Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-28
CHAPTER xxi.
A Rusinsss Proposition.

@pTTH CORTLANDT'S inter.
view with the rival candi-
dates for the Panaman pres
ideacy formed but a part OF
- Man. She next held long CONVEX
s,,,on with Colonel Jolson, 20 the end
,hst On Friday morning Runnels heard
.unor that threw him into the great
A.. CONSERVATION II was 20 the effect
,h,. instead OF his succeeding TO the
olsc. OF superintendent he was to re-
,,fn his old post and that Colonel Jol-
sou's brother-fn-law was to supersede
hin. Although the word was not su-
,boritative. Il came with sufficient d.
rectress TO leave him aghast- II true
Evss. OF course. equivalent TO his dis
ehsrre for Il meant that he could not
s-en continue in his former position
without putting himself in a light in
toIe-zble 10 any man OF spirit II he
ssd not resign voluntarily he knew that
ks new superior would eventually
force him TO do so. for Blakeley would
build up an orga nization Of his own.
Inasmuch as his assistant was con-
cerued IN his threatened calamity. Run
nels made haste 10 lay the matter be
fore him.
Then this would seem to end our
fne hopes. chr said Kirk
Rather Runnels broke out bitter
3. I've worked hard. Kirk. and I
deserve promotion II anybody ever did.
Tbs other fellow Is a dub-he has
proven that. Why. I've forgotten more
rzilroading than he'll ever know. Ev-
81 man on the system hates him and
Hses ne: and on top Of # all was |
promised the Job. It's tough on the |
wife and the kid"
He stopped TO swallow his emotion |
and went on:
7 gave this Job the best had in /
ns. for had the idea that I was
hing something patriotic. something /
% ny country. That's the way they
used 10 talk about this canal. you 4
fnov. I've put IN four years OF hell;
I've lost step With the world. I've
lost ny business connections in the
States. and haven't saved up any
money. / can't quit. and yet I'll have
70. for n I'm fred it'n mean III have
10 20 back there and start at the bot
tom again Those people don't know
anything about these BANKED politics.
They'll think I made "A failure here in
government work, and I'll have 10 live
L down. What are you going 10 doT"
Kirk started "Oh. ! don't know.
vas thinking about you. I haven't
spent much OF that lottery coin. It's in
the bank. all that Allan hasn't used.
and half Of 1t IS yours II you'n take II.
lou and Mrs Runnels and the kid aud
Allan and land one other party-will
IKE back home and get something else
70 do. What do you say:"
kunnels' voice shook as he answered:
81 Jove. You're the-real stuff. An
thony. III think it over. Who is this
sther partyY"
Ny Wife,
Good Lord You're not marrfedf"
No but I'm going 10 be. You talk
-Do1t your troubles Now, listen 10
.uine. Ill make you weep Ike a fog"
sHeay be told his friend OF the blow
nat bad 50 suddenly fallen upon him.
lou are up against Il. old man."
sIeed kunnels when he had heard all.
saraEel has set his heart on the pres
1ency' and he'll pay any price 70 get
It's the same all over Central
Anerica- These people are mad on
olitics.-
Bot the game isn't over. I carried
le oall forty yards once for a touch
oNn in the last ten seconds OF play,
"a Tale won l had good -interfer-
lce then. and need it now. Some
peyH have 20 run ahead Of me"
hannels smiled u guess you can
,snt on ne. What IS the planT"
for the next half hour the two talk ,
earnestly. their heads together, their
'ices low.