The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-11-23
A THREAT THAT WON
ODD EXPERIENCE OF A SENATOR'S
PRIVATE SECRETARY.

PRIVATE SECRETARY.
An Incident In His Career That
Scared Him Out of Several Years
Growth and Made Him Ever After
Bail< Mt Women Callers.
Ordinarily the office of private secre-
tary to United States senator does not
bring with it any exciting adventures or
thrilling hairbreadth escapes" said an
old newspaper man who had had such a
job, but there WIS an exception in my
case right at the beginning Of my sena-
torinl career, and | had such a fright
that / wanted to quit right then and
there.
1T happened at the senator's house
one morning while he was at breakfast.
He lived in large house with big LOB
by or hall, and every morning most of
the available space in it was occupied by
all kinds of people wanting senatorial as
siStance of one kind or another.
ION this particular morning there must
have been 80 people of both sexes sitting
around waiting when a very handsome
young woman, beautifully dressed, came
in and asked to see the senator. 1t was
my business to be out in the lobby look
Ing after applicants, and, noticing that
she was not Of the common run of callers,
l politely escorted her to a small alcove
down the hall, where she would be out
of the crowd.
''She told me she wanted to see the
senator on particular business, and l in
formed her that she could not see him
that morning there, but she might see
him during the day at the capitol. She
insisted on seeing him then, and told
her that us her business would be refer
red to ME in any event she might as well
state it to me there, and I would attend
to it if possible.
"She declined, and insisted, assuring
her that l was the senator's private sec
rotary and personal representative and as
such was entitled to her respectful con-
sideration. You see, she was a rafting
pretty girl, and man will go out of his
way to render that kind service.
FINALLY she became less insistent on
seeing the senator and asked something
more about my authority in the premises.
OF course l made myself out to be just
as important as l could, and then she
came directly at me.
81 want some money she said
nervously, and l must have it. Do you
understand? l must have it,
"1f that's what you want said I,
then you will have to see the senator
himself, for l have no authority to give
anybody money
"'But you said you were his repre-
sentative and could act for him. didnt
your she inquired.
"'Ycs, madam. but in such matters the
senator must act for himself.'
"'Well, I've got to have the money,
she asserted in an ugly tone, and il you
don't give it TO me right now I'll scream
You'll what:' I almost shrieked at
her as l felt the beads of perspiration
breaking on my brow at the thought Of
what scream under the circumstances
would sound like by the time it got into
the newspapers.
"1'll Scream she repeated, as cool as
Il load of ice in February, If you don't
give me the money
II saw my finish right there, and
knew there was no good in struggling.
The time had come for some quick think
ing, and l did it then if ever in my life.
If she screamed, l was a ruined man,
for there were men and women all
around who didn't know me at all and
would believe the woman first always,
10 matter what I had to say. Even if
they did not the'scandal of such a thing
right in the senator's house would make
it necessary for him to let me go. / was
poor enough, but had $50 in my pocket
that l had just received as salary from
the paper l still worked for, and I went
down after it.
There said l, dragging it out and
handing it over to her in nice roll, is
Al. ToI,a - u
welcome
as that ALP she asked, as If disap-
pointed.
YES said l, all except few cents
in change which you can have If you
want them. 1 am a new man here and
have a family to support, and II you
make n scene it will ruin me and do you
no good. For heavens sake, take the
money and CO.
"'Oh, you may keep the change she
said, with naughty wave of her hand,
and very deliberately she stuck my roll
of bills into her jacket, got up and walk
ed out.
Il followed her to the door, and
never so much wanted to lay violent
hands on Il woman and fire her out as
did that one. When she had got out
sue, ueW Udck 10 lHe ululuB EOOh uOOI
in cold sweat and beckoned frantically
to the senator to come out. l was so
badly ratified that / couldn't talk, and
felt just as one does in nightmare.
| pointed the woman out to him as she
crossed the street and told him how l
had saved him from a blackmailer at the
cost of all my money and four years Of
my growth.
"'You did the very best and wisest
thing that could have been done, my boy,
he said, patting me on the shoulder re-
asSurinGly. and l grew calmer, but I
didn't get over the shock for month.
and during the six years l was with him
never saw any women visitors except
III the presence Of witnesses. Not much.
Once was an ample sufficiency for me.
He made good the $50 l had been held
up for. and we never saw the woman
again, nor could we ever obtain any clew
to her identity, though l told couple
of detectives the story and had them
on the lookout for her.
Just what kind of game she would
have played on the senator / can't say,
but not the screaming business, for there
would have been too many people about
for that plan to work. "-Chicago Inter
Ocean.