The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-02-27
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Honey Pot.

s4sSM would rob defeat of its
E2S&5 sting. Not until the event,
until Benton county, his own neigh /
bors. had repudiated him could he /
measure the hurt There was one thing |
which he would do-deep down within
him was the unworded resolve that it /
should be his valedictory.
There's something" he told Haig,
week after the primaries, that has
been haunting me-"
And he told the other what Sheehan
had said concerning the bank
well. what business is it of yoursE
You aren't the guardian of the public
morals. Even if you want to be, the
people have just clearly declared that
they don't Keep out Of what isn't
your Affairs
But I'm still district attorney
"An right. II anything happens or
any one makes official information be-
fore the end of your term. prosecute"
"But understand my duty to include
uncovering crime as well az prosecut-
Ing what others expose. I'll ask Blake
to let me go over the books"
"He won't let you, Of cource.
There'd be crash
ST think he WILL said John thought
fully, IF nothing is wrong. Especially
| when he understands that, If he
| doesn't, I'll subpoena him with the
| books before the grand jury. II there's
| nothing wrong, there will be no crash.
| But / have friends who have money
| and stock in the bank And if our
political bank history is repeating itself
| they and the public have the right to
| know it."
John Haig argued earnestly, don't
you do Ii. Haven't you had enough?
| What's the use of making more trou-
| BILE and enemies for yourself?"
81 know" John said patiently. 1--WE
| gone over all that. This is my last
crusade But it goes through. Be
cause, if there's anything amiss, now
| is the time for it to come out while
/ it can help Jerry Brent"
Great Scott! Have you still faith
in the people? Don't you know what
| they'll do. if YOU uncover anything?
Just sniff daintily around and then
walk off 70 vote for Sherrod or Jen-
| kins or whoever the gangs nomi-
/ nate. ] think it very possible that
things aren't straight at the bank
/ But | like you and / like Warren
Biake-he's ii good friend of yours,
| too-and | don't want to see him in
| trouble Besides" he gfianed, none
of my money is deposited in the
bank"
us that all you have to offer for the
defense? If it is-ape you coming
along to help me or not?"
81 suppose" Haig grumbled, ''Pll
have to. You need guardian angel"
4 So it happened that at critical time
in the fortunes OF the bank and It's Off
GERS John and Haig set out on their
mission. They chose an hour early in
the evening, after supper. They tried
the bank first. 1t would be closed. but
within, as all New Chelsea knew, War
rem Blake was apt to be found faith
fully at the work that never seemed
to end.
The dark green window shades had
been closely pulled down, but a glim-
mering around the edges showed that a
light was burning within. Blake might
have been expecting them, so promptly
] was the door thrown open when they
raped. Surprise, however, was de-
picted on his face when he beheld the
visitors.
Good evening. gentlemen. Can do
something for your
WED like to have a little talk with
you. Warren" said John. ct concerns
the bank
1.-The bank?"
Suddenly Warren by some strange in
tuition knew, as he had known that the
market would sag, what this untimely
visit portended He felt the blood
leave his face and rush to his heart.
His hands and feet became icy cold.
He stared stupidity at the visitors, as
though his faculties were benumbed.
''I-I'm pretty busy tonight he said.
Cant you put it off until Monday
Il think we'd better talk it over now,
Warren John answered.
The sense of shock seemed to pass
away. The cashier threw the door
wider open TO admit ten Come in
he said quietly. They entered. and he
closed and locked the door behind them.
Then he Strengthened up. all composure.
TO face them
I'll have to ask you to be brief I'm
preparing some papers for Senator Muir
ehell and Mr.. Hampden, and they'll be
here soon
IN come right 10 the point John
answered. Warren, 1 want to see
the books of the bank I've heard that
you are carrying a good deal OF worth
less political paper and that the bank
is in danger. l want to verify or dis
prove that
That's absurd. The bank is per-
fectly safe And, of course, we can't
let you see the books You aren't
even a stakeholder and have no in
terest in them"
Warren said Haig hastily, putting
his hand on the cashiers shoulder. Il
beg Won to do as he asks We're here
in wholly friendly way. And. of
course. the bank is sound. You can
rely on Dunmeade and me to do abso-
lutely nothing, in that case, to harm IL y
Warren shook his head. You ought