The Alaska citizen., 1911-08-07

eyes fingered on Lewis face for a
scant instant. Again, when number
nine was called he asked that that
be laid aside, and for the second
time he glanced at Lewis. Finally
came number one. and there remain
ed in the box just one packet
! long. legal-looking envelope which
seemed TO contain only a single sheet
of paper Jim Warren took number
one and turned upon Lewis savage
| ly.
! You started it all. Lewis" he
exclaimed passionately. Number one
is yours-your original fifteen hun
dren dollars; and here is your next
one thousand" He picked up en-
velope number nine. And your next
one thousand" He picked up num-
Der twenty-seven, and ripped the
! three of them open feverishly. Bills
came out and cracked in his fling
ers. Here's your filthy money. Lew
is-every cent of it!"-and he flung
it straight into the ashen face be-
fore him. Deliberately. with eyes
fixed upon Lewis. he tore the three
envelopes to bits and they dribbled
down at his feet. You're safe 50
far as | am concerned | can't APP
pear against you. I'm going to let
you out for the sake Of woman
who believed in you
! Lewis stopped and mechanically
began to gather up the bills from
the floor Jim Warren took 4 step
forward and stood looking down Up.
on him with clenched fists upra,s-
ed. The plain-clothes man stopped
him with gesture. Quite himself
again, Jim Warren turned to he re-
porters.
TO summarize. gentlemen" ne
said quickly. Il have been in he
legislature about six months: and
in that time there has been paid
to me in the form of brides and
considerations Of various sort, sum
total of about eighty-two thorsand
dollars. This, of course, includes he
fifty thousand dollars paid TO me
this morning by Franques here. Tha,
was never intended as bride. 1t
Franques set the trap; | carefully
arranged that he might do it. It's
a little personal matter between us
eh Franques?" There was no ans
wer. "Eighty-two thousand dollars
gentlemen Jim Warren continued
reflectively; and that is only a
part of the graft of this session
Altogether, seventy-one members on,
of a total of two hundred and f@rt%.
eight are implicated. Their naines
are all there"
| Then, as he stood, something
seemed to snap within him. The re
action had come. He turned away
and fell back limp against the steel
bars Of the vault. his face in his
hands. In the silence eye met eye
inquiringly What did it all mean "
What was the man driving at? Was
it merely a confession? Or was there
some deeper significance? Pent up
curiosity burst into questions-a doz-
Ell of them. thousand. The little
throng broke all at once into a bah
bling.
! BY an effort Jim Warren threw
off the weakness that seemed to be
crushing him.
God only knows the lies | have
told, the tricks | have played, the
receptions | have practiced, to make
all this possible" he said bitterly.
For six months | have lived in an
atmosphere polluted by the filth and
stencil of dishonesty. ! had to bring
myself down to the moral level of
these two" He turned fiercely upon
Franques and Lewis. Il did it. There
is not a CRATER in the legislature,
not cOrruptionist in the lobby, not
n in al 40
haven't met and done business with.
! was one of them. | lived their
lives. ! got my share and more, all
with one purpose in view-the clean
ing out of men of their ilk."
Puzzled glances passed from man
to man. Jim Warren stared at the
mute inquiry in the astOnished faces
Of these men duly.
Haven't made myself clear"
he asked. Don't you see it was all
a put-up job? That l have taken
their brides only in order to Jail
them? That every cent ! have taken
is there? Don't you see?"
All, tell it to Sweeney" Lewis
broke in suddenly. You were caught
with the goods and now you're try
ing to get out. You, the honest labor
! man! You. the -
Just minute, please" jim War
rem interrupted curtly. Don't you
gentlemen get what I'm driving att"
This to the reporters.
You see, Mr.. Warren" one of
them ventured hesitatingly, lit might
be either way - as you say or as
Mr.. Lewis says. or course the man
ner in which it all came out would
have to be considered; so -"
He stopped Mr.. Chisholm came
forward and laid hand on Jim
Warrens shoulder. Jim Warren look
ed around at him blankly
Jim Warren seemed daZed. After
moment the light of understanding
flashed in his eyes. He hadn't thought
of that packet in the stress of all
that had gone before. He turned TO
the plainclothes man.
There's one more envelope in the
box" he said. BE good enough to
note the date upon that envelope
and on the affidavits attached: then
open it and read the statement in
side"
| The officer drew forth the packet
Deposited September twenty-sec-
ond. in presence of three witnesses,
whose affidavits are attached here
to-" he read on the back OF the en-
veiope. Then he read the affida-
Wits.
please remember that the cleo
ton was on November fifteenth"