The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-11-15

well, we haven't had anything tc
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 arms
with them.
"Afraid you'd take us for con men,
said Beck.
1--WE hated to make such a play at a
good fellow" agreed Smyth.
Joyce had a 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 $3.50. 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. s1'm mark and I deserve to
be bunkoed. I 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 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 Tomp-
kins."
His wife kissed him IL times and
cried for joy. They read and reread
the telegram from Attorney Tomp-
kins and puzzled over the sentence:
"That democratic lobbyist from New
York did it,"
''Wonder what it means?" unused
Joyce. 81 didn't hire any other lob
byist, and if I had he wouldn't have
been a democrat
Tompl1ins came back on Saturday
and was at Joyce's office before ten
o'clock. When they had felicitated for
moment the young congressman
asked:
"What the deuce did you mean by
my democratic lobbyist?'"
ooh, sure, he's entitled to all the
credit. He worked day and night for
you. You see, he's strong with Cleve-
land, going to be minister to Sweden
or some place, and knows every con-
gresham in the east. Fine lawyer,
too. and, oh. yes, by the way, here's
letter from him." Joyce grabbed the
letter and read:
Dear Joyce-Incloscd I hand you back
that $500 you kindly loaned us last spring.
l would have sent it long ago, but want
ed to send with 1t some token of my appre-
citation Your friend Tompkins will tell
you that l did what I could to win that
contest for you. OF course, you know I'm
democrat. admit hated to throw poor
CID o'Brien, but he never was. a life-saying
station for me, and you were. Look me IN
When you come to Washington. Smyth
sends regards. Yours gratefully,
HOWARD BECK"
II tell you, Bob, that friend of yours.
Beck, is prince" said Tompkins.
Yes, and when he was here didn't
even have style enough to ask him out
to my house" growled Joyce. Inever.
will learn to trust men."-Chicapo Rec
ord-Herald.