Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-11-04


be satisfied with the progress of his plans
ats all right" said Mrs. Hopkinson, mer
rily; "while you and Gashwiler have beer
working with your stock, and treating the
whole world as if it could be bribed, I've dons
more with that earnest, self-believing, self
deceiving and perfectly pathetic Eoscommor
than all you fellows put together. Why, I've
told his pitiful story, and drawn tears from
the eyes Of senator's and cabinet ministers
More than that, I've introduced him into so
ciety, put him in dress coat = such Q
Hgure!-and you know how the best folk wor
ship everything that is outre as the sincere
thing. I've made him a complete success
Why, only the other night, when Senator
Misnancy and Judge Fitzwaddle were here
after making him tell his story-whieh yos
know, / think he really believes-I sang
There Came to the Beach Poor Exile oil
was worth, at least, dozen votes"
"But about this rival of yours-this niece
of Garcia's!"
"Another of your blunders; you men know
nothing of women. Firstly, she's swarthy
little brunette, with dots for eyes; and strides
like man, dresses like dowdy, don't wear
stays, and has no style Then, she's single
woman, and alone; and, although she affects
to be an artist, and has Bohemian ways
don't you sec she can't go into society with
out a chaperon or somebody to go with her
Nonsense"
"But," persisted Wiles, ashe must have
some power; there's Judge Mason and Sen
ator Peabody, who are constantly talking
about her; and Dinwiddie, of Virginia, es
corted her through the Capitol the other
day."
Mistress Hopkinson laughed.
"Mason and Peabody aspire to be thought
literary and artistic, and Dinwiddie wanted
to pique mel"
"But Thatcher is no fool"
us Thatcher a lady's man?" queried the
lady, suddenly.
Hardly, should say" responded Wiles
"He prctends to be absorbed in his swindle
and devoted to his mine; and / don't think
that even you" he stopped with slight
sheer
"There, you are misunderstanding me
again, and, what is worse, you are misunder
standing your case. Thatcher is pleased with
her because he has probably seen no one else
Wait till he comes to Washington and has an
opportunity for comparison" and she cast q
frank glance at her mirror, where Wiles
with a sardonic bow, left her standing.
Mr. Gashwiler was quite as confident of hi.
own success with congress. "We are within
few days of the end of the session. We
will manage to have it taken up and rushed
through before that fellow Thatcher know!
what he is about"
"If it could be done before he gets here,
said Wiles, ''its reasonably sure thing. HI
is delayed two days; he might have been de
layed longer" Here Mr.. Wiles sighed II
the accident had happened on mountai,
road, and the stage had been precipitated ovel
the abyss, what valuable time would have
been saved, and success become suretyl But
Mr.. Wiles' functions as IN advocate did mo-
include murder; at least, he was doubtful If il
could be taxed as costs.
ave need have no fears, sir" resumed Mr.
Gashwiler; "the matter is now in the hands o.
the highest tribunal of appeal in the country
1t will meet, sir, with inflexible justice.
have already prepared some remarks"
"By the way" interrupted Wiles intellect
ously, where's your young man-your pri
vate secretary-Dobbs!"
The congressman for a moment looked con
fused. "He is not here. And must correc
your error in applying that term to him.
have never put my confidence in the hands o.
any one"
"But you introduced him to me as your sec
rotary"
"a mere honorary title, sir. A breve
rank l might, it is true, have thought t.
repose such a trust in him. But was de
ceived, sir, as fear l am too apt to be whel
l permit my feelings as a man to overcon:
my duty as an American legislator. Mr.
Dobbs enjoyed my patronage and the oppor
tunity it gave me to introduce him into pub
lie life only to abuse it. He became, fear
deeply indebted. His extravaganza was un
limited, his ambition unbounded, but with
out, sir, q cash basis. l advanced money 3,
him from time to time upon the little prop
erty you so generously extended to him TO
his services. But il was quickly dissipated
Yet, sir, such is the ingratitude of man tina
his family lately appealed to me for assist
ance. felt it was necessary to be stern, ant
l refused. would not for the sake of hi
family say anything, but l have missed, sir
books from my library. On the day after h
left two volumes of patent Office reports AM
Blue book of congress, purchased that da,
by me at a store on Pennsylvania avenue
were missiny-missing! had difficulty, sir
great difficulty in keeping it from the papersl
| As Mr.. Wiles had heard the story alread,
from Gashwiler's acquaintance with more o
less free comment on the gifted legislator
| economy, he could not help thinking that tn
| difficulty had been great indeed But he onl
fixed his malevolent eye on Gashwiler an
! sail:
80 he is gone, chr
yes
| bad
| Mr.. Gashwiler tried TO look dignifiedly III
concerned; but something in his visitor
manner made him uneasy.
II say it Is bad, if you have. Listen b,
fore left here, found at boarding hous
where he had boarded, and still owed bill,
trunk which the landlord retained. Openin
| it, found some letters and papers of your
with certain memoranda of his, which
thought ought TO be in your possession. A
an alleged friend of his, redeemed the trun
by paying the amount of his bill, and secure
the more valuable papers,
Gashwiler, whose face had grown apople<
tically suffused as Wiles went on, at las
gasped: "But YOU got the trunk, and have tn
papers!'
Unfortunately. no, and that's why it
bad"
"But, good Godl what have you done wit
themr
"rve lost them somewhere on the Overlan,
road
Mr.. Gashwiler sat for a few moment
speeches., vacillating between purple rag
and pallid fear. Then he said hoarsely:
They are all blank forgeries-every one Q
| them"
"Oh, nor said Wiles, smiling blandly O
his 81 IL 81 A..