St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-11-02

"Faet is" interrupted Beck, W.
asked the clerk in the Planters II h
knew downtown lawyer who was
good fellow and he steered US up here
We found he was right, but"
'Well?" suggested Joyce, amazed
and amused.
SWELL, we haven't had anything tt
eat yet to-day. We thought you would
ask us to lunch, and we came bacl
hoping you'd ask US to dinner, but"
"Why in the name of Zeus didn't you
say so this morning?'' roared Joyce
grabbing his hat and hooking arm.
with them.
"Afraid you'd take US for con men,
said Beck.
| 1--WE hated to make such play at q
good fellow" agreed Smyth. :
Joyce had dim but lingering sus.
picion that he was being "played," but
he couldn't resist his new-found
friends. He took them over to the
Planters hotel, cashed check for $500
and loaned each Of them $50. They
remained there ten days, he saw them
frequently and liked them better At
each meeting. But"
Same old story" unused Joyce, when
he knew they had gone without pay
ing him. ''I'm mark and deserve to
be bunkoed. knew it was coming,
but overlooked it for awhile
Then he charged the $500 to profit
and loss and in the excitement of his
first campaign forgot all about Mr..
Beck and Mr.. Smyth, of New York.
AS he had expected, he had no trouble
getting the republican nomination for
congress, but the ease of that VIC
tory was more than Offset by the fight
which old John O'Brien, the democrat,
made against him.
The vote in Joyce's district was so
close that both sides claimed victory
till the official count was announced.
The figures gave the election to him
by narrow margin, and O'Brien filed
notice of contest. The new house was
democratic, and being q republican
with no strong friends either in con-
gress or in the democratic administra-
ton, Joyce had little confidence in his
final chance of landing in his seat at
the capital. He was so sure that he'd
be juggled out of the contest that he
stayed away from Washington, leav-
ing his affair in the hands Of few
friends and hired counselor. Even
his wife's persistent confidence failed
to reassure him.
"Never again for Bobby" he was
saying to her one night, mo more con-
gressional campaigns in this district
for yours truly. I'll never get another
such chance to beat old O'Brien."
Then the maid brought him tele.
gram:
Contest decided in your favor.
That democratic lobbyist from New
York did it. Congratulations. Temp
kins."
His wife kissed him IL times and |
cried for joy. They read and reread
the telegram from Attorney Temp
kins and puzzled over the sentence: |
That democratic lobbyist from New
York did it,"
"Wonder what it means?" unused
Joyce. II didn't hire any other Job
oyist. and if had he wouldn't have
,een . democrat"
Tompkins came back on Saturday
md was at Joyce's Office before ten
o'clock. When they had felicitated for
moment the young congressman
,sked:
what the deuce did you mean by
my democratic lobbyistT"
''Oh, sure, he's entitled to all the
redit. He worked day and night for
ou. You see, he's strong with Cleve-
and. going to be minister to Sweden
T some place, and knows every con-
ressman in the east. Fine lawyer,
90, and, oh, yes, by the way, here's
etter from him." Joyce grabbed the
.tter and read:
Dear Joyce-1nclosed hand you bach
lat $500 you kindly loaned us last spring,
would have sent 1t long ago, but want
to send with It some token Of my appre-
alton. Your friend Tonpkins will tell
ou tnat l did what could to win that
'ntest for you. OF course, you know I'm
democrat. admit hated to throw poor
OBrien, but he never was life-savinR
alton for me. and you were Look me un
men you come to Washington. Smyth
nds regards. Yours gratefully.
HOWARD BECK"
i tell you, Bob, that friend of yours,
eek, is prince" said Tompkins.
"Yes, and when he was here didn't
zen have style enough to ask him out
my house" growled Joyce. "Inever
III learn to trust Chicago Rec
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