The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-30
CHARLES T~ENyKYJACKSON
c~ssuEgAk "a. T1s Boahs-MeriM conpany.

%
double life-a concealment-a lapse in
personal morality-the honest whole
some sense of decency in our country
people"
Wiley had raised a hand. Wait"
he retorted, what If l do not deny
the matter?"
There was a panic. Ransdell, of the
Mercury-Journal, muttered. Boydston
glowered. They had been gibed SO
often by Wiley Curran that they had
glutted their imaginations with the
picture of him dumfounded, crushed to
earth.
Not deny the matter?" Tanner
looked up sharply.
No"
you dare admit it"'
II do not admit it. But, gentlemen,
/ win tell you this: You have called
me in here in secrecy and menaced
me with this story. You have called
story. And 1 tell you-No!"
He stepped nearer, his Eyes flashing.
He struck the table before the county
chairman's face.
Go ahead with your story" He
whirled on Ransdell of the Mercury
Journal. II know what you were
brought here for! Go on-spring that
AAAiilS SSOly lOLlOlIoW LII your SIl0GI
scatter 1t over h county. And YOU
he faced Boydston-"I've called you
a thief for six years n you've never
had the nerve to come to my office
and tell me I'm a liar. And you, Cal
Rice-a poor dog who rattles his chain
when the boss speaks! And you,
Judge Van Hart, I'm surprised at you,
a good man. Yes, a good mantle
most pitiable object in American life
today-a good man who stands for
other mems crookedness. You are all a
pack of Matchmaking liars"
Ransdell was on his feet %furiously.
Bodyston growled h%oarsely. Judge
quicker than all, Thad Tanner was on
his feet and between them.
Gentlemen! Be still! This heat
this is uncalled for"
Il refuse to withdraw! I all your
bluff! I'll print that story myself. The
story Of my life-all Of 1.-THE least of
1t. And with that story I'll go before
the people of this district and say that
I was summoned here and black
mailed. That you bought this story Of
a mound and with 1t tried to force me
out of public life. You, who profess to
guard the morals Of this community!
I'll publish today-press day-my
all your SNUG respectable faces-and
in it shall tell that o brought me
here, and for a consideration, agreed
to hush up this villainous awful past
of mine-you, h best people. tried to
force n bride me out of politics.
That shal be my story"
church, muttered. Boydston moved in
a jellyfsh way. Judge Van Hart hast
lily reached for his hat. Gentlemen"
he gasped, I'VE were not summoned
here for this. I beg Of youths voice
failed him-"let me withdraw-let me
withdraw"
Your honor, 1t is no place for YOU
"A moment" Thad raped the
table. Let us have this clear. You re-
fuse to withdrawn"
Il do. Tell your story. I'll tell mine.
Yes, tonight-at my meeting-here
among my home people. Let n man
of you arise tonight and accuse me
I'll admit it. And by God, I'll ask
the people what manner of men you
are. I'll appeal to them-their SYM
pathy, their hearts, their reason-with
just a story Of my youth-a story that
might have been any mans. The peo-
ple-the great honest heart of the peo-
pie"
Thad was smiling coldly. But a
curious admiration was in his eyes. He
lifted his hand. Gentlemen, he dehes
us!"
II defy you
The little gray boss smiled on.
Cal Rice was ringing his hands.
Boydston was wriggling uneasily,
red faced, frightened. Judge Van Hart
was already in the doorway, lifting his
nat with q gesture Of d~eprecating de-
spair.
"a moment" Thad waved them to
the DOR. II shall ask you to withdraw,
gentlemen: And say nothing Of this
- t. 1D II
was not ingratingly friendly-"that Mr..
Curran will withdraw. We will diss
cuss the matter" He waved them on
with his subtle authority. "Eh, Judge
Van Hart! I shall ask you to remain.
The rest Of you?'-he smiled and
rubbed his white hands-"weil, I can
assure you that Mr.. Curran will with
draw! He will see The wisdom-the
urgent need-I assure you"
They stared. astonished. The Earl
vile editor was protesting as he arose.
Mr.. Tanner. You assured me the Mer-
cury-Journal1"
The Journal will get it's scoop. Mr..
Curran. even. will agree to that"
The others were leaving. Wiley stood
alone watching the small figure under
the table light. At crises there was
a sort Of dignity about Thaddeus Tan
ner. The indomitable will. the intu-
tive reading Of men. the assumption
OF author1ty-he was worthy of his
w Even Curran felt the little boss
way with men as this slow scrutiny
enveloped him. When he looked at
Thad. after HI going of the others,
the mask-like face was smiling-and
that smile. some way. struck q curious
fear to his heart.
His calm dry tone heightened the
impression. you still refuse to resign,
Mr.. Curran?"
II do. We will submit 1t to the peo-
pie. Their good sense. their honesty,
their charity"
The little boss sat down across from
him n sighed Let us pass that by.
! admit admiring the fight you've made.
I've formed a different opinion of you
the last six months. Curran. And to-
night-Well, l don't mind saying that l
threw up the sponge. We couldn't beat
you've thought 1t for weeks"
'Well?" Mr.. Curran was almost
ashamed of his ungracious note.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BOSS rubbed his
thin hands-"you will resign"
Il told you no."
Yes, but you will"
The white old hand was raised to
point at him. And from that instant
Curran felt the ground slip beneath
him. He glanced at Judge Van Hart,
standing pallid, oppressed, by the win
dow"
Il will mott" he blurted.