The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-08
Dan T ank,
Patriot
By P. c. MaefarIane

THE city government He'll I'm
that" confessed Daniel Tank. with
unboasting fraukness And that Is
why wished TO have this conve-sa-
ton with ron" said M-. Ezra vinins.
s1aveiy, ingra.iatinglr.
They we're sitting n tie dingy Of
fee OF Dan Tank, which vas upstairs
ever the car mandatory Of Heck &
Heck. This particular location vas
not q mere fancy with the Boss. fer
Just here was the intersection Of two
streets where cornered the four wards
on the control OF which his political
power had been builded. These we're
the handle Of the whip be cracked
over tie entire city. He alluded 70
them arectionatsly as Tn Wards"
OF as my people"
As TO Dan Tank himself. be was big,
big IS z moving-Tsn or boI-ar, and
smiable. but reputed to have a punch
in either hand ike the soft caress Of
g piie-drtver: and there were some
with whom Il vas not mere matter
OF repute. His geneaIog. politically
speaking. was not unlike others A
score Of years before be IVES 2 bouncer
in Nike Henressy's saloon. Mike ran
the politics OF the town, but his mr.
midon. the mighty Dan. bounced so
ass.duouslT that one day he bounced
Boss Hennsssy and thereafter became
Boss Tank. But that was some years
agone. He was securely IN the saddle
low and had ridden far. His methods
were mid when mild methods were
best; and when others But, any
way. hers was Mr. vfn,ng coming TO
see 5tr. Tank, and Mr. yin.ng was a
mild man. Oh. yes.
Or. Vining's face bore q high dome
upon 1t, and his chin was OF the sharp,
Henry Clay type. Blue blood flowed
in his veins. His grandfather had
been a noted statesman. He was IN
society-wtfe, daughters and son.
Bradstreet's gave him rising half a
million. He was interested as handy
financial man in half dozen com
panies. and put through their in
trtgues and mysterious transactions
for them, contriving. IN addition to
giving satisfactory service 70 his asso-
ciates. to shake the plum tree fire.
Quently in his own front yard.
His sons name was Percy. an at
tractivs youth. much idolized of his
father, but. alas, one who loitered
long upon the primrose paths Be
sides. he had reckless way of quite
Incidentally wooing and winning the
hearts Of trustful girlies In all walks
OF life from the prettiest maid below
the stairs in his fathers house upward
through the social strata into that set
where the gilded aristocracy Of ducats
most obtained. 1t was in this ariEtoc-
racy that his father expected his son
TO marry. This, and this alone, &C.
counted for the collection Of motor
cars that Percy garaged and for the
very liberal allowance Of spending
money which should have enabled him
10 fy with his heavier than air per-
Eonsi record IN almost any social at
mosphere.
However, this story isn't about
Percy exactly. II concerns more his
respected sire, and here now was his
sire sitt!ng In Tanks Office. Mr. Tank
knew ell about Mr. yining, and also
hs knew all about Percy, which was
not only more than Mr.. Vining did,
but ruch more TO the point at the mo-
rnent, az the sequel will show
Mr. Tank, however, was a low-brow,
while 81r. Vining was a high-brow.
hr. Vinings grandfather was a states-
nan, his voice laundering IN the halls
I OF Congress, when Mr. Tanks grand
father was cutting peat and belaboring
( the Dony spots on donkey in County
! Antrim. Mr.. Tank represented the
worat traditions Mr.. yining repre-
sentef the beet He also represented
/ The Old Telephone Company, and that
by the way, Vac why he came TO gee
Hr. Tank
There was talk around that The New
Telephone Company, which had been
establishing Itself in numerous cities
and furnishing better service at lower
rates, was come hither also, and would
ask for aud receive d franchise from
the city council. So Mr.. Vining, being
wtse IN his wisdon, wanted to see the
man whom the city council repre-
fented He wished to sound the city
government and zee II II would be
likely TO grant this new franchise
and If go, for what consideration. II
they we're not disposed TO grant It
well and good; but IL they were, while
not so we'll and not nearly SO good
still he would see what could be done
SO In the beginning he had thrown
out TO Mr.. Tank what he fatterec
himself was a very delicate feelel
about the city government
But It happened that Mr.. Tank hat
contempt for the prying ways anc
the velvet manner of Mr.. Vining so b
promptly and rudely bumped into tina
gentleman with the fatty profane as
surance with which this story begins
thus telephoning 10 the inner con
seriousness OF Mr. Vining that he coult
. leave off all circumlocution and saJ
what he had to say TO Daniel Tanl
!. and BIS done with it,
It's this telephone franchise tall
that brings me here confessed Mr.
Vining, leaning back in his chair.
Yes" said Mr.. Tank with ris
ing infection. blowing smoke into thu
air and then looking steadily at Mr.
Vining under the great sleepy lids O.
= small blue eyes.