Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-05-26

lilSIlIlluu.
"It's no use being mealy-mouthed
over this thing, Pete" he grated in
that saw-mill voice Of his. "We've
got to get rid Of this man. Every days
delay gives him that much better hold.
We can choke him off 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 here that we can talk
much about thin things, Misther
Hatch" he said cautiously.
"Why not?" was the rasping ques-
ton. "rhere's nobody in the yard,
and the gates are locked. It's id
sight safer than back room in one
of your dives-as we know now to our
cost"
Clanahan threw up his head with
a gesture that said much. "Murphy's
the man that leaked on that engine
job-and he'll leak no more"
SWELL" said Hatch, with growing
Irritation. "what are you holding back
for now? We stood to win on the
first play, and we would have won if
your people hadn't balled it by talking
too much. One more day and Dis
nuke would have been in the saddle.
That would have settled It,"
"Yah; and Mister Dismuke still here
in Portal City remains" put in
Henckel.
The divekeeper locked his pudgy
fingers across cooked knee.
"'Tis foine, brave gintlemen We are,
you two, whin we've got somebody else
to pull tn nuts out av tn fire for
vel" he said. eyed have us croak
this felly FIR ye, and thin ye'd stand
back and wash yer hands while some
poor divil whit to tn rope FIR it.
Where do we come in, is what I'd like
to know?"
"You are already in." snapped
Hatch. "You know what the big fell
low at the capital thinks about 1t,
and where you'll stand in the coming
election If you don't put out this fire
that Norcross is kindling. You're yell
low, Clanahan. That's all that Is the
matter with you"
'Tell me wan thing!" insisted the
divekeeper, boring the chief CRATER
with his pin-point eyes. do you stand
f'r it IL we do this thing up rightT
Hatch's eyes fell, and Henckel's big
body twisted uneasily III the chair that
was grooming under his beer-barrel
weight. There was silence for little
space, and 1 could feel the cold sweat
starting out all over me. hadn't
dreamed of stumbling upon anything
like this when started out to shadow
Kestler. They were actually plotting
to murder the boss!
It was Hatch who broke the still.
ness.
"It's up to you, Clanahan. and you
know It," he declared. you've had
your tip from the big fellow. The
railroad people must be made to get
into the fight in the coming election,
and get in on the right side. II they
don't; and If Norcross stays and keeps
his fire burning, you fellows lose out"
Clanahan sat back in his chair and
showed his hands into his pockets.
"Ye'd stirring me as If 1 was boy !"
he scofred. "'Tis your own game firm
first to last. Dye think I'm not know
ing that7 IT'S bread and butther and
tn big rake-ofr for you, and little ye
care how tn. election goes. Suppose
we'd croak this man in tn hot part
av tn p'litcal fight; what happens7
Half tn noospaypers In tn state d
play him up rr a martyr to tn cause
nv good governmint, and we'd all 60
to hell in hand-basket!"
was cramped and sore and one Of
my legs had gone to sleep, but I
couldn't have moved If I had wanted
to. Ny heart was skipping beats right
along while waited for Hatch's an
swer. When 1t came, the drumming
In my ears pretty nearly made me
lose 1t.
"Clanahan," he began, as cold as an
icicle. II didn't get you down here to
argue with you. You've bungled this
thing once, and for that reason you've
got 1t to do over again. We haven't
asked you to 'croak' anybody, as you
put 1t, and we are not asking it now"
'Tis id little you lack av asking
It," retorted the divekeeper.
.Listen." said Hatch, leaning for
ward with his hands on his knees.
Besides keeping cases on Norcross
here, we've been digging back into his
record q few lines. Every man has
bis sore spot. ifsyou can only find It,
Clanahan-just as you have yours.
What # should tell you that Norcross
70 wanted In another state-6or
crime? Before he came here he was
chief Of construction on the Oregon,
Aidland There was Q right-of-way