The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-02-04
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde

tc~pyrssAt. fsss. By Chsries sc~ts-
nc~'s seost

80 WIZ w hA-tNN - NAAfNNAfN - y"
produce the goods"
That's Just what we're here 90
DO" snapped the Red Tower presi
dent. vindlctiveiy. You. and the
Zig Fellows IN New York. want a
lot Of tho state railroad laws re
pealed or amended IL you can't
get that string united you can't
gamble any more with your stock.
Well and good You came here six
months ago and set out TO manu-.
faeture public sentiment IN favor
OF the railroad. You ran up your
'pnhlic-bc pleased flag and beat the
tom tom and blew tho hewgag un.
tn YOU got n lot OF doits and chuck.
le heads and easy marks TO believe
tina, YOU really meant it,
even. go on"
"With all this humhug and hula
balloo you still couldn't be quite
certain that you had made your
point: that your measures would
carry thru the incoming legislature.
After the primaries you counted
noses among the candidates and
found Il was going 60 be a tight
squeak damned tight squeak
Then you did what you railroad
people always do, you slipped out
quietly and bought a few men-Just
20 be on the safe side"
SO Il was sprung at last. Hatch
was accusing us OF the one thing
we hadn't done: that the boss knew
we hadn't done.
I'm afraid you1l have 20 try
again. Mr.. Hatch" he said. with a
sour little smile Then he added
Anybody can make charges. you
know"
Hatch jumped 20 his feet and he
was almost foamlng at the mouth.
Right there IL where we've got
your he shouted. You were too
cautious 10 put one OF your own
men in the field. so you sent outside
for your briber. He was fly. too
he never came near you nor any
|of your officlals--to start curious
talk but he was a stranger. and
he had 10 have help in finding the
right men 10 buy. Dedmon. here.
was out OF a job-thanks 20 you
and your meddling tho steer.
Ing stunt offered good pay. DO
you want any moreF"
The boss shook his head
III II a matter OF comrlet. In
difference TO me. don't know In
the least what you arc talking
about. and you'n pardon me. I hope.
~ say that u docsn't greatly
interest me-"
tercst you, The eaSy-mark can.
didatcs were found and bought and
paid for--and maybe they'll stay
bought. and maybe they won't. But
that ISN'T the point For little
more money-my money. this tirnc
each OF these men has made an
affidavit 10 the fact that raiiroad
money was offered him They
don't say whether or not they nc.
ccpted IL mind you. and that
doesn't cut any figure. They have
sworn that the money WINS rendered
That let's them out and let's you
In. You don't believe III IN
show YOU" and Hatch whipped
a list OF names from his poke;
and slapped IL upon the boas' desk.
Go TO those men and ask them.
II you want to carry II that far.
They'll tell you
could see that the boss barely
glanced at the list. The glib story
Of the bribery was like the bite
Of a slipping crane hiich--siow 10
take hold. So far as we were con.
ocrned. Of course. tho charge fell
flat: and upon any other hypothesis
IL was hlankiy incredible. unbc-
iievable. absurd
THE affidavitS themselves would
be much more convincing" heart
the boss say. tho even then
should wish 20 have reasonable
proof that they were genuine"
Hatch was sitting down again
and his grin showed his teeth
unplcasantly.
do you think for a minute that
I'd bring the papers here and trust
them in your hands7' he raped
out insultinFly. Not muchl hut
we've got them all right. as you1l
find out II you balk and force
us TO use them"
At this point could see that
something In the persistent aRsur.
ancs OF the man was getting under
the boss skin and giving him a
cold chill. What IL il were not the
colossal bluff II had looked like
In the begdnning7 What II
Like a blaze OF lightning out OF
a clear sky a possible explanation
hit me under the fifth rib. and !
guess II hit the boss at about the
same instant What IL President
Dunton and the New York stock.
jobbers. believing Az they did that
nothing but legislative favor would
give them their trading capital in
the depressed stock. had cut I'm
and done this thing without con.
sulting us7
The boss stirred unsasily in his
chair and picked up the paper.
knife-a little unconscious trick Of
his when he wanted time to gather
himself
Perhaps you would be willing to
give me the name OF this bribcr.
Mr.. Hatch7" he said, after a little
pause.
AS n you didn't know IT, WINS
the soothing refort. You drive
us to the newspapers and every
body'I know IT,"
but ] don't know It," the boss
insisted patiently. Then he seemed
to take sort OF fresh grip on
himself. for he added: "And don't
believe you do. either. Mr.. Hatch.
You arc a pretty good buffer,
but
Hatch broke In with a short
laugh.
There were two Of them: one
who was hired to do the talking
while the real wire-pullcr stood
aside and held the coin bag. Wen
skip the hired man. Then he
turned TO the ex-shorfff: Write