The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-18
CHAPTER XXI.
(Continued)

out OF the coroner's office, ambled
into the News and sat where he could
stare at the Widow Stegers-always
waiting"
Busted, Wiley" He cackled
Why. this mornin' even Dickinson
admitted they was busted Some OF
these days therell be board that II
pay me for that Niger | buried! WI
ley. want | always your friend?"
Friend? The town, the county. the
vast Midlands all voiced it,
He was getting his mail the day be-
fore election when Cal Rice, white
z faced. young-old man, habitually re-
iecting the hast word Of his first
wife's father. Thaddeus Tanner, de-
tached himself from a group In the
postofiice lobby to detain him. His
pasty smile was apologize.
"How's prospects, Wiley?" The
banker had never before had any
= thing but IA grim nod for the editor.
Splendid" He felt throb of
magnanimous condescension
II suppose you'll want to renew
your mortgage on the first?"
IL think not Mr.. Rice" Wiley
Bank OF Earlville will take 1t up"
Rice looked up quickly. "Ah. your
friend, Purcell. SUPPOSE"
I've good many friends over
there. Well acquainted these days.
So I'll take up that mortgage when
It's due. Eight hundred and forty
dollars. interest and all. isn't it?"
Something like that Drop In this
morning Wen look It up" Rice
fidgeted moment. There's another
matter. Mr.. Curran. Come at eleven
Mr. Curran drew out his watch laz-
lily. He found 1t hard to conceal his
triumph Cal Rice Of the First Ma
tional coming TO him. wanting a con-
ference! Beaten, Ell? And they
knew 1.-THE whole courthouse
crowd! They wanted to placate the
victor, that was II. In fash Wiley
guessed it-Thad Tanner was going
to offer some compromise, plead for
some agreement with him-anything
80 that Thad might retain control OF
the county committee. Curran In con-
gress and solid as he was in the
county would dethrone Thad from his
local power sure az shooting Ash
they discussed that days ago IL
Thad lost his grip some mighty un.
pleasant stories OF board contracts
might come out. They were gossiped
about, had been for years
And now Curran thrilled with II.
He had felt 1t coming He had told
.Arne, and Arne had cried sourly:
Kick the old son-of-a- gun out of your
shop IL he ever comes to you"
Rice's next words sealed It. The
banker shuffied nervously and then
went on: "Curran, you've been dead
wrong about the First Nationals at
fitude toward your fight. We're not
-er-against you-not at all-not at
sll. And er-you'll come over at
eleven?"
Hardly" Wiley drawled with ir-
ritating amiability Expecting a
telegram from Governor Delroy-
something about the campaign" He
looked at his watch again. conscious
that every man in the group was lis
tening and in fifteen minutes would
spread the report that Thad Tanner
was going to quit the fight on Cur
ran. Then he said Make 1t eleven
fifteen, Rice. Best I can do today"
"Ah. that will do-that will do"
Rice rubbed his palms and smiled.
Thank you. Mr. Curran." He hur-
ried on as II some elaborate program
was TO be arranged for Mr.. Curran.
Mr.. Curran looked about the group Of
county politicians. The red-necked
Boydston was frowning evasively.
The others were still. II was Cur
n, nf trft Il
leisurely down the street with his
mail. Mrs. Van Hart was driving
into the Square She did not notice
Curan OF the News, but Curran
smiled airily. He could afford to be
complacent to High Street now. He
was Curran, the insurgent leader OF
the south counties; he had broken
the ranks OF the Reserve. He was a
friend of the governor Best of all,
the country folk knew him. He was
their man" He wished he could see
Janet He would have liked to tell
her this.
At half-past eleven-purposely he
had kept Rice waiting fifteen minutes
he strolled over to the bank corner.
The door--a small one at the side
used by the officers-opened before
he touched It. He had had an impress
sion that Rice had been watching his
from the shade Of the window in front
and had scurried back to let him in.
That was another sense OF his win
ming. Even now Rice bowed and trot-
ted ahead down the gloomy bank cor
ridor.
This way, Mr.. Curran. All, later
Not at all-not at ALL" He opened
the door to his private office and the
guest went In. II was rather dark.
but Curran knew that a number OF
men we're there. He paused surprised
10 see Ransdell. the editor Of the Earl
Vile Mercury-Journal But, then,
Thad controlled the Journal. Boyd
ston, the supervisor whom Curran had
fought for six years, was there Judge
Van Hart was there, sitting obviously
Ill at ease by the door; and old Thad,
the wizened county boss, In his swivel
chair before the bank directors table
Curran looked them over with a belly
fling calm. They were representative
gathering of his ancient enemies
men of the old regime in politics, in
+ wealth and social place In the county.
He was received In a silence that
somehow was slowly strangling the
fine glow OF confidence In which he
had come. He felt himself intuitively
hroca a ono doae IN whom a nhysicaI