The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-05-06
CHAPTER XIII.
A POLITICAL DEAL


very unhappily for Russell. He was
continually pressed by debts and diff
culties, and he had no friend TO whom
he dared confess himself freely, asking
the advice he needed. Indeed, Russell
had made no friends among his recent
associates, partly because he had drifted
into an extrayagaht and light-headed
set with few attractive men In 1t, but
more because he was too deeply en-
crossed with his own affairs TO permit
of warm interest In others. He con-
tinued to see Ray frequently, but he was
too much afraid Of the old mans irasci-
BILE temper to take advantage Of the help
that Ray was in reality always ready TO
give.
There we're fewer Sundays at the villa
for Russell than in the previous summer,
not because Of any lack Of invitations
but because Russell fancied 1t easier TO
avoid Alice than to be simply friends
with her. To all appearances, however,
there was no interruption Of the cordial
ity Of their feeling for each other.
In the early fall, when little chill
creeps into the air, and fires are re-
kindled under the great stew-pan OF
politics, scheme which Ray and Russell
had formulated during the summer be-
gan to broaden and assume definite
shape.
"We shall need some political infu-
ence In working this motor right" Ray
had said. why don't you 70 into pol
itics little? 1t would give you q chance
to get acquainted with q great many
men who might be useful TO u.s."
Russell had replied that he would Just
as lief go into politics as any thing else,
and he had looked about him for an op-
portunity. 1t was not hard to find. He
had become member Of the Pocahontas
Club, an organization having a hand
some house on Great South Bay, L.
l., and including, among its members
many practical politicians. The Poca-
hontas was ostensibly fishing
club and was devoted to both branches
OF the sport. Some Of its members
we're expert fishermen and only indif-
ferent drinkers, while others cared
little for rod and line, but could absorb
more alcoholic poison between Saturday
night and Monday morning than any
other set OF men on earth, and took
pride in 1t. They were an influential
body, politically, and the clubhouse
was great place to get pointers"
When two or three members had been
indulging rather too freely, and began
to rake up each others records, they
furnished any listener with valuable In
side information as TO successful po-
litical methods.
Russell was popular in the club and had
won the special favor Of few old fellows
by listening to theirstories Of their own
greatness. These were the men who
had retired from conspicuous politics
because the newspapers had treated
them unfairly by publishing the facts
in certain interesting cases. They we're
as much Of power as ever, though.
Behind the scenes they gave the orders
and regulated the exits and entrances
OF other men. Mike Rooney, in partic-
ular, had taken great fancy to Rus
sell, and often told him stories OF the
days "when politics were worth some
thing" Rooney was worshiper OF
old times, but he did not neglect him
self in the present He had been an
alderman for good many years previous
to the Eighty-ninth street railway ex-
pose, but had been treated coldly by
the organization since that time. He
claimed to have been treated unfairly
by Tammany and had gone TO the
counties, and there received equally bad
usage.
"Pve got tired OF working for those
fellows" said Mike, 'and this fall Pm
going to do a little work for Mike
Rooney. ! haven't lost my grip on the
Thirtieth Assembly district yet, and you
bet your life on It,"
Russell replied that while he never
bet on elections he did not doubt Mr..
Rooney's power. He lived In that dis
trict himself and had had occasion 10
observe 1t.
''I'm laboring for an inde pendent
Democratic candidate for the assem-
bly," said Rooney. "King would get q
denomination and an election II Tam.
many was left to run things, but he's
weak, and I believe I can down. him
with the right man"
Russell ventured TO inquire how he
would do. and 70 his surprise Rooney