The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-11-01
.s>s n AZ A LITTLE
Comedy Of Errors.
By s. S. Morton.


seal-''and, generally speaking, con-
slider ten minutes ample time for mail
ing q letter." He dropped it carelessly
into the box with these last words.
Once more on the street, they halted
by common consent to light their
cigars.
''Anywhere else in view this even
ing?" INQUIRED Warner briefly, between
vigorous puffs at his cigar, which ex-
hibited an exasperating inclination to
20 out, Notwithstanding his efforts to
prevent that catastrophe.
"No," returned North as briefly, as he
waved his fragrant Havana with its
pale wreath of smoke and tiny spark of
fire with an air of slight triumph, and
proffered the still burning taper. Have
a light, Warner? Oh. see you've made
it 20 at last. Well, then, suppose we
saunter back to the Clement house.
Unless you have some other engage
ment-"
"oh, not at all! Nothing in the world
to do"
"The truth isl resumed North, after
meditative puff or two, as they started
slowly on, I'm not in the mood for
anything tonight club, politics or
society. Confound business! Attend to
it faithfully and it makes slave ofyou;
neglect it, and it's an avenging Nemesis,
forever at your heels"'
'That's So" assented Warner, with
mournfupinhection, as if he were reluc-
family admitting proposition which
he had found to be all too true. '"The
political field pays better; for, what If
they do pitch into you, the opposition
press, mean, you draw your ducats
regularly so long as you're in office, and
the less you do to deserve it, the better
your chances areof being appreciated by
the public. Offce-holding is soft bust
ness, if man isn't a fanatic on duty
and knows how to look out for number
one; and guess we can trust you for
that, North"
''Oh, yes; that has always been very
important figure with me, and daresay
it will continue to be. And why should
it not, pray? A man is the natural
guardian of his own interests, and if he
neglects them they are apt to suffer; no
one else will look out for them. But,
on the other hand, there's an almost
universal impulse to help the man that
helps himself"
provided he doesn't help himself at
the dear public's expense" suggested
Warner, dryly; bon mot at which
both he and North laughed indulgently,
and the latter added:
''But, even then, my dear Warner,
you should recollect that there are
usually rogues enough in authority to
connive at his escape, unless they hap
pen to be SO deeply concerned in his
transactions that their only way to
save themselves is to sacrifice him and
make him the huge scapegoat OF the
race"
'sNow you've hit it!'' declared War
ner, turning sharply to North. 'Wild
horses couldn't drag the admission from
Clipper, but I've always believed-and
said it, too, all in the family-that this
was about the size OF that outcry
against Damon. Why he should have
been bounded out of Office by set OF
rogues, who had probably been fleeing
the taxpayers ever since they went into
politics, don't see It's on the princi-
pie, suppose, of Furnishing the starv-
ing wretch that steals a loaf of bread
and letting the shrewd scoundrel that
swindles whole communities go SCOT
free! OF course, there's no reasonable
doubt that Damon was crooked, but
who imagines that he was any worse
than Brown or Jones', for instance?
He was unfortunate enough to get
found out; they were shrewd enough
not to. That's the way figure it out"
Warner spoke with considerable
warmth, and as if he were certain of
North's sympathy.
It was with blank dismay that North
perceived to what definit tie suspicious
against persons quite unknown to him
he was supposed to have committed
himself by his innocently abstract re-
mark. He fastened to take refuge be-
hind convenient breastwork of eau
ton.
'Now see here, Warner" he said
with an air of speaking in the most
sacred confidence, lit will never do to
say this, you know, and really, did
not wish you to understand me quite as
YOU did. I don't consider it expedient
to make any definite charges against
anyone, whatever my private opinion
may be-"
s'Oh, of course; no use to bring it up
now; but if we get Halleck in there
he'll sift the whole business. That's
what told Clipper all along, as an
argument for opposing Halleck's nomi-
nation: but he said: We've got to give
them the treasurer, or it will cost us
the other offices, like enough And SO
it would, I suppose. If we had made a
split on Hallecl1 it would have done the
business for you, for they were deter.
mined to get one of their men in. either
for treasurer or attorney, and Clipper
said: so long as we elect the city
attorney, I'll risk Halleck's investiga-
tions!''
North, quite bewildered by Warmers
relations and equally uncertain to what
sentiments he ought to commit Ollin,
contrived here to give the conversation
a turn from local to national politics:
on which safe ground they continued
until the end Of their walk. Then, as
~ H.