The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-12

EnfvRidhT. Kero, PEARSON PuBiIsHrpso 90.
(Ctsfissel >ssm ,ssfr,sisy)
Now there was something supremely
Irritating in all this to Mr.. vining.
He didn't like 1t. He had got worse
than nowhere. 1t occurred to him to
say something nasty, to take advnn-
tage OF Tanks frankness with him
whose methods were distinctly snaky.
So he said:
do you realize that If I should
detail the substance of your revela-
lions to me this afternoon to the
papers It would create quite sensa-
Zion, to say the least?"
It was. indeed, nasty speech
Tank turned abruptly. standing
erect, his great height and huge bulk
Bill a-quiver with kind of fine SELF
control that was almost dignity, and
The little blue lights burning at the
rat-heads again. He spoke quietly.
but there was a fine tensity in his
homes.
Yes" he said. And realize that
II you did, the Grand Jury would in
dict you before twelve o'clock for Of
fering me bride" Tank coughed
twice, whereat an innocent looking
door on the left opened and two men
who had evidently been standing
against 1t listening walked in a leis-
xrynv ~
and down the stairs.
/ The face of vining went bloodless.
Tank looked at him steadily for q
moment.
Was that square7" vining gasped,
khe cold perspiration on his brow
So blamed much squarer than you
are that you needn't lose any sleep
over 1t unless you try something
crooked on me, and If you do III get
you in my two hands and take you to
pieces one bone at time"
vining shivered 30 that the ferule
of his cane ratified up and down on
The floor.
Sorry you have to be goin'," OBJ
served Tank. by way Of reminding his
visitor to pull himself together and
get out. He himself was again fumb-
ling for a match, this time, however,
in box that he had dug up from
somewhere.
Vining. without any words OF fare
well, started for the door. walking
with fat. wooden footsteps
Tank watched him go. his hand on
his hip, cloud of smoke above his
head-watched him, saw the malicious
CLEAN of his eye, the tightening lips
with sullen downward dip of the
lower one, and the protruding chin
He also heard the stubborn clump Of
bis cane upon the stairs as he de-
scended
And that" he said, turning to his
desk, amt the last of him by long,
long shot
But it was ten days before Tank
heard from him again, and then indi-
rectly Murphy, chairman of the
Committee on Public Service, came in
with some excitement two hours be-
fore the committee was to meet and
pass finally on The New Telephone
franchise. They were, according to
program, to report favorably the next
night at the council meeting, and the
council would act Immediately.
Winnings got to our boys on the
with an offer of ten thou
sand apiece to turn down the fran
chise! exclaimed Murphy.
If the committee did not report 1t,
khe council could not pass it.
He figured" said Tank, that that
rwas more than they were getting to
vote for it."
81 reckon" answered Murphy.
Well, what are the boys doin'?"
asked Tank. not anxiously but casu-
ally.
They're takn' his money, of
course" recounted Murphy, as II an
nouncing that which could hardly be
otherwise with practical men such as
Committee certainly were They're
takin' his money, but they'll vote ac-
cording TO orders"
Tank smiled grim. sardonic smile.
This was not his ethics, but II 1t were
the ethics of his majority on the Pub
lic Service Committee he would not
interfere. He ruled by the freedom
RE gave. He was not teacher of
ethics, and besides he was willing to
see Vining spend forty or fifty thou
sand dollars or any other reasonable
amount to learn who was passing on
municipal legislation IN this town,
anyway.
But at ten o'clock that night came a
hoarse voice over the telephone, that
Tank Instantly recognized as Muir
phys. Hell! . the voice said, THE
committee turned the franchise down"
Down! exploded Tank with
snort Of wrath. Hang up and come
here!
Murphy reached the presence Of his
lord as fast as whirring rubber could
carry him from the City Hall.
Yes. sir" he reported emphati-
cally turned it down by lingo.
Who'd they get?" asked Tank la
conically
1t should be explained that Tank
balanced up his committees carefully.
He wasted nothing. and put no more
men out than were needed Hence
the Committee on Public Service con-
sisted of Murphy, Dobinson, Vernle
and Harper all straight organization
men who took orders docilely, and
constituted the majority. The other