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


amend 1t. and we amt got no orders
about any amendments. So that
makes three against it. and then, sir,
Harper he votes with EN-"
Harper! exclaimed Tank. In
amusement why?"
Search mo-" said Murphy. "He
don't say. He's got Winnings ten thou
sand, same as the others did, guess;
but what's he deliverin' on It for9"
Harper amt burned fool" ex-
claimed Tank. He can still figure,
and when he figures, he knows It's
worth more to be my councilman four
times over in any year than 1t is to
take Winnings ten thou and quit to-
morrow: and that's what's come to
him-that and then some, /" Tank.
race hardened and his great molars
ground upon one another with a
wicked sound.
That's the way 1t looks to me. ,oc,"
assented Murphy; but for the n.cs.ut
his wrath was held in suspense. His
thought Of Harper was not unchari
table. He knew the man we'll and liked
him, liked him enough to be very pa
tent; and here lay some Of Tanks.
wonderful power over his mer. He
allowed man to be human, to be &C.
centric. and he could be indulgent with
the whims and crotchets of the cattle
he used to work his will, provided
only that they did go to the block IL.
honest chattels and sell themselve,
for him in the end or at the end. It
was a theory Of Tanks that there's
always a way to start a man goin'
right and keep him goin' right" If
only he could find it. Patiently he
tried to find that way. Usually he sue
ceeded.
Say he said. looking down at his
boot thoughtfully the while, you
don't s'pose Harper's in tight place.
needfn' money or something? Y'know
he put all his into that chemical
works, and it's hard sleddin' since the
panic and with the Bakin' Powder
Trust goin' after him, too. S'pose old
Winnings got some kind of a line on
him like that?"
don't know, maybe" hesitated
Murphy. plainly fiat on his back so
Tar as thinking the thing out was con-
cerned.
why wouldn't he come to me,
though. II he needs money? I'd help
him out" the Boss added. How'd
he act?"
Queer-queer," said Murphy. II
1on't know just what to expect when
man goes back on his friends and
sits down In the electric chair. all for
'ome darn fool reason. S'pose It'd
make him act queer, but he didn't act
Ike the same old Harper, not by sew
sral laps, he didn't Had a kind o. a
martyr look in his eye-like he was
ioin' right for principle, a-go.n' TO
he rack for somebody else, y'hnow.
That's the way I figured 1t, and as
amt used to suspectin' nobody of such
disposition I reckon there must "a
,een something in him that suggested
tt
Sol" said Tank. rather sympa-
heucally, Well, you take the ma
hine and go up to Harper's house
nd bring him down here"
Harper was willing enough to
ONE, though 1t was close to midnight.
What the hell, Harper" asked
Tank, with some emphasis.
I'm sewed up Dan" said Harper
Nth mournful voice. sinking into
hair Sorry. but am
Tank looked him over. up one side
md down and across. from where he
at at his desk, the gas-light burning
eebly. Tank had the finest possible
ense OF when to be brutal and when
lot Under ordinary conditions men
Who thwarted him might expect to feel
us wrath. Threats, browbeatings,
blows and bitter enmity, that never
eased until he had crushed the traitor.
oftentimes when men resisted
i'm or proved disloyal But the time
lad not come for this. Tonight Tank
vas calm, self-controlled. almost sym
How're you sewed up, Harper" he
lsked, more patiently than when he
irst addressed him
Tight! murmured Harper. Ike a
lick man between clenched teeth,
tight"
I've cut many stitch in my time" /
aid Tank
Not this one, Dan" replied Har-
Der in low tone. with g roll OF his
lead from one hand to the other. |
You don't hold the shears. Other
elbows got EN-
There was sad. deathly smile as
lie spoke
Take him away" ordered Tank In
he next minute, with sudden change
If mood Take him away; he makes (
ne feel bad"
So Murphy took him away.
Come back IN the morning" the
Boss called to Murphy, and we'll
nave another look at It,"
Then Tank went home and to he'd /
What's old vining done to Har-
per? he said in his thought as he
lozed off
Old Winnings got some kind of a
crooked line on Harper is what my
money says" he yawned to himself
some eight or nine hours later, as he
sat on the edge Of his bed in the rather
luxurious bachelor apartments which
he allowed himself in one corner of the
business block on which his roof gar