The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-04-20

and in a moment more halts before a
large, square, handsome residence. II
is the home of the politician to whom
the wished-for document now lying in
the post Office is addressed.
All is dark - the house has de-
serted air, and my heart huttcrs lit
tie at the thought that if the gentle
man is absent my plan will fail at the
outset.
A pull at the bell knob No response.
pause. Another pull; this time a
vigorous one. A noise as of a stir
within comes family to the eager ear,
followed by the harsh raising of an up
per window
A masculine head appears and a
gruff voice demands to know what is
wanted. Yet the voice is sweet one
to me, for it is that of the politician
the man whom l must see.
Very few words are needed to ex-
plain that my business is urgent, and a
few minutes later the gentleman, after
hasty toilet, swings wide the house
door and ushers he into his comfort
able library with: "Wcll, what is up?"
tell him briefly, and then unfold my
plan. At the latter his eye wrinkles
with humor. | ask him il he will help
me. feel sure that he will; it is as
much TO his political taste to help my
paper rs it was to that of the chairman
of the committee to pat good bit of
news in the way of his own party or
gan"
Picking up n pen and placing a sheet
of paper before him, the politician
writes rapidly for n couple of minutes.
| He smiles Us he writes.
Hastily thrusting the manuscript
into an envelope, he hands it to nc. A
brief but earnest Thank you!" is my
only acknowledgement, and it is all
that is needed.
My friend, the politician, knows as
well as do that it is no time for long
speeches, and, just as he closes the
door after u quick Good night" see
that he is evidently amused about
something. Do l know what it is?
| Well
Ten minutes of quick driving and
the carriage stops in front of neat
house in another part of the city.
Like the abode of the politician, it is
dark and forbidding, but a repetition
of the door bell exercise brings a
sleepy and not specially good-natured
man first to the window and then to
the door.
explain my wishes in low voice,
but hurriedly, for, as we talk, the hour
Of midnight pcals from a neighboriug
belfry.
Tho man expostulates as l unfold my
desircs-yet mildly, as one who will
yield if pressed.
81 never heard of any such proceed
ing" he asserts, shaking his head. 'And
then don't know whether l Ought
l interrupt him impatiently-it will
not do to fail now, with victory so
close at hand. exhibit the politicians
note.
We'll, if you insist, suppose can
go, but l never was dragged out of bed
in the middle of the night on any such
business before. You will have to
wait till l can get some clothes on,
though"
1t seems an unusually long time for
a man to occupy in dressing, as l wait
impatiently, in the street outside. Does
he think have invited him to ball?
/ ask myself these questions as the
minutes pass.
At last football is heard within, and
q ment later muf1lcd tigure-for the
night air is sharp-emerges.
Within the carriage no word is
spoken. My companion is not in So
cial mood l know very well.
AS for myself, just now l am inter
ested in actions, not in words, and my
own thoughts are sufficient to occupy
me.
We rattle brislly into the business
section of the city, and halt before
grim stone building. We alight and
approach Il side door
My companion thrusts his hand into
his pocket, and as he wthdraws it there
is a jingle of keys. Just as he inserts
one of them in the lock of the door a
policeman crosses the strcet and APP
proachcs to take nearer view of u.s.
He recognizes us as he draws near,
glances with surprised air at my
companion, says nothing and passes
SLOWLY on, nc KNOWS DclJcT Jn1n 10 ask
any questions.
Once within the building my COM
panion passes inside Il locked Enclosure
and turns up 4 dimly-burninS gas jet
to its full power,
Then he stoops, picks up number
of objects which l cannot see, selects
one of them and rejoins me in the outer
space. hand him the note, written in
the politicians house less than an hour
before.
He has already been told its contents,
but nevertheless he scrutinizes it care
fully. Apparently it satisfies him. for
he bestows it carefully IN n capacious
wallet and then hands to me the pack
ct which he has brought out from the
inner sanctum.
My plan has succeeded,
The politician to whom the coveted
| political document was addressed has
given me an order to the postmaster
to deliver it to me, and that official has
honored the request The missivc is
in my hands, and it is not yet half an
hour after midnight.
Next IN orning there is great sur
e., a. 4.