The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-11-27
He looked at the man who had achieved
it, as he firmly believed, by sheer luck

| it, as he firmly believed, by sheer luck
and accident and his eyes darkened.
Then, with characteristic weakness and
vanity, he began to resist his first i'm
pressions of Clarence's superiority. and
to air his own importance. He leaned
heavily back in his chair in which he
had been thus genially forced, drew off
his gauntlet and attempted to thrust
it through his belt, as he had seen
I:rant do, but failed on account of his
pistols already occupying that position,
dropped it, got his sword between his
legs in attempting to pick it up, and
then leaned back again, with half
closed eyes, serenely Indifferent of his
old companions smiling face.
Il reckon" he began, slowly, with a
slightly patronizing air, that we'd
have met, sooner or later, at Washing
ton, or at Grants headquarters, for
| Hooker, Meacham & Co. go everywhere,
and are about as well known as major
! generals, to say nothin'," he went On,
with a sidelOng glance at Brant's Shout
| der straps, ''of brigadiers-and it's
rather strange, only, of course, you're
| Kind of fresh in the service-that you
amt heard of me afore."
But I'm very, very glad to hear of
you now, jim" said Brant, smiling,
land from your own lips-which 1 am
also delighted to find,'' he added, mis-
chievously, ''are still as frankly COM
nlunicative on that topic, as of old.
But congratulate you, old fellow, on
your good fortune. When did you leave
the stage?"
Mr.. Hooker frowned slightly. 81
| never really was on the stage, you
know" he said, waving his hand with
assumed negligcnce-"onlyw went OH to
please my wife. Mrs. Hooker wouldn't
act with vulgar professionals, don't you
| see! [ was really manager-most of
the time. and lessee of the theater.
Went east when the war broke out to
offer-my sword and knowledge of In
jim fghtin'-to Uncle Sam. Drifted
into a big pork contract at ST. Louis
with Fremont. Been at it ever since.
Offered a commission in the regular
service lots O times. Refused"
"Why?" asked Brant. demurely.
'Too much West Point starch around
to suit me-" returned Hooker, darkly.
"And too many spies!"
"Spies?" echoed Brant, abstractedlv,
with momentary Renaissance of Miss
Faulkner.
"1 es, SPIES" continued Hooker, with
logged mystery. "One-half of Wash
ington is watching t'other half, and,
from the presidents wife down, most
| of the women are Seccsh!"
Brant suddenly fixed his keen eyes on
his guest. But the next moment he re-
Elected that this was only Jim Rockers
usual speech and possessed no Interior
significance. He smiled again and said
more gently:
And how is Mrs. Hooker?"
| Mr.. Hooker fixed his eyes on the cell
ing, rose, pretended to look out of the
window; then, taking his seat again by
the table, as if fronting an imaginary
audience, and pulling slowly at his
| gauntlcts, after the usual theatrical in
| dication of a perfect sang froid, said:
There amt any"
Good heavens!" said Brant, with
genuine emotion. Il beg your pardon
really Il"
Mrs. Hoolle-, and me are divorced"
continued Hooker, slightly changing
his attitude and leaning heavily ON his
saber, with his eyes still on his fanciful
audience 'IherewaS, youunderStand,"
lightly tossing his gauntlet aside
patibility of temper!-and-
wc-parted. Hal" he uttered a low,
| bitter, scornful laugh, which, however,
produced the distinct impression in
g :1,I
he had never had the slightest feeling
in the matter whatever.
~ on seemed to be on such good terms
with each other murmured Rrant,
vaguely.
Seemed said Hooker bitterly. glanc-
ing sardonically at an ideal second row
in the pit before him--''yes, seemed!
There were-other differences social
and political. You understand that
YOU have suffered too He reached out
his hand and pressed Grants in heavy
effusivcness. But" he continued,
haughtily, lightly tossing his glove
again. I'VE are all men of the world
we let that pass!" And it was possible
that lie found the strain of his present
attitude too great, for he changed to an
easier position.
But" said Brant. curiously, 81 al
ways thought that Mrs Hooker was in
tensely union and northern"
Put on said Hooker, in his natural
voice.
but You remember the incident of
the flag" persisted Brant.
Mrs. Hooker was always an actress"
said Hooker ignificantly. But" he add
ed cheerfully, Mrs. Hooker is now the /
wife of Senator Boompointer, one of the
wealthiest and most powerful republic
ans in Washington-carries the patron-
age of the whole west in his vest
pocket
Yet if she is not n republican-why
did she"-began Brant.
For q purpose" responded Hooker,
darhly. But" he added again with
greater cheerfulness. ''she belongs TO
the very elite of Washington society |
Goes TO all the foreign ambassadors
balls. and is a power at the white house. |
Her picture is in all the first-class |
illustrated papers"
The singular but unmistakable pride !
of the man in the Importance of the |
wife from whom he was divorced, and |
for whom he did not care, would have |
offended Brant's delicacy, or at least |
have excited his ridicule, but for the !
reason that he was more deeDIy stunp