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he Republicans are going to win this fallMcKenty or no McKentyfirst； second； and third wards with us or not； as they choose。 The doings of the big fellow〃he was referring to McKenty〃with the other fellow in North Clark Street〃Mr。 Gilgan preferred to be a little enigmatic at times〃are very much in the wind just now。 You see how the papers stand。 I happen to know where there's any quantity of money coming into the game from big financial quarters who have no use for this railroad man。 It's a solid La Salle and Dearborn Street line…up； so far as I can see。 Why； I don't know。 But so it is。 Maybe you know better than I do。 Anyhow； that's the way it stands now。 Add to that the fact that there are eight naturally Republican wards as it is； and ten more where there is always a fighting chance； and you begin to see what I'm driving at。 Count out these last ten； though； and bet only on the eight that are sure to stand。 That leaves twenty…three wards that we Republicans always conceded to you people； but if we manage to carry thirteen of them along with the eight I'm talking about； we'll have a majority in council； and〃flick！ he snapped his fingers〃out you goyou； McKenty； Cowperwood； and all the rest。 No more franchises； no more street…paving contracts； no more gas deals。 Nothingfor two years； anyhow； and maybe longer。 If we win we'll take the jobs and the fat deals。〃 He paused and surveyed Kerrigan cheerfully but defiantly。
〃Now； I've just been all over the city；〃 he continued； 〃in every ward and precinct； so I know something of what I am talking about。 I have the men and the cash to put up a fight all along the line this time。 This fall we winme and the big fellows over there in La Salle Street； and all the Republicans or Democrats or Prohibitionists； or whoever else comes in with usdo you get me？ We're going to put up the biggest political fight Chicago has ever seen。 I'm not naming any names just yet； but when the time comes you'll see。 Now； what I want to ask of you is this； and I'll not mince me words nor beat around the bush。 Will you and Tiernan come in with me and Edstrom to take over the city and run it during the next two years？ If you will； we can win hands down。 It will be a case of share and share alike on everythingpolice； gas； water； highways； street…railways； everythingor we'll divide beforehand and put it down in black and white。 I know that you and Tiernan work together； or I wouldn't talk about this。 Edstrom has the Swedes where he wants them； and he'll poll twenty thousand of them this fall。 There's Ungerich with his Germans； one of us might make a deal with him afterward； give him most any office he wants。 If we win this time we can hold the city for six or eight years anyhow； most likely； and after thatwell； there's no use lookin' too far in the futureAnyhow we'd have a majority of the council and carry the mayor along with it。〃
〃If〃 commented Mr。 Kerrigan； dryly。
〃If；〃 replied Mr。 Gilgan； sententiously。 〃You're very right。 There's a big 'if' in there； I'll admit。 But if these two wardsyours and Tiernan'scould by any chance be carried for the Republicans they'd be equal to any four or five of the others。〃
〃Very true；〃 replied Mr。 Kerrigan； 〃if they could be carried for the Republicans。 But they can't be。 What do you want me to do； anyhow？ Lose me seat in council and be run out of the Democratic party？ What's your game？ You don't take me for a plain damn fool； do you？〃
〃Sorry the man that ever took 'Emerald Pat' for that；〃 answered Gilgan； with honeyed compliment。 〃I never would。 But no one is askin' ye to lose your seat in council and be run out of the Democratic party。 What's to hinder you from electin' yourself and droppin' the rest of the ticket？〃 He had almost said 〃knifing。〃
Mr。 Kerrigan smiled。 In spite of all his previous dissatisfaction with the Chicago situation he had not thought of Mr。 Gilgan's talk as leading to this。 It was an interesting idea。 He had 〃knifed〃 people beforehere and there a particular candidate whom it was desirable to undo。 If the Democratic party was in any danger of losing this fall； and if Gilgan was honest in his desire to divide and control； it might not be such a bad thing。 Neither Cowperwood； McKenty； nor Dowling had ever favored him in any particular way。 If they lost through him； and he could still keep himself in power； they would have to make terms with him。 There was no chance of their running him out。 Why shouldn't he knife the ticket？ It was worth thinking over； to say the least。
〃That's all very fine；〃 he observed； dryly； after his meditations had run their course； 〃but how do I know that you wouldn't turn around and 'welch' on the agreement afterward？〃 （Mr。 Gilgan stirred irritably at the suggestion。） 〃Dave Morrissey came to me four years ago to help him out； and a lot of satisfaction I got afterward。〃 Kerrigan was referring to a man whom he had helped make county clerk； and who had turned on him when he asked for return favors and his support for the office of commissioner of highways。 Morrissey had become a prominent politician。
〃That's very easy to say；〃 replied Gilgan； irritably； 〃but it's not true of me。 Ask any man in my district。 Ask the men who know me。 I'll put my part of the bargain in black and white if you'll put yours。 If I don't make good； show me up afterward。 I'll take you to the people that are backing me。 I'll show you the money。 I've got the goods this time。 What do you stand to lose； anyhow？ They can't run you out for cutting the ticket。 They can't prove it。 We'll bring police in here to make it look like a fair vote。 I'll put up as much money as they will to carry this district； and more。〃
Mr。 Kerrigan suddenly saw a grand coup here。 He could 〃draw down〃 from the Democrats； as he would have expressed it； twenty to twenty…five thousand dollars to do the dirty work here。 Gilgan would furnish him as much and morethe situation being so critical。 Perhaps fifteen or eighteen thousand would be necessary to poll the number of votes required either way。 At the last hour； before stuffing the boxes； he would learn how the city was going。 If it looked favorable for the Republicans it would be easy to complete the victory and complain that his lieutenants had been suborned。 If it looked certain for the Democrats he could throw Gilgan and pocket his funds。 In either case he would be 〃in〃 twenty…five to thirty thousand dollars； and he would still be councilman。
〃All very fine；〃 replied Mr。 Kerrigan； pretending a dullness which he did not feel； 〃but it's damned ticklish business at best。 I don't know that I want anything to do with it even if we could win。 It's true the City Hall crowd have never played into my hands very much； but this is a Democratic district； and I'm a Democrat。 If it ever got out that I had thrown the party it would be pretty near all day with me。
〃I'm a man of my word；〃 declared Mr。 Gilgan； emphatically； getting up。 〃I never threw a man or a bet in my life。 Look at me record in the eighteenth。 Did you ever hear any one say that I had？〃
〃No； I never did；〃 returned Kerrigan； mildly。 〃But it's a pretty large thing you're proposing； Mr。 Gilgan。 I wouldn