The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-07-07

on down past the freight house toward
the big. fenced-in. Red Tower coal
yards
AT the coal yard he let himself in
through a wicket in the wagon gates,
and noticed that he used key and
locked the wicket after he got inside.
put my eye 20 crack In the high
stockade fence and saw that the little
shack Office that was used for scale
house was lighted up. My burnt hand
was healing toler1bly well by this
time and | could use 1t little. There
was a slack pile just outside OF the
big gate, and by climbing to the top
of II got over the fence and crept
up to the scale-house.
A small window In one end OF the
shack, opened about two inches at the
bottom. answered well enough for a
peep-hole. Three men were In the
little box Of a pace-three besides
Kestler; Hatch, his barrel-bodied part
ner, Henckel, and one other. The
third man looked like gloriiied bar
keep. He was of the type ! have
heard called "black Irish," fat, sleek,
and well-fed. with little pin-polnt
black eyes half buried In the flesh OF
his round face, and the padded jaw
and double chin shaved TO the blue.
l knew this third man well enough,
by sight; everybody in Portal City
knew him-decent people only too well
when II came 10 an election tussle.
He was the redoubtable Pete Clana-
han, divekeeper. and political boss.
Kestler was telling the three how he
had shadowed Mr. Norcross from the
railroad headquarters to the Bullard.
and how he stayed around until he
had seen the boss take a taxi for
Major Hendricks. This seemed to be
all that was wanted Of him, for when
he was through, Hatch told him he
might go home. After the cock-eyed
clerk was gone, Hatch lighted a fresh
cigar and put II squarely up to the
Irishman.
ITS no use being mealy-mouthed
over this thing, Pete" he grated In
that saw-mill voice Of his. We've
got 10 get rid OF this man. Every days
delay gives him that much better hold.
We can choke him on by Titles In the
business game, OF course; we have
Dunton and the New Workers on our
side. and this cooperative scheme he
has launched can be broken down
with money. But that doesn't help
you political people out; and your
stake In the game is even bigger than
ours"
Clanahan looked around the little
dog-kennel OF a place suspiciously.
"'Tis not her. that we can talk
much about thin things. Misther
Hatch" he said cautiously.
-Why notT' was the rasping ques-
tion- There's nobody In the yard.
and the gates are locked It's id
sight safer than a back room In one
OF your diyes-as we know now 10 our
cost"
Clanahsn threw up his head with
a gesture that said much -Murphy's
the man that leaked on that engine
job-snd he'll leak no more"
Well" said Hatch. with growing
irritation. what are you holding back
for nowf We stood 10 win on ths
first play. and We would have won II
your people hadn't bailed II By talking
too much. one more day and Dis
nuke would have been IN the saddle.
That would have settled A."
yah and Mister Dismuke stu hers
IN Portal City remains" put In
HenckeL
The diyekeeper locked bis pudgy
nngerS scross q cooked knee.
It's foine. brave gintlsmen ye are.
you two. vhin we've got somebody else
10 pull m nuts out Az m IRE for
yei- be said. ~Ye'd have as eroak
his feIly fr ye. and thin ye'd stand
back and wash yer hands While some
poor dfvil wint 70 N rope fr IL
Where DO We come In. is What I'd Ike
q kuOwr