THE HIGH HAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10767, 16 May 1911, Page 6

THE HIGH HAND.

(By Jacques Futrelle.) (Continued.; XI. With his gaze immovably fixed upon some trivial ornament of his desk, his mouth set, liis hands clenched, Lewis was giving orders sharply through deed ro th. J-'ianqiies was jotting thorn doun ill notes on the back of an eld envelope. There was an air 01 humility about Franques, an oily deieieiici- in his tone, an obsequiousness in iii.s manner, which were belied by rile evil glitter of his beady eyes and tii" sardonic twist of his thin lips. It v.-as ail lost upon Lewis. For hini there iciaaiti.-d only one thought, one idea in the world —to crush .Jim Warren. He'd given him, Lewis, a week to get used to the idea of withdrawing! An ultimatum ! It was a bluff, of-course! Nobo-'y had heard their conversation, therefore A bluff—and a crude one at that. "Sea Big Tom Simmonds this morning," Lewis -was saying, "and tell him I want Jim Warren's name Jkopt out of the caucus of his machine at any cost." "Yes,.sir," said Franques. "Tell him, further, that-Jim Warren must- not be so much as mentioned in the primaries. I'll look after my end; I'll expect him to look after his." " v es, sir." "Tell, him, also, that tinder these conditions the deal I talked over with him the other day is on, if he's willing—that is, he is to have the mayor and council in return for his machine's support of:me against Warren."' Franques looked up in surprise._ "That's a fat price you're paying," lie ventured. "No comments," Lewis snarled. "Do as 1 say.'.' "Yes, sir." Franques' lips turned -11 r.liflitly. at the corners. "That' 3 =11?" "That's all." TliCre was joy around Big Tom Simbonds' throne when Franques brought the glad tidings. It had been something like four years since Big Tom had been compelled to loosen his grip on "V'.rburton's throat —four lean, _ hungry •.•enr->— nnd bis fingers were itching. ■">11 Lewis he's on," was his cliarac- : tic reply. ' "My machine would nominate the devil himself in caiicus if T know we could put over the mayor rnrl council!"

Lewis received the message in silence, then sat down to wait. It was Jim Warren's move.' What would it be? The production of more photographs? He shuddered at the thought. Day after day passed and no more photographs appeared. Slowly but surely a nervous elation took' possession cf Lewis. Of course no more photographs appeared, for the simple reason that Jim Warren had no niore! After all it had only been an assumption of Franqnos that all the papers in the safe had beei< copied. The conjecture soothed him; confidence came back. Of course he'd beat Jim Warren. Two or three newspapers and half a dozen labor organisations had declared for W T arren, but even at that he'd bet Warren with Sim-rends' support. "fie put a question to Franques one day: the answer still further restored his belief in the future.

" ,Yhv is Jim Warren holding off?" "To a man tip a tree it would seem he's holding off because he has no more photographs," Franques. replied, with a shrug of his dusty shoulders. "Of course there may be other reasons, but that is the obvious answer."

"[ suppose there's 110 earthly way to get hold of them if lie has?" tcntativelv. "I'd be afraid to try again—he d shoot the next man," Franques declared. "Besides, if he has 110 more, what's the use?" . . The week passed, and Jim Warren had failed to make good on liis iiltima- . u::i. Lewis laughed outright With rei:..f and from that moment began his big planning for the fight that was to ro:ni'. While Jim Warren was aiound' talking from the tail of a tip-cart to the men who toiled he would open his campaign with a rally that wouid .'•mother all that had gone before or would come after. He'd bring Lieuteu-:";t-Governor Hope and United States S-iiaior l''ynos and Speaker Tillinghast down to Warburton from the capital and smash Jim Warren once for all! Meanwhile, some night, he'd run around in his automobile and—unobserved himself —look over this crowd of Jim Warren's. It might be interestIt was a night or so later that Jim Warren took a running jump through Lewis' dream, like a circus performer through a paper hoop. He laid aside the popgun with which he had been campaigning and unmasked his thir- :• en-inch. battery. Lewis and his henchman, Franques, tucked away behind the closely drawn curtains of an automobile standing near, were there and heard. "Boys," Jim Warren began, with that a'uiazical grin of his; "it's all over but the shouting. To-morrow Francis Everard Lewis is going to withdraw in my favor. At the caucus of Ms machine next week Francis E. Lewis, in person, will present my name and make me the candidate of his party instead of himself. pf e doesn't know it yet, but he'!!_do it." "Is this man an idiot. - ' Lewis growied. Franoues didn't say. "With you fellows and the indorsement of his machine no earthly power enn stop me: and his machine wili indorse me. whether it likes or- not —it will indorse me because Francis Everard Lewis is its boss and he'll tell it to."' Whereupon, quietly and succintlv, Jim Warren detailed the conditions of the deal by which Simmonds was to have the mayor and council in return for his support of Lewis for the Legislature. Lewis squirmed uneasily. There hadn't been a hint of this in the •'die prints. How did Jim Warren it.? " , "You can search me!" Franques anFollowing this Jim Warren commented at some length upon that splendid economy by which Lewis, in ten years, had saved enough out of his salary of eight hundred dollars a year to build ten tenement houses and still liav money in'bank." '•Of course," Jim Warren grinned, '•it might not have been merely economy. It is barely possible that th'"s affidavit may have some bearing." From his pocket he produced a bank record, with an affidavit attached, showing that the octopus had once loaned a trifling sum of fifty thousand dollars to Lewis on an unendorsed demand note that bore on its back the magical words: "No protest "and no interest:" That note, dated fbur years before, had been charged off against the account of the octopus. Lewis swayed,' felt'himself slipping and seized Franques' arm with damn, chilled fingers. Franques looked at-him and'was Silent. "Oh. you Jim Wairen!" came out of the cro'.vd in the' voice of old Bob Allaire. "Go to him, boy!" Jim Warren laughed and produced from a suit case on the tip-cart--behind him a phonograph-which, iii the_thunderous clamor followingupon his last .statement, lie deliberately adjusted and s"t up on a box. Lewis stored, stared with his eyes almost bursting from his head. Jim Warren turned to the throng, with one'hand upon the lever of the phonograph; the flambeaux lighted his face, tensely earnest now. _ """Here is why Francis Everard Lewis is going, quit," he screamed suddenly. "Listen to tlie manner of man he is! Judge him by his own words! The first voice is mine!" ' "You want me to quit.-"' grated the machine. That "was Jim Warren. "Now, Lewis!" Jim Warren shouted. "Well, it's unfortunate that we should be opposed," came from the phonograph in Lewis' smooth, suave voice. "Matters might have been adjusted in another way if I had only understood. Now. if you oad proceeded in the regular way White as chalk, with Strang lines veined across his face. Lewis leaned forward and spoke to the ohaultc'.ir. The car sped away. There was dead silence 111 the erowfl save for the light whir 01 the phonograph and the thin pining voices tmu were born of it —dead silence to ilie end of that interview in Jim "Warrens private office, and then—chaos! I poll th" =houlders of his fellows .Tim barrenvn. hoiked and borne through the streets. The surging mob halted traffic. i.'Pivd :'t tile .staying hands of the police, hooted Lewis and raised tile name of Jim Warren to the skies. From a darkened window of his apartments in the Hotel Stanton Lewis looked down upon the crowd in the

street and knew that tlie cud bad come. His power was broken; be was being butchered to make a Roman holiday—this red-headed Warren person was an idol; he had beaten him. Lewis, at. his own game —trickery! He wondered if Warren would go further! If he might, perchance, in the first flush of exultation. proceed to criminal prosecution! He .shuddered!

There came a knock at tile door. Lewis whirled with a poignant apprehension of danger. Perhaps the police were there now! His teeth snapped; be opened the door. Some newspaper men wanted to .see him. The door crashed in their faces. . . . After a while be thought of Edna. She must not know! . . ! . He called Tillinghast on the long-distance. • Don't let Edna see to-morrow's newspapers!" he pleaded over the wire. "What's the matter?" asked Tillingliast, bewildered. "What's happened?" "Don't let her see them —you'll know whv when you see them!"

Next morning Franques, meek, unemotional, brought in the newspapers and the early mail. '

"Come back at noon," Lewis directed.

"Yes, sir." Fraiiques vanished, as silently as lie had come. Lew-is opened; the newspapers with unsteady; hands. There it was.! .He read it without comment. . . There was some mail too. One envelope bore the mark of the Atlas Plough Works. He opened it: Will it be necessary ..for me.to go further? Will you .quit? Will your machine endorse me? Or shall I proceed to criminal .prosecution ? , . 1 . ; . James Palmer Warren.

Dwight Tillinghast raised his eyes to those of his daughter across, the breakfast table. .

"I heard from Lewis last night just before twelve," lie remarked,. * "Yes" —eagerly. "He called me up by long-distance to ask me not to let you read to-day's newspapers." . Edna arched'her brows in perplexity, and- held the cdffee-pot' suspended in mid-air.

"Why not?" she queried. "Because" : — : Tillinghast paused to clear his throat —"Because—well, there are many things in politics you would not understand, my dear. Last night, for instance, a very bitter and very violent attack was made upon Lewis by this Jim Warren person in Warburton."

Edna flushed a little, finished- pouring the coffee and put down the pot. "Why shouldn't I' read it?" she askedT "His request, I" am sure, was made out of consideration for your feelings," her father went on to explain. "He is very thoughtful of you. Politicians, my dear, have to be- thick-skinned, parman in Lewis' position. He is a man of great power, therefore a man peculiarly liable to attack. He cares nothing about it himself, but lie hates to think that it might bring you pain, even indirectly:" He was silent a moment. "In this instance I thoroughly agree with, him and shall add my -request to his own." Edna shrugged her shoulders and was silent. . .

"It's all for the best,,my dear," her father went on pleasantly;. "Remember I am uriuer many obligations to Mr. Lewis and you are under even a greater obligation because of your — your betrothal to him. I think it wisest and best that you obey his —our — wishes in this instance." "Certainly," the girl agreed; "but it seems rather absurd —doesn't it? Everybody in the world will know just what it was except me and I have a greater right than anybody.'' "The circumstances are unusual, lier father pointed out. They finished their breakfast in silence and Edna arose to go. At the door she lingered a moment. "This—this attack," she queried. "You say it was personal?"-. "Purely personal, my dear." "Will it in any "way'affect- Mr Lewis —his chance of election?" She faltered a little as she asked the question. "One can never tell, Edna, just what effect such attacks as this will have." Mr Tillinghast faltered a little too. , The girl's eyes were blazing. "You mean that there is a chance that Mr Lewis will be —defeated?" "There is always a chance," her father told her gently. "Oh, it may cause changes in his plans of a totally different nature. After all, suppose you wait and talk it over with Lewis himself. He can make you understand; I couldn't'." "A personal.attack, you say? remarked the girl. "That would involve his integrity, wouldn't it?" I could hardly believe that this Jim —this Mr Warren —would descend to that."

Tillinghast arose and went to her. The slender little figure was atremble with indignation. "Ho wants the job, my dear," said her father. "There seems to be 110 limit to what he would do to get it. His campaign throughout has been based upon personalities." Edna stood staring straight into" the puffy eyes for an instant, then turned away suddenly and went to her room. That afternoon, forty miles away, in Warburton, Lewis had decided upon his course and was giving the necessary instructions to Franques. "See Big Tom Simmonds," he directed, "and tell him that our deal is off." "Yes, sir." "I told the Commissioners of Elections about keeping Warren's name off the ballots. Tell them that is off, too."

"Yes, sir." Franques' evil eyes were gleaming; his swarthy face was flushed slightly. . "Some time this afternoon make a dozen copies of this letter of withdrawal I have drafted and'get'it to all the newspapers in time for publication to-morrow morning." That was all. Suave, courteous, soft-spoken as ever, Lewis received the newspaper men. He answered no questions—merely smiled genially and told them that in view of the popular demand for Jim Warren ho would not only retire from the race but personally he would bring.Jim Warren's name before tlie caucus of. his party. That, of course, was'equivalent to Jim Warren's election. He didn't care to discuss the slight misunderstanding ho liad" liad with Jim W T arren. It was trivial and personal. "How about that fifty-thousand-dol-lar note?"

He had nothing further to say. "How about your offer of twentyfive thousand' if Jim Warren would quit?" He liad nothing further to say: "Don't you intend to _make any denials??' '

He had nothing further to say. "How about that phonographic interview? How did Jim Warren get it? What about the deal of the mayoralty ? What safe was robbed? Who did it? Where was it? When? What was in it?"

Really, gentlemen—he could not discuss the matter further.

There was a grin of triumph on Jim Warren's freckled face on the following morning when lie'read Lewis' letter of withdrawal and; coupled therewith liis statement. The grin lingered until, inglancing through his mail, he opened one envelope and took out a single sheet of paper, with just a few lines, unsigned : "The time never comes when it is necessary to revile an individual merely because you : want his political head. I didn't believe you capable of it." . It was the handwriting of a woman. A signature would have meant nothing. He knew instantly whence it came and gazed at it a long time in abstraction.

Tfc was a landslide for Jim Warren. Big Tom Simmonds had roared mightily in the heat of- his indignation against Lewis when the mayoralty deal was called off and tlio city slid from under his greedy fingers—roared mightily and in his excitement thrust in a candidate to oppose Jim Warren or Lewis or whoever else there was to be opposed. Nobody ever heard of his candidate again. Lewis received the returns in the seclusion of his apartments, whence he could'look down upon the noisy crowd without. At last, wearily, 110 dropped hack into a chair. At that instant his eyes met Franques' and he was startled by tlie savage exultation he read there. "What's the matter;-'" he demanded sharply. "It's come —it'.s come at last!" Franques exclaimed fiercely. His clawlike fingers were knotted, his lips tightly compressed. Lewis drew back uneasily. "What's come? What are you talking about?"

"I'm going to be the next political boss of this state!" Franques burst out violently. ""I found Jim Warren: I showed him how to win ; I made him. I gave him the photographs of the contents of your safe; I told him every move you planned; we've tricked you out of your shoes.'* For a time Lewis merely stared at him. It was quite clear. This man whom ho had trusted above all others had betrayed him, had sold him—that was how Jim Warren had nvade lijmself invincible. "Von dog!" Lewis finally said. About midnight Jim Warren, drunk with his victory, forsook the adulation of his followers and went home. He sat there for a long time, thinking, of many things. At last the'clock'struck four. He arose and removed:his.coat. "When you mark your cards right you've got to'win!" lii> said grimly. "The big idea is a pippin—yet." - He was silent for a moment; then came that illuminating grin of his. "I wonder how much an enterprising, redheaded, young, fellow, could, pick up in this neiv ! job : 'of:mine?" Again lie was silent for a little. "I'll meet her somewhere," 110 added irrelevantly. "She said if I -won;"we'd meet again." (To bo Continued)