Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-04-09

why | wished to have this conversa-
ton with you" said Mr.. Ezra Vining,
suavely. overwhelmingly.
They were sitting in the dingy Of
fee of Dan Tank, which was upstairs
over the car mandatory. of Heck &
Heck. This particular location was
not a mere fancy with the Boss, for
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 were
the handle OF the whip he cracked
over the entire city. He alluded TO
them affectionately as "Th' Wards"
Or as my people"
AS to Dan Tank himself. he was big,
big as a moving-yan or box-car. and
amiable, but reputed to have a punch
In either hand like the soft caress OF
pile-driver; and there were some
with whom it was not a mere matter
Of repute. His genealogy. politically
speaking, was not unlike others. A
score OF years before he was bOuncer
In Mike Hennessy's saloon. Mike ran
the politics OF the town, but his myr-
midon. the mighty Dan, bounced SO
assiduously that one day he bounced
Boss Hennessy and thereafter became
Boss Tank. But that was some years
agone. He was securely in the saddle
now and had ridden far. His methods
were mild when mild methods were
best; and when others But. any
way. here was Mr.. Vining coming to
see Mr.. Tank. and Mr.. Vining was a
mild man. Oh, yes.
Mr.. Winnings face bore a high dome
upon it, 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-wife, daughters and a son.
Bradstreet's gave him rising half
million. He was interested as handy
financial man in half a dozen COM
panies, and put through their in
trigues and mysterious transactions
for them, contriving. in addition to
giving satisfactory service to his asso-
ciates, to shake the plum tree fire.
quently in his own front yard
His sons name was Percy, an at
tractive youth, much idolized of his
father. but, alas, one who loitered
long upon the primrose paths. Be
sides, he had a reckless way of quite
lty nd IN nj hn
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. II was in this aristoc-
racy that his father expected his son
to marry. This, and this alone, ac-
counted for the collection of motor
cars that Percy garaged and for the
very liberal allowance Of spending
money which should have enabled him
TO fly with his heavier than air per-
sonal record in almost any social at
mosphere.
However, this story isn't about
Percy exactly. IL concerns more his
respected sire, and here now was his
sire sitting in Tanks office. Mr.. Tank
knew all about Mr.. Vining. and also
he knew all about Percy. which was
not only more than Mr. Vining did,
but much more to the point at the mo-
ment, as the sequel will show.
Mr.. Tank, however. was a low-brow,
while Mr.. Vining was a high-brow
Mr.. Winnings grandfather was a states
man. his voice laundering in the halls
of Congress. when Mr. Tanks grand
father was cutting peat and belaboring
the bony spots on a donkey in County
Antrim. Mr.. Tank represented the
worst traditions. Mr.. Vining repre-
sented the best. He also represented
The Old Telephone Company. and that
by the way, was why he came to see
Mr.. Tank.
There was talk around that The New
Company. which had been
itself in numerous cities
and furnishing better service at lower
rates. was come hither also, and would
ask for and receive a franchise from
the city council. So Mr.. Vining. being
wise in his wisdom, wanted to see the
man whom the city council repre-
scented. He wished to sound the city
and see if it would be
likely to grant this new franchise
and if so, for what consideration. II
they were not disposed to grant It
well and good; but IL they were. while
not so well 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 fattered
himself was a very delicate feeleI
about the city government.
But It happened that Mr.. Tank had
a contempt for the prying ways and
the velvet manner of Mr.. Vining. so he
promptly and rudely bumped into that
gentleman with the fatty profane as
surance with which this story begins
thus telephGning TO the inner con-
sciousness of Mr.. Vining that he could
leave off all circumlocution and say
what he had to say to Daniel Tank
and be done with it.
g It's this telephone franchise talk
hat brings me here" confessed Mr. |
Vining, leaning back in his chair.
Yes" said Mr.. Tank with a ris- |
ng infection, blowing smoke into the |
iir and then looking steadily at Mr. |
Vining under the great sleepy lids OF !
small blve eyes.
o" l. was wondering if there was any |