The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-26

enough and heroic enough to want a
better one they'll get 1t. 'Taint no
use to quarrel about graft When the
people get tired Of graft government,
when the people quit graftin' them
selves and get honest, they'll want an
| honest government and then they'll
get 1t. for I've noticed that whenever
a lot Of the people get to wantin' q
thing and to wantin' It right along
every day in the week and every hour
In the day, they get 1t right off the
handle. started to read books, but
quit It. Ever since been here,
been readin' people. I know the peo-
| pie Of this town pretty we'll. / know
what they want and what they'll
stand for. They'll stand for you
once in while, but they'll stand for
me all the time. A fish can't live
In the air and bird can't live in
the water. l can't live out Of my ele-
| ment, and 1t may not seem to you
that I've got very far. but I'm GER
tainly hell Of long ways from the
man that woke UP yonder in that lit
| tie tenement house room, and found
his wife dead before him. 1t amt
been easy to keep out Of the lush pots,
either. I've got picture here that
look at, every hour Of the day." He
exhibited leather photograph case,
much worn. but did not show the pic
ture. That's my wife as she was
when married her"
And Kathryn?" questioned Dunno.
Once year l used to go down to
the Home and see her. When she got
bigger, sent her to school, to one
after another, to the best there was.
wanted her to have chance in the
world. dug up this aunt Of mine.
She was an educated woman.
bought the home on the Avenue and
fixed 1t up, and set her up there
wanted her near me. Nobody knows.
I've never been at the house on the
Avenue. It's happiness enough for
me to see her riding by and lookin
so pretty and sweet. 1t was even hap
piness for me to see you maxim love
to her and KNOWN that she liked you
pretty we'll herself. Sometimes, when
can't stand 1t to be away from her,
l meet her In some other city for
few hours, and II you could see how
kind she Is and how she tries not to
notice my rough ways. you'd know
what a great treasure she is to me-"
The boss rubbed a heavy hand
across his eyes.
And this graft fight ON me and all
this notoriety in the papers and
everything has hurt me awful because
knew 1t was hurtin' her. l know I
amt criminal. I know I amt be-
trayin' the city. I know I may have
broke some laws, but what the hell
is laws in a republic? The law is
without force except the force of pub
n M I'll, L. L..
posed to be the expression Of The
minute public sentiment and private
practice fails to back up a law, that
law is repealed. But all this fight on
me has hurt me. Them cartoons you
published Of me with q body made
out of water tank, and with head
like wolf on top Of 'em, they wasn't
fair. They made her cry her eyes
out, and all the while she was lovin'
you. You told her secrets and she had
to keep EN- because they was yours,
even when to tell your plans to me
might save me from goin' to Jail, and
she never whispered q word. But it
was hard on her and hard on me. l
knew I'd beat you, but, after all, she
kind Of had the feelin' that maybe,
in technical way, you was right and
| was wrong; but you was her lover,
and was her father.
And SO, to-day, when that Grand
Jury refused to indict me on the last
evidence you and the District Attor-
ney worked up, was SO tickled that
couldn't wait. / had to see her.
Dunno sat motionless He had
hardly breathed. AS the story was
finished, sound like a choking sob,
burst from his throat, and his head
fell forward on his arm as it Law
upon the table,
The poor little girl" he murmured,
the poor, dear, faithful girl How
l have tried her soul"
Do You still love her." asked
Tank, now that you know whose
| daughter she is?"
Dunno sprang to his feet with shin
ing eyes.
Yes" he almost shouted, though
| all the world knows who her father
| is.''
Tank leaped upon him like a tiger.
Two heavy hands seemed crushing
| DUNES shoulders, two small, steely
| blue eyes were burning into his.
But all the world won't know"
TANK ragged through clenched teeth.
| : Ii you ever tell soul what I've told
| you now, ii you ever do or say word
to drag her down from where she
stands to where l am, I'll disconnect
your couplin's with my bare hands"
Then. as suddenly aware that be
had been slightly rude, Tank, step
ping back, said apologetically, be
tween US there is great gulf fixed.
| put 1t there myself
Dunno recovered himself quickly.
Tank was standing with his back
turned. His hand rested on corner
OF the table, and he was looking down
thoughtfully. Dunno laid his hand
upon his shoulder. Tank turned and
their eyes met.
Tank" he said, his voice trem-
bling, you're a bad citizen. but a
good man. A man that's as good a
father. can learn to be better citi-
zen''
Tank was silent. Dunno waited a
moment for him to speak. Then he
thrust out a hand.
I'm going now" he said.
The Boss took. the hand and wrung
| It. Ns
Going where" he asked.
/ To Kathryn"
She'll be waiting" said Tank. NJ
/ told her | thought you'd oor,e