The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-07-07
HALDEN HANDS OUT
THE DOUBLE CROSS

Paul Sharvy had been sheriff.
The job was worth $4,000 or
$4,000 a year in those days,
thanks to the fee system. Mr..
Sharvey was a big, blonde, lib
eral, genial descendent of the Vik-
ings. He and another Son of
Norway, Odin Halden, made
medicine together and agreed to
help one another. Sharvy agreed
+ to throw his personal following to
Halden and Halden agreed to
throw his votes to Sharvy. But,
with spidery cunning, Mr.. Halden
arranged it so that he was nomin-
ated before Mr.. Sharvy.
Mr.. Sharvy kept his word. His
following went to Halden and the
erstwhile deputy was nominated,
over the beaten body of his late
boss, LaVaque, and put in line
for a quarter Of a century of
auditorial plums.
But before the time came to re-
nominate Mr.. Sharvy, the treach-
erous Halden saw that the Old
Guard was badly defeated and,
like sinking ship, a mighty good
thing to desert. He also saw that
with two Norwegians on the tick
ct, the Halden welfare might be
jeopardized, for Sharvy was popu-
lar and powerful and with ample
campaign funds.
When the time came to hand
the Halden vote to Sharvy, the
future occupant of the Spider s
Den threw the vote to Bill Butch
art. It was fine for good old
Bill but death for Sharvy.
Mr.. Sharvy never forgave Hal
den but hated his Norske brother
bitterly, even unto his dying day.
Thus started Odin Halden's
real career Of treachery, double
dealing, broken promises and
presentation Of the deadly Double
Cross to friends and political as
sociates.
t Time passed by and the year
1910 rolled around. Mr.. Halden
lhad been auditor ever since Geo.
IN. LaVaque was thrown to the
lions. It had become quite the
custom to say, "See Hslden,"
when any political favors were de-
sired or a special shake given
the plum tree.
George R. Laybourn had been
state senator and desired another
term. He had worked hard, faith
fully and in a cleanly way. He
had the full confidence of the
state administration and invari-
ably was consulted by the wisest
Of the state officials. He domin-
sated the st. Louis county legislat-
i've delegation and overshadowed
all of them. His record was one
of effective service, honesty, con-
sistency and sterling integrity. If
he had a fault it was too close an
affiliation with party. A few did
not like him because he wore
flowing whiskers, clean linen and
well cut garments.
But Halden was jealous of Lay
bourn-his character, efficiency
and integrity. Laybourn was
neither spider nor tiger. With
Laybourn out of the way, the
auditorial buzzer would have a
chance to get very, very close to
the gubernatorial ear, as well as
the ear of the state auditor.
Local brewers did not like Lay
bourn. Between campaigns he
did not buy booze for the boys,
therefore he refused to do so dur
ing campaigns, for political effect
and to tank up the thirsty adven-
turers who had mythical votes to
barter.
Nothing was more natural than
that the bulldozing brewers and
the jealous, cunning, treacherous
Halden should get together. One
fateful day, brewery lawyer
and the spidery Halden jour
neyed to Two Harbors, where they
could spin webs, make medicine
and pour out libations to the sue
cess of the Double Cross without
spying eyes to discover.
Brewery influence, money and
Halden's spidery webs and treach-