The Alaska citizen., 1911-08-14

bare the rOttenneSS OF IL ail-IdulCai
methods. YES: unheard of. even; but
evidently they had been necessary.
Obviously here was reformer who
Was bent upon reforming. Regardless
of the manner of ii. the power OF
the press was pledged to him unan-
imously Jim Warren merely glanc-
Cd at the headlines and went on to
the capitol Here was public ap-
proval; but would she ap-
prove?
There was sudden and tense
silence in the legislative chamber
when Jim Warren entered. five min
utes after the speakers gavel had
fallen He glanced over the huge
hall once il was dotted here and
there by an unoccupied desk - then
went to his seat. Three or four men
came over and spoke 10 him. Their
voices were very far away; 1t was
of no consequence what they said.
There was only one thought in his
mind. Would she approve!
Sharply al half past ten o'clock
Franpues' card was laid on Jim War
ren's desk: he arose and went into
the committee room Franques. shah
by. dustylooking. lank was standing
beside the long table twisting his
hat idly in his hands. There was
something pathetic in the bent fig
ure: the inscrutable face challenged
his curiosity
Good morning. FranQues. he
greeted pleasantly.
Good morning. sir" Franques said
deferentially. He shambled little
as he stood Il sort of felt. sir. that
had an explanation coming TO YOU
and
Not at all" Jim Warren interrupt
ed cOurteously. You owed me
something unpleasant for the turn
down | gave you six or eight months
ago. You framed up this bride 10
pay it. after had made 1t possible;
but it just so happened that your
plan fitted into mine
1T isn't that. sir" Franques eX-
planned. He glanced up at the clock.
After today it's hardly probable
that you will-will see me again.
and felt that | wanted to make you
understand that think what you've
you've done is right thought 1t
all out yesterday afternoon and last
night. II just wanted to tell You.
There was strange softening
about the evil eyes. a tremor about
the rigid thin-lipped mouth.
I'm getting to be an old man. MI
Warren" Franques went on slowly
and I've been a crook all my life
I'm tired of it; and I'm not all bad
sir. I've picked pockets and forged
checks. and snatched purses and
looted houses. That's how | met Lew
is ten or twelve years ago. He was
practicing law at the time ana he
got me out of some trouble. After
hat | came to work for him. You
know how ~
Il know. yes" said jim warren,
but why are you telling me all
this?'
Il don't know. sir was the reply.
There was a mistiness in the evil
eyes; again Franques glanced up at
the clock. II don't know. ! only
thought | wanted you to know.
won't see you any more. or
He stopped and muttered incoherent-
lE.
you're going away, them" Jim
Warren was puzzled.
Yes. sir-for all time."-hesita-
tingly You see. Lewis and my
daughter - had a daughter - he
and my daughter-until he met Miss
Tillinghast you understand. She IS
dead. sir-my daughter She
was 10 be Lewis wife. 1t
was gIief. | tried TO smash
Lewis-ruin him; you upset my
plans. He doesn't know she's
dead. It's just as Well.
It's just as we'll. He
will be here in few minutes now.
There was murmurOus, menaclng
roar through the open windows. jim
Warren turned away from Franques
and glanced out. 1t was a crowd, a
throng. mob swarming up the
hill toward the capitol. Blue-coated
policemen struggled vainly here and
there to restrain them. Fran
ques was staring at Jim Warren
classify.
He will be here in a few minutes
he repeated duly.
who will be here?" Jim Warren
demanded sharply.
Lewis. sir" was the reply. Hes
been avoiding me; l haven't been
able to get to him; he's afraid OF
me. SO last night | wrote him a
note. sir. asking him to come here
at eleven O'Clock; and | signed your
name to it. He thinks he can make
deal with you He wouldn't have
come otherwise" He laughed vacant
ly
Signed my name to it," Jim War
rem repeated in bewilderment What
for? What are you driving at? Why
do you want him here?'
The mob was just outside,
underneath the windows of the CAPT
tol. bawling imprecations. jeering.
hooting. Now and then, rhythmical-
~ from a thousand throats. came the
cry: Clean the capitol" Again Jim
Warren glanced out of the window
anxiously. with apprehension on his
freckled face.
why did you want Lewis here?"
He had turned upon Franques.
I'm going to kill him. sir said
Franques simply.
"Franques!" Jim Warren seized
this man who was growing old. going
mad here before his very eyes.
"FranQues! What's the matter with
YOU? Are you crazy?"
I'm going to kill him." Fran
ques repeated.
The incoherent roar of the
mob chorused individual names now.
"Lewis!" Repeated dozen times, it