The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-13
The Long Arm
Of Boss Tank
By P. G. Macfarlanc
/ twill not pay you cent for it-not
d cent said Holman. deftantly.

You'll pay for 1t or you won't get
Il" exclaimed Tank, sententiously.
:" II you don't know who's runnin' this
kown. darn you, I'll learn you
Holman's face flushed. Then you
can begin your instructions" no
snapped, gaining the door with quick
stride An instant later 1t slammed
behind him, leaving Daniel Tank. boss.
GROSS OF body and f1abby faced, sitting
the cigar store of Heck & Heck, from
(which throne.room he ruled the city
like an Oriental despot The boss
Echewed the stump Of his unlighted
iUigar, meditative1y. for moment car
frying in his mind the picture OF his
recent visitor, William A. Holman,
Iwarehouseman and teaming contractor,
tall, dark-visaged and somber-eyed, a
stubborn, slow-iearning type Of man.
and wondered - wondered that he
should hope to get spur track permit
Through tho council, while refusing to
E1eave In the boss's hand the price cur
rent for such privilege.
The next morning Mfckie Halloran
hurried into the presence Of his mas
ter.
What d'y' think" he sputtered,
bexcitedly; " Bill Holman's gone ahead
land slapped down that spur track to
Fhis new warehouse site without a per-
tmit! !"
He has?. roared Tank, swinging
about In his great Office chair. which,
twas built to cradle rhinoceros.
That's what he done!" piped the
Ihuburn stumbled lieutenant, a look Of
MANAGEMENT and sense Of outraged
dignities mingling on his freckled face.
"Well. be damned! " exclaimed the
boss. rising abruptly to his feet. II
guess got to get that fellow Holman.
and get him good. thought he was
lookin' for trouble when he come in
here, yesterday"
He took q few heavy strides across
The room and back to his desk.
"Halloran," he ordered, "get me a
Hist Of the people that's warehousin'
with Holman; and give me string of
his biggest teamin' customers. Quick,
Enow, you understand! And sayl Send
Nor Dickie Dugan, too"
4 Dick1e was the son Of Policeman Du-
Egan. He was an overgrown wharf-rat,
flor an understood hoodlum, whichever
EIyou like, and headed gang Of little
lidevils who hung about the streets and
Elwharves, and who In the course OF
iitheir enterprise found occasional need
Eror friend at Police Court" Tank
lihad more than once been that friend,
and could command Dickies allegiance
ito the last stubby red hair in his head.
Dickie came In fifteen minutes,
iwhistling, his hat on one side, his
cigarette in the opposite corner Of his
lower lip to balance of, and with min
Cling pride and terror in his heart.
He did not know whether the boss's
Summons BODIED veal or woe.
II Dickte," said Tank, do you know
siBill Holman's wagons when you see
h'em?"
do l know me mudder's old shoes
when meet 'em in de garrett" coun-
atered Dickie. fippantly.
Then buy half barrel Of monkey
Hwrenches and see II we can't make
gsome Of Holman's wagons lose wheel
gor two" commanded Tank, abruptly.
Il. Dickie's face changed swiftly.
Am awaken" he gasped. peering
3earnestly Into the face of the boss.
You better be-and git to work,
Rauick," snapped the boss.
The light of pure Joy blazed on the
sface OF Dickie Dugan. With a gleeful
This sort of campaign, Of course,
Enould not be kept up for long. It's pur-
Ipose was to madden, as banderillas in
1.-THE shoulders of bull; to keep his
Hman busy with small irritations while
1.-THE boss instituted a campaign Of real
lIpSoportions; and 1t served It's purpose
i.admirably.
H Within an hour wheel fell from a
tHolman truck at the corner of Jackson
Hand Drumm. 1t was most unaccount-
liable accident The truck was heavily
Headed with soap In casa$ and lurched
hon to the street-car track. resulting in
liz collision and all manner OF trouble.
Mifteen minutes later. wheel rolled
Icalrly off a Holman coal cart and went
sTumbling down the water front for half
la block: meantime ton of coal and q
kcart with broken thills were demand
Eang attention of the driver and block
ling the line Of carts behind. Just at
moon. q four-horse team of Holman's
Host both hind wheels on the II Street
ligrads truck at Hill and Broadway
lthat bore the Holman name, was also
TN difficulties. Before night Mr.. Hol
Imam was storming Police Headouar
lIters. He could not keep wheels on his
wagons. The street urchins had taken
asorne kind of grudge against him and
itwere demoralizing his teaming busi
mess. He was very angry.
81 am surprised" said the chief Of
apolice soothingly I'll have the da,
liwatch warned in the morning"
i But by noon Of the morrow Mr.. Hol
Imam was at Police Station again. H
twas frantic with rage. There was al
.organized movement to keep him from
doing business. 1t must be som
ischeme of his competitors.
The chief did not know, but had hi
suspicious. He slipped into the inne
office and telephoned to Daniel Tank.
Hes got fine spur track up to hi
warehouse. What does he need c
teams?" was the answer that cam
hack.
Diplomatically, the chief of polio
conveyed his suggestion to Mr.. Ho
imam. He caught on like cockle-burs
ifSeptember, and straightway went off
Ipour the tale of his outraged feeling
linto the ear Of the city editor of tn
Telegram. The Telegram told II TO Tn
people next day, with suitable editorii
nalluBion. eyoant that the morning Tel