The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-08-16

~~''' 80 eS~~. H,~ cik SeiEie eeSie'
equally altered Paladins. A telegraph
operator sat at an instrument in a
far corner OF the room. jotting down
and carrying to the table such few dis
patches as were at last beginning 10
trickle in. At Conover's left ticker
purred forth infrequent lengths OF
message laden tape
The table was Uttered with papers,
bottles. glasses and open cigar boxes.
The henchmen lounged about. drink
ing and smoking In nervous suspense,
fighting over again the days battle.
and hazarding innumerable diverse
opinions on the bearing each new des-
patch would have on the general re-
suit. All were in greater or less
state OF tension, and relieved II by
frequent resource to the bottles that
dotted the board.
Conoyer. alone OF them all. touched
no liquor. Before him was big cup
of black coffee, which a noiseless-
treading footman entered the room
every few minutes TO renew.
Amt that li'ble TO keep you awake
tonight. Boss?" asked Shevlin. as he
watched the fourth cupful vanish at a
swallow.
1T don't bother me any more" re-
turned Caleb, I'm used 10 IL. But /
can remember when a single cup OF
II at Sunday morning breakfast would
make me so couldn't sleep wink all
church time. I'd toss from one end
OF my pew 10 the other the whole
morning. couldn't seem to browse
no matter how long Father Healey's
sermon was. Mother county heard
from?" as the operator laid a message
before him. Read II, Billy"
Delayed In transmission" spelled
Shcvlin. Jericho County. with two
precincts missing. gives Conover
1929 Standish 1896"
A yell went arognd the table.
Bourke scrubbed hurriedly on pad.
then announced:
That Offsets the Standish lead In
Haldane by $50. Two to one you've
got Bowden, too"
A purr from the ticker. and Caleb
caught up the tape.
This machine don't agree with
you" he reported. "Bowden com
plete gives me 1851 and standish
6.312. That cuts us down a bit"
did you ever see such a rag-time
1ectionl" growled Shevlin. Its like
seesaw board One minute it's you.
and the next minute II amt What's
fha bov-aafaro -, Ctoto thtrtrtrt ahout
anyhow? A year ago they'd no more
"a dared to-"
"A years a long time, son, in a
country that makes q hero TO order
one day and puts him into the discard
the next"
"oh, IL you'd a only just let us
work like we always have before!
We'd a sent this standish person
screechin' up a tree. He'd "a thought
a whale had bit him. But with all
this amachoor line OF drorin'room
stunts at the polls an givin him the
chance to-"
That's my business" replied Ca
leb. Cut IL out"
And Billy relapsed into grumbllng
lncoherence. Nor did any OF the rest
dare voice their equally strong opin.
ions on the subject OF Conover's re
cent mystifying campaign tactics
Had less powerful Boss dictated and
carried out such a senselessly honest
plan OF battle. his leadership would
have ended with the issuance Of his
first order. lmpregnable as had been
Conoyer's position in the machine. he
himself well knew he had strained his
power and influence wellnigh 20 the
breaking point Should he, In spite
OF his self-conhdence and the won
drous skill he had employed along
this new line OF warfare, lose the
day
Coming In better now" remarked
the operator after fusillade of clicks
had held his attention TO the instru.
ment for a minute or two. They've
got the lines patched up enough 10
allow you straight service. The
stuffll all be here in n rush pretty
soon"
Here comes some more ticker re
ports." cried Staatz, leader OF the
Ahiiu DibbiCt, anu strongest man,
next TO Conover himself, In all the
Machine. Why can't II hurry up9
Here 'Pompton County complete
gives Conoyer 2S.042, standish g.
72s.'"
Another and louder yell from the
tableful, and a battering OF bottles and
glasses on the board. Conoyer alone
sat calm through the din. Bourke
again did rapid figuring.
"Hoorayl" he yelled. THAT brings
II up all right Pompton County and
the city Of Granite together give you
enough plurality to stall all the Jay
counties except
1T hangs on the one city OF Grafton
now" interposed Caleb. who had as
usual gripped the whole situation be.
fore his lieutenant had jotted down
the first line OF figures We've got
c--c.-s recc-ta 70 hripe u ~ 70 hat