for his own
purposes. True, the mans method was
ominous. He did not consult. He re-
flected by himself and then came and
demanded.
Why?" asked Longshore Tom, still
stolidly.
Because. Tom, you're too raw-your
works too coarse-now, and besides,
don't know you enough. Go back and
graft on the navvies till your touch
gets finer, and then come back and
there1l be something better for you
This was Tanks way with the un-
tanned. frank to the very marrow
Tom had leaned forward slowly az the
words were spoken, and for moment
there was vacant look on his face till
with his slow mind he had sensed their
meaning. Then a light of understand
ing broke on his face
Huh! You won't give 1t to me?
Then" said he, speaking with meas
ured deliberation, "I'll lick hell out
of you"
Tank was the superior in cunning
He saw what was coming. OWNED IT
before the words were uttered, and had
no intention of a physical encounter
of serious proportions. His fighting
days were somewhat drawing to a
close. He no longer invited to physical
combat. He was shorter of wind and
preferred that others should do his
bruising for him Still he dared and
was no coward, and quicker than the
gigantic longshoreman could think or
set himself, an avalanche of flying legs
and arms and mountainous flesh struck
him. everywhere at once, and he went
backward as though shot from gun
struck with slightly doubled body the
frail wooden door closed behind him.
and went through 1t with resistless
crash.
They within heard him roll and clat-
ter half way down the stairs to the
turn, where he brought up with re-
sounding thud The henchmen of
Tank looked from one to the other IN
silent respect for the prowess of their
chief. Reddy tiptoed toward the gap
ing aperture in the door and peeped
down to where Tom could be heard
swearing slowly, reflectively, as he
picked himself up. Then he remounted
the stairs once more, slowly, step by
step, till he stood almost at the top,
and looked in, his gaunt, ragged face
framed f1ttingly iii the ragged fringe
of panelling that remained of the door.
You got me that time =
Dan" he said with his patient. unre-
sentful utterance; but I'll get you
before - this = blamed = Irish
s-done, too-you-see! "
Then he turned and dumped SOL
EMMY downstairs.
All stood silent till the echo of his
footsteps had died away Then Reddy
Halloran snickered derisively, while
Bud Hawkins, alias the Pop-eyed Kid
Joe Grim and Ed Mears laughed in
broad haw-haws. AS for Tank, he
smiled grimly and led the way down
the stairs, kicking the wreck of the
broken door out of the way as he went
An hour later the Admiral Bisbee,
flags flying, whistles blowing, band
playing, loud voices ringing with
cheers and excited, hysterical laugh
ter of men, women and children,
pulled out into the stream and turned
down the bay for straightaway run
past long wharves, ship yards, re-
apd tho lilye for tho oman