Western Kansas world., 1912-02-10

W
Copyright, 1910, by Harper & Brothers.
a spasm as to have lingering death
later with you at the head of it, Way
mouth. You can't team me-
You let me say a word right here"
clustered Everett. 81 wash my hands
of any deal with Spinney. I've got
the bulk of that convention behind me.
1 don't propose to be shunted."
Il supposed you all remembered the
details of what you did last evening"
returned the general coldly- rs it
necessary for me to remind you, Mr..
Everett, that Chairman Presson turned
over to Spinney a paper in which you
agreed to appoint him to a state Of
fee? That transaction was noted along
with the rest, sir. 1 would remind
YOU, gentlemen, that the convention is
waiting
TheIismer Thornton caught the sec
retary of the state committee by the
arm and propelled him toward the
door, ordering Harlan to open it. Sig
nal that bandl Start it to goingr' he
directed. Keep those delegates easy"
He turned on the chairman. Nov,
Luke, you're licked. And it's your own
deadfall that's caught you. There's a
new bribery law in this state. You
haven't forgotten it, have you? It's
state prison"
Look here, gentlemen he went on,
addressing the members of the state
committee, you've got just five min
utcs' leeway between good political
lot ant
on the floor. Get busy with those del
egations. And the man of all of you
who dares to say one word too much
about what's been done here today
will peek through bars and wish his
tongue had been torn out by the roots
before he talked. Presson, this thing
is out of your hands. You shan't cut
your own throat, 1 say. Get on to
that floor, men,
They went. It was the rush of men
to save themselves Each man as he
passed out cast glance upon the pa
pers that General Weymouth clutched
| and second glance at Harlan, brawny
guard, at his side.
sTake Everett across to the commit
| tee room and call in the men who were
to present him." directed the duke, re-
| leasing the chairman. "And it's up to
you two to give 'em a story that will
| hold 'em. It's short notice, but we've
| got General Weymouth for a text!
Look here Dave''-he whirled on Ev-
erett, who was frantically protesting
! ''your strength was the strength the
boys of the machine put behind you.
1t hasn't been personal strength. Get
| across there, you and Pressoni I'm
eating dirt myself. Get down on your
| hands and knees with me and make
| believe you like iti'
| He hustled them out.
| The band was rioting through q jolly
melange of popular melodies.
The old man hesitated a moment and
then walked across to the general.
| yard, politics Is most always a case
| of dog eat dog but I want to assure
| you that I'm not hungry just now II
| you are noti And my grandson seems
| to have more political foresight than
| gave him credit for. I'm getting old,
| seer
/ He did not give them opportunity to
/ answer. He swung about and went to
| Spinney.
.T reckon they'll raise your guard
now, Arba," he said, nodding at the
| stolid and plain men. There isn't
| IAucu MOI0 lHaC you can uO, S1lAST u
harm or help. You'd better pull chair
out to the edge of the stage there and
listen to what a good fellow you are
| when your orators nominate you. Then
before the applause dies away you'd
| better start for home. It'll be q good
| time to get away while Presson Is
busy" 1t was plain that, lacking any
other object, the duke was venting the
| last of his spleen on this wretched vic
| tim of the game. Before you go, give
me one of those Honest Arba' ribbons
1 keep n scrap book of jokesr'
The abject candidate had no word to
| offer in reply. He was white and trem
bling
You can suit yourself as to your
! further movements, Spinney," said the
general, noting the mans distress
There's a rear exit from this hall,
| remarked the duke significantly.