San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-08
The Bassett Claim.
By HENRY &. ELLIOT.

tCopyright by American Press Association-l
lawyer to another, tnaJ you neIp me
along, working, like myself, on a con-
tingent fee. l shall need help, that is
certain, and you say yoa want to get
out of the rut. You have your evenings.
Suppose you take hold?'
Il rather like the idea," said Stevens,
though should not care to figure OPEN
ly in the campaign, as it might hurt me
in the Office" ..
II sce," said Windward Very well;
you be silent partner, the Co. in our
lobby firm"
III consider it," laughed Stevens.
"And you propose, then, to stay here
right through the session."
.'If it looks at all promising" replied
Windward.
Stevens was thoughtful and silent
moment, then he said, eff you are really
going TO We here 2N winter why not
Ering your family down here and be
comfortable?'
tive great mind to-" said Wind
ward. They could see the patent Office
and the Smithsonian" Here he burst
out laughing and told McArdle's story
about Gen. Grant.
81 am sure l should like to meet your
mother and Miss Florence again." said
Stevens, "and it is just as well for q
man to have his family about him in
Washington; though, as to that, no city
has been so slandered. My experience
Of Washington is Of q prosy, steady,
moral, big village. It got bad name
in the war, when it was overrun with
camp followers. and the reproach has
stuck to it."
81 believe / will write to them to-
night" said Windward, and there the
subject dropped, for Stevens did not
care to press it, but he found himself
feeling very glad that the suggestion
needed no pressure. .-..
"Now, tomorrow" continued Wind
ward, 1--WE shall begin operations. Uncle
Tom told me of lawyer here who rep
resents many of the claimants. Hewill
know the situation, and must look him
L
ness arrangement with Col. McArdle.
And l suppose there are members of
congress to see, and letters to write, and
l don't know what else. Yes, tomorrow
we raise the battle stained ensign of the
Bassett claim. Good night"
Tomorrow came punctually, and with
it the jolly group of boarders to the
breakfast table. There were the men,
Der, prompt, silent and efficient; the pri-
vate secretary, quiet, stolid, and, as be-
come railroad man, of great executive
ability. Mrs. Elk liked these two gent
lemen personally, but sometimes they
made her nervous. She would tell them,
however, with smile. that it was some
satisfaction to set table for people who
enjoyed their meals; and they assured
her they did. cI should say SOP she
would remark to Sophia afterwards.)
There, too,> was Lieut.. Quire, bright
faced, anecdotal, polite-especially to
Miss Sophia, who nestled beside him.
There was broad beamed Mrs. Elk, talk
ing fashionable gossip as she poured the
coffee. There was the small boy, crow
ing with chanticleer; there were the two
third story young men; and, and, why
certainly, there was Mr.. Elk too, to be
Sure-altogether quite a happy family,
and very select.
There was half an hour of clatter and
then the group broke up. Mr.. Elk but
tered a roll, folded it in a napkin, put an
apple in his pocket and went to the Office.
Stevens doubled the roll ration, but other
wise followed Mr.. Ex's example. Sophia
had got into the way of putting up Lieut.
Quire's lunch, and the consequence was
that the jovial officer would generally
find at noon, beside the rolls and apple,
some tidbit from the closet. The mem
Der and the private secretary bought
their lunches at the capitol-an alleviat-
ing circumstance from the standpoint of
Mrs. Elk. Windward was rover, lunch
ing at large. Finally, the small boy
lunched more or less, off and on, all the
time.
After breakfast, when the clerks had
gone to their desks and the member was
talking with an early constituent in the
parlor, Windward caught busy Mrs. Elk
in the hall and asked her if she could
accommodate two more ladies, his
mother and sister, whom he thought OF
inviting to Washington for the season.
The matron pursed her lips, was silent,
and almost shook her head. The house
was full, and besides she never took la
dies if she could help it; still, money
was money to Mrs. Elk, 1t would cost
no more to lay a table for ten than for
eight. II, now, it were only the fashion
10 sleep on shelves, as in palace carl