Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-31

? the CRATE and was star
ing into the FIRE.
It is a curious fact, perhaps worth men
tioning here, that it is nearly impossible
for a college bred man to look at crate
fire without being carried back to the old
days-the days when he was young.
brave. free and honest. The phenomenon
was familiar to Ainsworth, and upon this
occasion quite welcome
In the obscurcst corner Of the room sat
an old colored man, long n servant of the
Ainsworths and destined thereafter to
attain some measure OF fame as ''the gov
errors shadow" When, presently,
Ainsworth arose and began to pace the
floor, the black mans eyes followed him
with the yearning sOlicitude that one may
see so often in dogs eyes
There was knock on the door, and it
startled both master and man. The gov
ernor elect made a slight gesture of the
hand. Old Horace stepped softly toward
the bedroom OF the suit and disappeared
therein. When he emerged, it was with
a manner betraying anxiety He put
visiting card into Ainsworth's hand.
'The devil himselfT' said the governor
elect softly. "Well, 1 knew somebody
would find me, but 1 hoped it wouldn't he
this man-not so early, anyway; not until
: n had time to think it out Yet it may
AZ well be now"
The servitor bowed with his own pecul-
far gravity and then went out into the
hall by way of the bedroom. Two min
utes later he returned with the visitor,
retiring to the bedroom after ushering
him in.
David Harrow, party leader in the state,
and commonly mentioned in the newspa-
pers merely as the Boss, with a capital
3D." would have been n man Of good
height il he had ever stood erect, but GER
tainly he never did If in public. He had
always the look of one who is beginning
TO make a formal bow, and his character
istic expression was one of mingled so
lemnity and condescension, with an indie
Unable suggestion OF mockery. His griz-
zled, pointed beard lay close upon his
chest for a moment as he paused before
Ainsworth and murmured Good even
ing" Neither OF the men extended
hand.
"You have been the guest of your pro-
spective father-in-law, Mr.. Schuyler Her
DID," said Harrow. ''Why have you de-
serted himZ"
The imperfinence Of this question did
he replied frankly:
81 wanted to be alone, to think, and 1
felt it discourteous to shut myself up
anywhere in his house. So came here
as quietly as possible"
A gray ghost of a smile fitted across
the old politicians face.
Good resolutions for the new year." he
said; and Ainsworth's eyes assented. at
begins tomorrow, and your administra-
ton also. By the way, how about Lang
ford?"
az have decided not to appoint him."
replied Ainsworth. ''That is the first OF
my good resolutions"
At have your written pledge" said Har-
row.
course" responded Ainsworth, that you
got it out of me at . o'clock in the morn
ing, when had not slept for forty-eight
hours, during which period had Travelled
several hundred miles and had made
heaven knows how many speeches over
raw palate The important matter Is
that this thing was the price OF your sup
port of Bruce and Lawrence for the state
senate. 1 regarded their election as Of
equal Importance with my own because
they were thoroughly identified with re-
form measures That was my bargain
with you; it was not for myself And
you defeated both those men,"
''There is nothing said about these men
In this writing of yours, rejoined Har-
row. making feint Of drawing docu-
ment from his breast pocket The nat
ural inference will be that il was a bar
gain for my support of you. and that hav-
ing reaped the reward in your election
you now repudiate the payment The
publication of this thing will ruin you.
Ainsworth."
"Our bargain was made in the presence
off,
Congressman Hanley, who has since
died" said Harrow with the air OF a
hired mou-ner. "How unfortunate. IL
he had lived. L should have had to fix
him."
-You ask me to appoint a VIGOROUSLY
unfit man to a very high position" said
Ainsworth. 81 once weakly agreed TO do
so. and now I won't That's the whole
OF It"
cit is essential to my plans that Lang
ford should be appointed said the Boss
-'If you 60 not do it, shall have your
written pledge photographed and shall
give copies, with my own story Of the af-
fair, to the man who can do you the most
harm"
s'YOu refer to Morton Raymond re-