The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-08-16
!: PLAYING WITH FIRE !:
ByD. n. Chlauncey.
ftYIT ELL, it's Ill Of; We vim"
! Observation-Disclosures
wv 4 (Copyrigllt. lsol, ~ Authors syndicAts) X

fIIT ELL, it's al of; we win"
W. wv The party at the extreme
i end Of the bar turned from. their
glasses and regarded the newcomer
with questioning glances--an but
I one. The latter, tall, lanky man
/. with strong features, keen and shifty
:: ewes and o smooth side face with long
chin whiskers from the, heavy mus
tache down, gave q swift look about
the bar room and then turned to the
speaker witnssomething of disgust in:
his face. l> -, = ,,s>..,- q: ~
N y .'Haven't you learned yet Joe, not:
to talk in q public room? Forget It..
.:.But--" = ~ = +@ '3, "-. Il;
aBut nothing. Take a drink; the
changes not made yet; it will steady
your nerve. ~. a5.''s$ .. 4 '.'>'}
The black-haired young fellow who
had joined the party in. state OF e4-
citement, became p clam and silently
threw down the drink handed him ny
the bar tender. ...a. 49, 49,.
\. "Come to my room at nine" said the
long man with the chin whiskers in
low voice. Then louder '"Well, good
.nipht,~ boys, I've got to 60 over that
reapportionment bill tonight"
An hour later the same party were
gathered in Maj. Franklin's room.
They had dropped in one at a time in
a quiet way and the major had rung
for an ample supply of liquor and
cigars.
:'Now, Joe, what is it?" asked the
major.
,"it's all of. The Consolidated Elec-
trio people have sent to Washington
for Harold Treat, and that means the
bill will 60 through. So guess we
don't lose out on this session."
"Ain't that Sign Of weakness"
suggested the heavy-faced man with
the. gray eyes. "Looks to me like
the drowning man grasping at a
straw" 1<1.'% -"
"Treat never yet LOST measure when
he tried to put it through. Heavens
knows what they had to pay him, but
it's q sure thing that, the bill goes
through" ;ss1I''
In due time Harold Treaty famed
throughout the. country as a lobbyist
of boundless resource and marvellous
tact, arrived at the state <capital.% ne
was accompanied by:,his wife = WON
an of great charm Of manner, and .
personality: so strong: as to win from
the start those with whom she came
: ia contact. : Treat went to " work
quietly to round up; enough members
to pass the Consolidated Electric bill.
He first went over the ground care
fully and learned what had been done
The newspapers were: full OF the mat
- ter and everywhere, throughout the
state. the bill was denounced as an
outrage upon the public. The legis-
lators were frightened +atather wide7
sprsad &oppositio and 9a4}'ys Who or
dinarily, could have been reached In
one way or another, were afraid to
brave the storm. = 'a, 80
Treat remained cool: and confident
and within two weeks it was. given out
quietly that four members had been
added to those formerly pledged to
support the measure. There was still
one vote, lacking, and 1t seemed that
: it was impossible. to get it. Treat
smiled imperturbably and said he
would How he expected to do 1t the
Oldest politicians at the capital could
not guess. ,>>..... - j., T. =. =. =" =
Meantime Mrs. Treat had remained
wholly, oblivious to the great contest.
Her brilliant attachments, her modest
demeanor, her. charming and ingen-
nous manner and her pervading per-
.sonality won her friends everywhere
in the society of the, capital. She
dressed with the most exquisite taste
and at once upon her appearance in
the functions of 1.-THE official set" at
tracted the attention and admiration
of all men. Among those was Henry
Raymond, one of the most brilliant
and conspicuous members of the leg
islature; man of unusual gifts, who
had won, pronounced success in his
profession and who came from dis
tinguished family. = Raymond was
classed among the few members who
were acknowledged on all sides as be-
ing absolutely incorruptible. Pos
sessed of an ample income from his
profession, he had accepted the nom
inatton TO the legislature at consider
able personal cost, solely from con-
,viction that it was his duty to the
state. Back Of this there may have
been an ambition reaching far out and
upwards into the future, but If so his
nearest confidants did not know 1t.
In any event, his public career had
been dominated by the highest ideals,
ana he was the 5boastsand: pride of the
better element among the citizens of
his district. LIT " - -
! It happened about the time that the
Consolidated Electric bills. needed
: only one, vote to insure their passage,
. veritable battle er sued between this
strong, powerful man, and this keen,
adroit and resourceful woman. She
was the trump card in the hand of
her clever and Inscriptions husband.
When he had accomplished all that