The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-05


worn bone of victory TO satisfy hunger
within hir:, with 20 better satisfaction than
Tautalus had from the depending grapes.
1t was the night OF tie election. The
headquarters CT tne state central commit
tee consisted of three rooms. The front
room was. at half past clock in the
evening. already crowded with men who
moved cbs:urely about In the dense strata
Of tobacco smoke like great fish in the
slowly moving currents of the ocean
depths. There was some talk &C incidents
at the polls in the preceding afternoon.
All were waiting the first returns and were
silent, as becomes men expecting an I'M
known verdict. Back of this was another
room, in which sat the secretary of the
state central committee with a great sheet
before him with the votes of the four pre-
ceding elections Transcribed thereon. Two
cronies sat near him. These three men
were silent. The door between these two
rooms was open, but the crowd in the first
room kept out Of the second, in general
courtesy to the secretary who had to have
quiet while figuring" Back of him was
a door to a third room-closed. In this at
d little table sat the Boss, alone.
1t was quite dark now. The gas lifted and
fell under an uneven pressure The Boss
arose and turned it very low; sat down
again and pulled his soft hat over his eyes
and so remained.
Seven o'clock. The third precinct OF the
Fourth ward of the Capital city reported.
The secretary grabbed it feverishly; eight
or ten men, under the pressure of excite
ment, forgot courtesy and rushed in and
leaned upon the chair of the secretary who
was writing the figures down. He COM
pared them with the figures of the last gen.
eral election.
Loss of two" he said, jumping up. The
news was carried to the front room and
was met with a buzz of excitement. The
secretary took key from his pocket and
unlocked the door behind him, stepped in
side and closed the door.
Third Of the Fourth here SHOWS a loss
Of two over two years ago.
The figure of the Boss did not move
From under the tilted hat came a single
monosyllable:
"Um."
Then the secretary went out again.
Another precinct just in showed a gain
of ten. There was laughter and profanity
in the front room now. But when the Boss
heard it from the secretary he kept the
same position and mumbled:
'Um.''
At II o'clock outside returns were COM
ing in: gains everywhere; the fight was
won. Some of the men in the front room
were singing. The fumes of liquor were
now observable in the heavy, rank and an
Gent strata of smoke. At midnight, the
game was up A man came in reeling with
drink, threw his hat against the ceiling and
yelled:
Brown comedies herr
Brown was chairman of the opposition
committee.
The secretary conveyed the news to the
Boss. He arose slowly and Strengthening
his hat said:
"Um''
A moment later he passed out through
the front door. The crowd damned itself
back to one side and by pre-arrangement
young man stepped out and spoke:
Mr.. Wayne, We are all workers here
for the party. The party has won: it is your
victory; victory almost for you alone;
an earnest of your marvellous leadership, a
monument to your sterling qualities of
mind and heart. And now We pledge you,
with our vocal organs which respond to
our feelings of deep gratitude to you and
enthusiasm for you-'Hip.'"
The three cheers were given, diverting
the lateral strata of smoke in upward cur
rents, and the Boss in monotone replied:
Il thank YOU"
Then the Boss went to bed.
And how did the Boss go to bed?
He went to his room in the hotel, and
took off his coat. From his inside pocket
he took great heavy envelope. These
contained his mining transactions in Colo
RADIO. No man nor woman in the state
knew of these-not even his wife How the
opposition would rejoice had it known he
was mine-owner, and how his own side
would have reprimanded him for lining his
own pockets with his influence; and how
ne would have been bled on every possible
occasion. Affect poverty il you have ii
not, particularly in politics. This envelope
was addressed 10 his wife. He pinned il
inside his night-shirt. Then from his pocket
ne extracted great wad of letters There
were many political secrets in these. He
burned them in the crate. From the inside
or his vest he took square envelope ad-
dressed to him in a woman's hand He
read it over carefully again and put 1t IN
the CRATE. Then he took a roll of bills
from his left-hand trousers pocket and
counted them. Eight hundred and fifty
dollars. Correct. These he placed in the
pocket of his night-sfirt. Next he took a
SO bill and three pieces of fractional silver.
placed then in his vest pocket, took of his
vest and hung IL on a chair and placed the
chair conveniently near the door, A thief
in the night might find this small amount
and be satisfied and not search further and
kin TO get more. Then he put on his night
shirt. turned down the bed looked the room
over. glanced at the bed gain and pulling
a chair UP 10 the CRATE, bit the end off a
cigar and began to smoke.
The reaction had come 70 the leader
Fortune had treated him well on this day.
the tickle jade. Should he coax the CO.
quette into tripping him Up. by being hap
py. No. Fortune was she" So men
spoke of her. She was woman. Her af-
lection could be held only by brutal cold
ness and indifference. Let him show but
the tiniest smile of appreciation for her
favors, and she would turn against him.
He was happy. then. and concealed it, No.
He had won i was true, but in all the
breadth OF the state he had no friends.
Every show of admiration for him was a
mask for the admirers seifshness This
was the Gods truth. victory-it was O
sham.
But II fortune believed she had favored
him. she might grow tickle She might on
this very night-this night Of his victory
murder him as he lay ssleep-the jury
would cali Il apoplexy: she might rob him
OF the plaudifs of tomorrow thinking he
cared for them
He fel, in every bone now that his pros
perity was at end. The idea forced itself
on his murky brain He would die IN his
sleep
SO the reaction OF his long political s;rug-
gle played with him. as Re sat before The
xrare Ill AZ last he canf-lsed 6eafh with