V?
THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: AUGUST G. 1916.
t;
The Grip of Evi
9$
Author of "Th Winga of tho Morning," "The Pillar of Light,'
"The Ternu of Surrender," "Number 17," Etc.
By LOUIS TRACY tbXt' f ,he S""e """" s
Copyright, ID HI. by Louis Tracy.
TV i
If n : I:
mv-t
FOURTH EPISODE.
The Looters. j
CHAPTER VII.
A Plunge Into Politics.
r.-jimci in which John Hurtini
:v j: qui ol Castlt'ton. J duped
itss" M .ilotu'v ami ln k
he told wuh bated breath lor
:ing, the M.it i- not . 1 ediMide
r. 1- or another,
to m:i h t ivilaU
:;c r i .Uni'intf
:o bin ton ititrlhtf rn
I here are Inniiatioiis
n colli jm int. 1 tu .
lecture in it s.tdd if.
:hat Maumey hur.M li
to, -It ,1 a- ar ho.h .
mi the ho. w.
V.trd
lu.it at 1m-
ilit i
tl:c t.ict
, (, .M I ,
n. an ;
lu th.it
e could
i lenient
be no ir.ar-net ot dn:lt u iuin cvet.
1 hour ulii' mi-Iikc! Jil't :-lit tlir
clr an -in in. led i m i teat men ami
WiMiici! wlm i.iii 1! !ouini m eeiv.
co;:in:miit conceded to M,ilone a
incaMiio ot rudm respect. He f
a genial, diicwd, tat M-ring scoundrel.
His wo!e- 'uva'iabh' woie bleep's i
cloth mti f!l the time came for uliat1
he ti i nu il ' .i how Mown." Kven !
lien ilie ihsmii-e a dropped his1
opporc nt i:e ei knew lietlier the ,
pack would snarl or fawn. In a word, I
M a lone 's Mrategy w as to keep the !
othci teliow uueing. hut. like tl - In - j
uildeted penei.iU whom the oiin.j
V.polenn brushed out of ln palii dm 1
m those wonderful 'tahan and ns- '
trian campaigns ol his rather i.irs, .
tin men who IoukI'I Malom wru ,
apt to imd tlu-ir.M U cs beaten". itli a.
sudden and luttM diMoncei tmj; ion:
pleteness, though, on looking hack
through the inoids ol thr campaign, i
they could never determine Hi" I whin
or how the lata! Mow a deltveie.l
Thus, when a wave of reform suem
over the town in which Hurton had
established liimself. and a well-mean-'
itiR citieu named Kiamer was Humi
liated for tlie mayoralty, it was i there's no time to lose
! mv
19$ kX
'TIL not de-
am due to afldress
ment?" lie said, smiling.
tain him, as 1
meeting during the dinner hour at the
woolen nulls.
"vio nht in, Mr. Hurton." said
with an answering smile. "There
is a lady inside, but 1 think she wants
to ijtiamd, so an interruption may be
helpful."
As John opened tlie floor, a babel
of anry voices was still'. d. Parkins
was tne first to reeover Ins composure.
"tilad to sec you, Mr. hurton," he
said. Then he indicated Mrs. Kctchum
with a snniH Ri'tn. '
"This lady is otic of your ardent j
supporters. She's a prominent suf-
lranette. and. as you know, is firmly,
convinced that we men are a mighty i
bad lot."
John bowed to the curious-looking
person whom he was now meeting for
the first time.
"At any rate, you may feel sure,
madam," he said, "that if I'm elected.
I shall do everything that lies in my
power fur the protection and social ,
advancement of your sex."
gave me a clip behind the ear that
put me out of business."
John heard with amazement, but
could not refuse to credit the fright
ened boy's veracity.
ArratiKritiK hurried! v with another
speaker to take bis place, Hurton made
enment came when Maloney turned
on Parkins and was about to consign
him to destruction.
Parkins was rescued with difficulty.
Some cooler heads decided that he
could be dealt with more effectually
later. In the midst of the turmoiL
Jim Carter rushed in. The boy was
U 1 1 . 1 Illy I C.U IKU IdlH ViIIHi 5 , , i-f f .1
ment just as the hed room door ..as P11'."" disfigured from the injnrie.
vieMino- tn Parkin1 violence. The received wnen sirucK oy tne cnr, pui
man had now aroused lumselt to
state of bestial fury. No sooner was
he aware of Hurton's entrance than
he was wildly excited, and hia voice,
cracked as he shouted at Burton:
"What's this I hear about my tl-
to a climax, once and tor all. bxerting
his reat strength to the utmost, he
wrenched himsell tree, delivered
JOHN SAVES JANE FROM TER KINS.
Maloney s subtle brain which siik
Bested a really effective counter
stroke. The "bos'," knew well that
laimess on the part of honest (oik i
alone permits any comimmiiv t o be
run bv a tfanir ot disi einil.ilde poli
ticians. 1'eople simply letiise to be
bothered bv attention to niiii:icin;il :
details. Thev endure the lesser evil'
I'll have in
stenoRrapheH, and you'll hear me
pkiy up this sucker lop all he s worth.
lie toil, lied .. bell and a young
oinaii ciitned She was a delicate
Kill. thin, pallid, and seemingly over
wot ked. but Ihi c.uiieo-like teatures
and the lisoiiie ease ot her move
.incuts showed that under other con
i ..i i.. i. .i.i
ot hemg judiciously tleeced rather lnalk.lhlv K,H, U,I1(,. ,sle co,.Khed
ban devote days and mshts to the a, 1C 5,1,1,, slkl..a,)fn aos
thankless ami unremunerative labor ! , of . ,,.,. r0ildu.(1 her gs.
ot public Inc. , ' ,. . . i
Sooner or later, however, some I At (irst not man piesent paid the
peculiarly scandalous act, or a crusade ! ii,'Khtcst '"i' '1 h,'r- A c,met oi
i-irri.l i,v !,...:,-,:, r..-..- 1 loungers w hose net were cocked on
a niril in -i 1( ,., ll,- UllC table did Hot .
inrhoaie mi d.-.dr tl,,t , lo remove Ihem. Hank l'arkin
oi tne ward-heelers must lie broken. ! V;'1
.such a power, of course, is irresistibl
ind Malonev was the last man
earth to defy the lightning.
He recognued the symptoms of the
impending revolt. Preachers, editors,
earnest-eyed young men who pre-
lerred Christian bnueavor or pleasau
onsider it necessary
how-
who was by way oi being a
ladv-killer, rose with a smile, o(tered
his chair, and cleared a space on the
table for the girl's notebook.
Of course, she had to be accom
modated somewhere, so Parkins' ac
tion might have been merely one of
expediency. The girl, however, did
Sunday afternoons to wide-open sa-1 not meet his glance, but slipped quiet
loons and gambling hells, were be
coming increasingly active and out
spoken. Their energies seemed to
center around Kramer, a big, loud
voiced, breezy sort of man who said
quite plainly that if he were mayor
the town would be run straight by its
officials or he would know the reison
why.
Now, a weaker potentate thin
Malcney would have fought the re
formers by every evil and under
handed device at his command, and, in
the result, the professional politician
would have been bady beaten.
Maloney had weathered political
storms before, but he sized this one
up as a moral hurricane. At he could
not hope to face the gale, he decided
to run with it In plain English, he
came out boldly as a more thorough
going reformer than Kramer himself.
Of course, he personally could not
appear in the open. That would be
too obvious a joke. No sheep ever
raised was big enough to provide a
fleece that would cover a wolf of
Maloney's hulk, so he looked around
for the right sort of candidate, and
selected none other than John Burton.
John was endowed with all the es
sentials. He was a fine orator. -He
could talk to working men in the
language they understood. He ap
preciated the nature of their joys and
sorrows. He knew what it meant to
toil long hours for inadequate pay.
Above all, he was a visionary, and
well calculated to stampede an elect
orate away from the sane, moderate,
practical, common sense platform
put forward by Kramer.
In his negotiations with Burton,
' therefore, Maloney was suave as a
bishop and plausible as a corporation
lawyer. The pit;- was that John could
not hear and see the "boss'' throned
in the midst of the scoundrels who
fattened -on the city's finances.
A typical scene w.-.s that at which
John's name was first put forward
for the mayoralty. Prior to the meet
ing, which consisted of a few coun
cilmen, mostly of the saloonkeeper
class, Maloney had instructed his
partner, Hank Parkins, that ' the mar
quis" was to be staged as a candi
date. It was a marked characteristic
of the man that he worked mainly
through his lieutenants. Hence. Park
ins was given the credit of making
the proposition itself. Maloney was
only to approve it dubiously at first,
but with growing enthusiasm.
"Yes." agreed the big man, affect
ing to debate the suggestion seriously.
"Burton might be all right. He is
young, good looking, and fool enough
to believe what he says. He's popu
lar with the working people, and
these here suffragettes remember,
boys, we must keep an eye on them
will take him to their maidenly
bosoms at once. And then, he is as
rich as sin. and will come across with
a big check for campaign expenses."
The speaker quelled the murmur of
approval which greeted this remark
by hammering the table with a huge
fist.
"Don't get up in the air until you've
chewed on this thing, and understand
what it really means." he rumbled.
"This is to be a re(orm camnaicn.
Down with vice I Down with graft 1
Uown with boojel Down with every
thing that's any fun and worth while,
and hooray (or solid respectability 1
Do you get me? Is it a go?"
Sure thing! These men had faith
in Maloney's leadership. They might
be puzzled as ttl the means, but were
absolutely certain as to the end. No
matter how the battle began the
"boss" would come out of it with the
other fellow's scalp, and his wad as
well.
"Well," went on their chief, rolling
a fat cigar from one side to the other
of a capacious mouth, "if we're, agreed
ly into the chair.
Maloney noted both his partner's
smirk ami the girl's aloofness with an
amused twinkle of his bulging blue
eyes. He knew lull well that Parkins
was discreet and might be trusted not
to interiere with one ot tlie (irms
employes. . At least, such bad been
his attitude hitherto. Hut Maloney
missed nothing, and the slightest in
cident was registered for iuture guid
ance.
He plunged at once into the busi
ness in hand, and dictated the letter
which was to draw John Burton into
the net. It was literally astounding
that such a man could evolve the flow
of moral sentiments which now
tickled the ears of his supporters.
When the screed was finished, the
girl was asked to read it and her
clear, well-bred accents struck a
bizarre note in that leprous gathering.
The fresh, pure voice actually lent
conviction to Maloney's high-sounding
periods.
"That'll do the trick," shouted the
"bos," slapping a fat knee gleefully.
"Off you go, now, boys, and make
the crowd wise to the new move. See
you blow in tomorrow about the
same time. Call me a Dutchman if
Mr. Goody-Goody Burton isn't here
on the tick to meet us."
Jane Carter had nearly finished
typing the letter when the door of the
outer office opened, and her brother
came in. She did not seem very
pleased to see him, which was not al
together surprising, because Jim Car
ter, though resembling his sister in
some respects, was as dissolute look
ing as she was pretty. In him a de
plorable weakness of character had
taken the place of the girl's charm
ing feminity.
tie began at once to whine a com
plaint that he could never get a job
if deprived of a little money for his
everyday expenses. At last, to get
rid of him, Jane took her purse out of
a drawer and handed over a couple oi
dollar bills.
"That's no use to me," be grumbled.
"I can blow in a couple of bucks in an
hour, treating fellows. It won't do me
a bit of trood.'1
"N.-ne of the men you treat are of
any use to you, Jim," came the sad
protest.
"What do you know about it, any
how?" he rctoried.
"Not much, perhaps, but I really
cannot spare you another cent. You
have left me barely sufficient" tn pay
the week's expenses."
"Jim shrugged bis shoulders, lit a
cigarette, and. seeing ttiat his sister
meant what she said, went out. Xeither
ot the two knew that Parkins bad
stopped short when about to come
in from the inner office He bad heard
and was seemingly impressed by their
brief conversation.
Jane started slightly as the junior
partner crept up behind her unex
pectedly. "That was your brother, wasn't it,
Miss Carter?" he inquired.
"Yes," she faltered, thinking it best
to be candid. He has not been at
work lately, and I have to help him
a little. You see, a young man really
must have some money in his
pocket."
Parkins, meaning to all apearances
only to be sympathetic, laid a hand
on her arm.
"Send your brother to me tomor
row, and I'll find him a job," he said
quietly.
The girl, who had shrunk from
his tokch, now faced him impulsively
and began to stammer some words
of thanks.
"Oh, don't speak of it," he said
genially. "I'll do more than that fir
you when the chance offers."
anxious and miserable. She had not
seen her brother since the previous
message and could not guess what
had become of him.
She was at work in the office when
John Hurton entered.
He sei-iued to bring with him a
1 l.ieath (-f wholesome air. His very
1 smile was a tonic. And, to her grati
I lieatioii, be recognized her. After a
slight start of surprise he advanced
to the stenographer's desk and held
out bis hand.
"I didn't expect to meet you here,
Miss Carter," he said. "1 have been
wondering what became of you and
your brother since your father's death.
I was sure you had left the city."
Jane flushed, but did not lose her
self-possession. It was kind of the
millionaire to remember her, though
their last meeting had been under
happier circumstances.
Parkins, who had watched the pro
ceeding with astonishment, now led
John into the chief's sanctum. The
new candidate was promptly introdu
ced to his supporters, whom he cer
tainly found a somewhat queer-look-crowd,
but whose unconditional
promises and tine sentiments were
beyond criticism.
Maloney undertook that under
John's leadership every joint and dive
in the city would be closed, every
bad man hunted out, and every
grafter dismissed!
"You understand, of course, Mr.
Burton,'1 he went on, pressing the
tips of his fat lingers together, and
pursing his sensual lips in an ex
pression of much gravity," we reform
ers are usually poor men. A fight
like this cannot be conducted without
considerable expense, and I ought to
tell you here and now that you mustn't
know just how all the money's ex
pended. Will you start our fund with
a check?"
"Certainly," agreed John. "For
how much?
"Oh, to begin with, say $10,000."
John was somewhat taken aback
when the amount was named, but
Maloney was a cold-blooded proposi
tion if ever there was one, and met
the younger man's glance without
flinching.
"1 like a square deal, Mr. Burton."
he said. "Ten thousand dollars may
sound a lot. but it will cost you more
CHAPTER VIII.
Disillusionment.
A brief interview with the chief of
police resulted in young Carter be
ing set at liberty. The boy had been
drinking in a low-class saloon, was
caught in a fight between ,i i al gangs,
and was arrested when the police
came. As is usual in such cases, the
principals escaped; only tlie weaklings
and those who were knoeked out in
the row remained to be made an ex
ample of.
Parkins brought the boy borne to
his sister, who received him with
tears, yet flung her arms around him
in sheer joy at his rescue. Jim,
though sullen and embarassed, was
not altogether bad. He realized that
his sister had saved him from very
serious consequences, and was mind
ed to promise now that his conduct
would be better in the future. Park
ins watched the scene with an air
of respectful sympathy until, in his
opinion, the time had arrived when
he might deepen the good impression
his action had already created.
He gently disengaged Jane's arms
from her brother's neck, led her to
a chair, and patted her on the
shoulder.
"There is nothing to worry about
now," he said. "Your brother's name
will be struck out of the record, and
I have not forgotten my promise to
give him a job. He can start tomor
row collecting accounts for me. You
see, knowing you as 1 do, I feel that
any relative of yours must be thor
oughly trustworthy. So I'll fix Jim
in a responsible position straight
away."
The girl was convinced now that
the junior partner in the firm of Ma
loney & Parkins was a very fine man
indeed. True, some strange things
had come to her notice in the course
of her duties at the office. But she
had not been long engaged in busi
ness, and was ready to persuade her
self that certain crude people re
quired to be dealt with on lines that
differed greatly from the accepted
standards among those of good re
pute. Moreover, it was reassuring to
find a man like Mr. Burton work
ing hand-in-glove with the weird
creatures who formed the political
associates of her employers.
Matters progressed quietly for a
few days. Some of the genuine re-
than that to run for mayor of this i tormers ot tne town visueci jo.in, out
eitv. Hut it's worth ill Mv l',n,ll if, ! he was able to convince them that
worth it!"
John laughed carelessly.
1 had no idea that the reform
movement would prove so expen
sive," he said. "You gentlemen must
pardon my ignorance, in such matters."
Without any word of protest he
I "Boss" Maloney had really changed
his coat, and was now striving with
might and main to purify the life of
the city. Three or four notorious sa
loons had been closed, one or two
gambling dens raided and the pro
prietors and frequenters held in bail
lor trial, while a set ot gunmen had
took out his checkbook and sat down j ''f en chfsed out.,oi, the c,'y-
at the table. Maloney, in his own I
pnrase, never batted an eyelid, but
two of the gang were so overcome
with emotion that they had to leave
tne room has
Men who had known Maloney tor
years were perplexed and suspicious,
but necessarily muzzled. John him
self was enthusiastic.
"Set a thief to catch a thief," he
A little later 'Maloney and Parkins 1u0,ed whcn "n"niA oi the man's
were about to escort their dupe to! I'"V10US recc.ro.
his waiting car when a tough look- ln ,a orl1' ,h,e f,s,Ute bSfS h,?d
in ir nerson annexed in the. nt,r complete y mixed the issues for the
The following aiternoon Jane was stenographer.
office and asked the girl if she was
Miss Jane Carter.
"Yes," she said. "What is it?"
The man seemed to bethink him
self, and took off a greasy cap, but
only to secure a note bidden therein.
It was addressed to the girl in her
brother's handwriting. She read it.
uttered a heartbroken cry, and fell
back in her chair.
At that moment the three men
came from the inner office, and were
naturally concerned at the girl's mani
fest distress. Parkins, sharp-eyed as
a ferret, saw the note, wlucii was
written in pencil on a scrap of soiled
paper. He picked it up and did not
scruple to read it. It ran:
"Dear Jane: I am in the Mulberry
street jail and it's a frame-up. See
if you can't get me a lawyer. Your
loving brother, Jim."
Parkins gave the unhappy girl a
quick and speculative glance. Then
he laid a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about this, Jane." he
said quietly. "I'll get your brother
out in less than no time. As you are
naturally upset, you had better go
home for the rest of the day."
He did not even wait for a word
of gratitude, but hurried away as
though eager to effect the young rep
robate's release. John offered to take
the girl home in his car, and the stout
Maloney himself hustled forward with
her hat and coat.
The scene was quite touching. Here,
at least, was an auspicious beginning
for a mayoral candidate's struggle
against evil! John was frankly pleased
with the firm of Malonev & Parkins.
and deeply interested in their pretty
forthcoming election, and was bam
boozling a section of the community
which would have destroyed his in
fluence had it joined forces with the
supporters of Kramer.
Burton was su taken up with his
new interests in life that he allowed
himself to be humbugged courage
ously. 1 he genuine and unaiectedly
hearty receptions he was given by
working class audiences literally
blinded him to other teatures of his
candidatme.
l ite most egregious instance of the for help.
John dodged quickly and avoided the
heavy missile, but Jim Carter was not
so iucky and was knocked almost
senseless. The two men closed forth
with in a fearsome struggle. Burton
was bigger and stronger than his op
ponent, but Parkins, maddened with
drink and animal nassion. entered the
I fray with such vicious fury that for a
I minute or more the conibalanls met
on equal terms.
voluble person on earth, seemed to be!, i f room was iiie.aiiy wreoe, oe-
sii-ni-k .liiiii h. She intiinb ed sume-l""1 1 ml 11 ic.m,
thing when John stretched out a frank
i i -...i ,i i, L;it -, n
I .'.. i: ;.,,,i ..-i,n w
Policy and the candidate ran through j mighty punch and Parkins went down
I a list of names together, W ben liur
i Inn bad left the room, however, she
i recovered her speech.
"Whart's all this funny business
'about.'" she demanded acidly. "Why
were you stringing me about being a
1 suffragette?"
"That's the new mayor," said Par
kins. "He's a wise guy and no mis
take. Xow, you come across, and see
what we'll do for you when the elec
tion is through."
Mrs. Ketchum realized that some
deep game was being played, but
thought it best to fall in with the
powers that be. With a final growl,
she paid. Parkins, guessing that Jane
and Burton were talking in the outer
office, escorted Mrs. Ketchum politely
to the door. He was just in time to
see Jane Carter entering the marquis'
car, w hile her brother was exchanging
a word with both of them, and evi
dently well pleased at finding his sis
ter in such company.
Parkins scowled. The growing
friendship between the mayor-elect
and tlie pretty stenographer did not
suit Ins purpose at all. rie must nave
a heart-to-heart talk with Jane be
fore election day.
The election was fixed for a Tues
day, and the rival parties naturally
focused every ettort on the preceding
day. True to his methods, 'Boss
Maloney left much ot tne outward or
visible control to his lieutenant. Thus
Parkins raced about the city in an
automobile, while Maloney remained
the oftice, and expostulated, argued
with, soothed or bounced the various
maleiactors who came to him in trepi
dation because of the era of civic re
form which seemed to have set m
with such remarkable severity.
Parkins, swaggering about in the
limelight, was literally compelled to
drink more than usual. As the day
wore, he became tipsy, and a casual
glimpse of Jane Tarter tripping home
ward after she had left the office in
duced amorous thoughts. At the first
opportunity, therefore, he drove to
her apartment house.
On the way he passed Burton, who
was delivering an impassioned ha
rangue to a number of workingmen at
a street corner. Among the audience,
flashily attired and open-mouthed
with surprise, was Mts. Ketchum.
Now, for the first time, she was learn
ing John Burton's real sentiments,
vet she knew him as the intimate as
sociate of Maloney and Parkinsl Small
wonder, therefore, that Mrs. Ketchum
and her like should fail to appreciate
the true position of affairs, and Par
kins had good reason for the sardonic
laugh with which he greeted the spec
tacle. To his delight, Jane was alone in
her flat. She greeted him very pleas
antly, being still most grateful to him
for the kindness shown to herself and
the friendly assistance he had given
her brother. He did not leave her
long in doubt as to the object of his
visit.
"I'm fed up on politics, Jane," he
said thickly. "They're all right for a
time, but today I'm bored stift, and
1 felt 1 must seek a little relaxation,
You don't mind my coming to see
you, do you?"
"No," she said timidly. "Why should
I? You have been so good to my
brother."
"Never mind your brother, Jane,"
he leered. "It's you I want now.
You're the one woman in the bunch
that I really care about. Come here
and I'll whisper to you." '
He grabbed her by the shoulders
and tried to kiss her. Wresting her
self free with a startled cry, the girl
endeavored to reach the door. Par
kins followed, telling her that she was
"a coy little devil," but he would get
her now for sure. He caught her be
fore she could tear the door open and
crushed her forcibly in his arms. She
was screaming loudly, and resisting
with the frenzy of despair, when her
brother entered unexpectedly.
Jim Carter might be a weak-minded
youth, and somewhat given to disso
lute companions, but he could not see
his sister struggling in the arms of a
drunken brute and remain unmoved.
For the moment, too. Parkins was dis
concerted, and released the girl, who
appealed hysterically to her brother
he sensed the object of this unfore-I terr w nat nave you ooncwun nerr
sen interruption and tried to put a i "Your sister is all right," said John
summary stop to any attempted parley I calmly.
by hiirluii! a chair at tlie newcomer
She's being well looked
after. I put her in the care of Mrs.
Ketchum."
"Mrs. Ketchum!" screamed the lad.
"What sort of fool can you be? Don't
you know that Mrs. Ketchum keept
the most notorious dive in the city
and pays these scoundrels $100 a
moil th for police protection?"
John turned on Maloney.
"Is this true?" he demanded with
a cold fury that might have brought
a warning at any other time to the
experienced "boss." But Maloney
was beside himself with rage.
"Get out of this, you psalm-singing
sucker!" he bellowed. "I'm sick ot
you and your Hilly Sunday notions!
Get out, I tell you, while the goin's
t
like a stone. good!
By this time Jane was overcome i " was not fear of Maloney or hu
with terror. She wept bitterly and j crew that drove John headlong to his
could not control herself, even when i waiting car. He was almost unnerved
John's protecting arm was annual with loathing and apprehension. Ho
her shoulders. The mere sight of I could hardly credit that he could have
Parkins King insensible on the floor
seemed to shake the wils out of her.
Seizing her hat and coat, she ran out
of the building, and Burton could do
nothing hut follow her. wondering
where she was going and how he
was to restore her self-possession.
At that unlucky moment he saw
Mrs. Ketchum coming down the
street, and, remembering that she
was reputedly a leader of the suf
fragist party, decided that he might
safely intrust the frightened girl to
her care.
There never was a woman more
perplexed than the keeper of a no
torious dive when the mayoral can
didate introduced Jane and began a
hasty explanation.
"This young lady, as you see, is
very greatly upset," he said. "It
will be a personal favor to me if you
will take her to your house and safe
guard her there until other arrange
ments can be made."
At that, though tongue-tied with
astonishment, Mrs. Ketchum thought
she understood. She nodded agree
ment, whereupon John hailed a taxi,
put the women inside and handed the
driver some money. But the fog of
doubt was rapidly evaporating in
Mrs. Ketchum's brain. All men were
alike, she reflected, so she favored
John with a knowing wink as the
vehicle drove off, thereby mystifying
him greatly until he remembered that
suffragettes, like the Pharisees, are
not as other people.
Meanwhile, Parkins slowly re
covered his senses. The fight and the
knockout had partially cleared his
drink-sodden wits, and the one thing
he craved for now was revenge.
Every other consideration yielded to
the demand that his powerful and
seemingly successful rival should be
humiliated.
He avoided both Maloney and Bur
ton. The former thought him busy
rounding up the "boys." The latter
was too engrossed in election work
to think of causing a row between
the partners at that crisis. Moreover,
he allowed for the fact that Parkins
was drunk, and had been punished
sufficiently already.
So a vindictive scoundrel was left
free to work out his desperate plan.
At the psycholological moment he
rushed around to Burton's support
ers with the specific instruction that
theif candidate was to be "turned
down."
"It's the "boss' " orders," he in
sisted, when met with blank amaze
ment. "You've got to switch every
man to Kramer. Don't let a vote go
to Burton if you can help it."
Now. this change of front, though
wholly unexpected that day, savored
of Maloney's methods. Not only had
such a thing happened before in a
city election, but Burton's candida
ture, with its extraordinary demand
for purity in public life, had bewil
dered every grafter and ward-heeler
who had prospered for years under
Maloney's rule.
It was assumed instantly that Kra
mer and the "boss" had come to
terms, with the result that Burton
was to be side-tracked. The work
was to be done, too, swiftly and si
lently. None must know of the new
policy until the election was a set
tled thing, while, of course, there
could not be the slightest question
of disputing the right of Parkins to
speak for his chief.
Therefore, the most surprised man
in that part of America was "Boss"
Maloney himself when the votes were
counted and revealed a landslide for
Kramer.
Instantly a scene of terrific excite
ment broke out in Maloney's office.
For once in his life the man dropped
his sphinxlike attitude and rained
vituperation on the astonished dupes
been so befooled by circumstances.
Dragging Jim Carter with him, he
urged the chauffeur to travel at top
speed.
But the would-be rescuer arrived
too late. The hapless girl, awaking
from a stuper of terror and exhaus
tion only to find herself a prisoner
in a house where no decent woman
might live, had thrown herself from
the topmost story. John and her
brother reached the place only in time
to see a crowd gathered around some
misshapen object on the pavement.
It was in such wise that Burton's
scheme of regenerating mankind by
political reform came to an end.
Seldom, indeed, had any man ever
been given more convincing reasons
for the dread belief that humanity is
in the grip of evil.
(End of Fourth Episode.)
Flies, Heat and
Dust Stop Fights
On Mesopotamia
(Correapondcnee of Th AMoeta.te4 Preu.)
British Headquarters in Mesopota
mia, July 29. Flies, heat and dust,
the three principal plagues of Meso
potamia, are what have stopped the
fighting for the- last several months
in this theater of the great war.
Flics are so thick that soldiers say
it is impossible to keep them out of
their food. A squadron of cavalry
coming down a road looked as if they
were wearing chain armor. When
they came close enough it was found
that what looked like mail was the
steely blue metallic mesh of flies.
At night the flies disappear ar.d the
mosquitoes and sand-flies relieve
them. Many species bite or sting.
The thermometer runs up to 130
degrees in a tent All the men wear
a sunguard over their helmet and a
spine pad, for a person can get sun
stroke here through the small of the
back.
The persistent hot wind it better
than complete stillness, though it
flings sand and dust in the faces of
the men, who eat sand, breathe sand,
tie in sand, have sand in their ears,
eyes and clothes.
There are different kinds of heat-Ti
the moist and tropical heat of the
swamps of the Euphrates and the
Shat-al-Arab, the parched and desert
heat of the Tigris and the Karun.
Each variety has its attendant Insects
and peculiar ailments, which often
take the form of boils and eruptions.
Disease has incapacitated more troops
than bullets.
Chinese Pirates Board
Schooner and Murder Crew
(Correspondence of The AeeocUted Preie.)
Tokio, July 25. The Japanese lega
tion at Bangkok reports that a
Malayan schooner laden with salt was
boarded off Minala recently by Chi
nese pirates, who massacred the entire
crew with the exception of two, who
saved themselves by swimming ashore
The Siamese government dispatched
a gunboat in search of the murderers.
1
Austria Preparing for
Another Winter Campaign
(OnrrRpon1enee of The Ansoclated Preee.)
Amsterdam, July 26. War office
advertisements appearing in Vienna
newspapers indicate that preparations
are being made in Austria-Hungary
for another winter campaign. Ten-
ders are invited for th cnnnl,, tf
who thought they had-been obeying furs an() woolen goods of all kinds
his orders. John Burton, of course. , for the protection of the troops
was saddened and distressed by an al-: against cold. Deliveries must be
most phenomenal failure, but cnlight-1 made before September 15.
i
fotlv he was tfinlty ot at this time
was his childish acceptance of every
thing said by Mah-ncy. For instance.
Jim Carter's colhctnilnp consisted ot
nothing more or less than the levying
of blackmail in tlie red-iig.it district.
One ot the most notorious character:
lim came forward, probably mean-'
ing to do little more than utter a pro- ;
test, but Parkins, enraged at the inter- ;
ierence oi this jackal, struck him a ,
violent blow in the face, which to
frightened the boy that he ran out.!
Jane, however, succeeded in reaching i
tneretn. a woman who rejoiced in the : her bed room and locking the door,
appropriate name of Mis. Kctchum
resented the amount of her assess
ment and called in person at the office
of Maloney & Parkins to give tlie
firm a bit of her mind. She was re
ceived bv lane Carter, who did not
But Parkins was not to be denied. He '
rushed at the door, pounded viciously !
on the panels, and told Jane that if
she did not come out he would smash
the lock.
Meanwhile Jim Carter's one thought
like her manner or appearance, and was to secure the help of someone
was correspondingly surprised wnen whose influence would be sutticiently
Maloney indicated that Mrs. Kctchum 1 powerful that his employer would be
must be admitted at once. Parkins compelled to desist from the folly
was present, too, ana a nrsi-ciass row : which seemed to have overtaken him,
sprang up almost before Jane could
close the door.
The incident was driven from her
mind, however, when John Burton en
tered. He had seen her several times
since their tirst meeting- had even
lent her a horse to ride and was ap
parently wishful to make life pleas
ant for her in many ways. Just now,
however, he was up to the neck in
elcct'cn) matters.
An appeal to the police would be
worse than useless, but Button was
talking at no great distance. He was
the man! Parkins would not dare
face him I So Jim forced his way
through the crowd, nor did he hesitate
to stop John in the middle of a sen
tence and mutter in his ear:
"Come quick, for God's sake!" he
hissed broken I v. "Parkins is mad
drunk and chasing lane around her
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