The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-05
CHAPTER XIX.

OF llInCiS that Logan AlOEAASohs DOOOAo
and others have made famous. He had ar
rived in time to SIT on the knee of Jesse h
Dubois and ask lisping questions about the
man Lincoln. whose name he heard so
often. He had grown up without much
schooling but with the hard sense and
Irish wit which made him a natural politi-
cian Best of all. those who lived nearest
and knew him best knew that he never
had been so much as accused of any ques-
tionable act He was called "John" by
most of the inhabitants of three counties,
and Honest John" by the young lawyers
who traded school districts with one
other In order 10 conduct a campaign"
with fervid oratory.
Hello, john" began Shacklett. before he
removed his hat. Let that laundry alone
and sit down for about ten minutes. 1
want TO talk 10 you like brother"
John Mcnamara let the collars afc cuffs
fall TO the floor and dropped into chai-.
while Shacklett drew up another. pushed
back his hat, and rested both hands on his
cane. He was goirg to talk for s2O,OoO-and
the girl-and when that hat went back in
that way the other side always went to
work with increased energy.
Now, john" he began at once, I'm not
going TO talk about any account with you.
You know how the books stand. and I'll
admit there's little balance due me since
1 turned that trick at the Vile for you and
knocked out old Putnam; but that cuts no
ice now I did that because you've always
been friend. even if you never got
chance to do much for me. Now's your
chance" The old man nodded energetical-
ly and opened his mouth to speak, but
Shacklett went on rapidly. ''Its the chance
OF my lifetime. I'm not going to offer to
by you; you know I'm too smart for that,
ana that know that a million couldn't
touch you with a telegraph pole. But
there's $4,000 in it for me for one more
vote for the Chicago BILL You know what
that is for me. viii you do it and not take
cent. but do it for me?''
The old senator from Egypt. out of whom
some Of the city members got a good deal
of fun at times. scarcely moved his head,
and his tone was as even as if he was dis
cussing the price of wheat or the best crop
to follow clover.
Noel" he said, II never called on you
for anything yet that you didn't accom-
plish for me. You always got there. and
you always got there for me. 1 don't forget
such things. There was that time you came
down and saved that convention for me.
I know that you gave up week in Chicago
TO do that. and there was hot time among
the boys there then, too. I've never done
much thanking with words in my life;
somehow don't take to tellin' a Teller how
much thank him. But 1 never yet went
back on friend that asked my help.
You know that it's no use to offer me
money, and you haven't done it. If you
had don't know but what that would o.
evened up our score to date. But you
know me too well-or maybe you was too
smart Anyhow, 1 guess you know that
there's not enough money in Chicago to
buy me-and never will be.
But I'll vote for the bill for you 1 know
what the money is to you, and you won't
lose any sleep about the morals OF spending
1t, guess. Only, them Chicago fellers and
their members mustn't come around me.
III follow the lead of Forsythe, their steer
ing committee. and if there's anything 10
be said off the floor you must come and tell
me. Now don't say a word till I'm done
talking"
Shacklett's eyes were shining, which they
had not done for years, and which he had
carefully trained them for years not to do,
and he was about TO become effusively
thankful. which he had never been before
in his life-though he had never won so
much before. But Senator Mcnamara went
on without a change in his tone or any
Tightening OF his control over himself and
his visitor. Shacklett afterward envied him
his poise from the bottom of his heart The
next words made Shacklett glad that he
had not interrupted the monologue
You know my position, NOEL the
stream OF language flowed on without rip
pie. land you know exactly what this is to
me. The folks down home call me Honest
JOHN and no man dares to say a word
about my honesty. When the Chicago
crowd threw a lot of money into the dis
trict to help Walsh beat me and it got out,
that made me solid as long as 1 want to
stay. I'm going to quit now. You know
it. I'm going home knowing that 1 never
touched cent Of crooked money, and am
as honest as was when 1 came here
But I'm going home covered with the
filth OF the stockyards whether 1 stole a
hog or not. They'll believe that I was
bought. I can't make 'em believe anything
else. and you can't, by long shot. They'll
say got a big pile, for it would take a
fortune to get me. They'll wonder at all
the stores o. nights what 1 done with it.
They'll come around to sell me their blast
ed farms and a new buggy, and they'll
watch to see how Mary and the girls dress.
"As long as live they'll say to strangers:
That's old John Mcnamara; he used to be
In the Senate, but he sold out the time of
them big Chicago deals: he got a big pile;
nobody'd "a believed he'd done it.
"And then. when 1 die, they'll say of nv
children that Bob has a nice farm-his ia
ther got rich selling out when he was in
the Senate; and that Carrie married well
because she was rich-her father made a
lot Of money when he was a senator and
them big Chicago bills was passed. Yes
terday / thought I'd go down into my grave
old Honest John Mcnamara now I'm going
to go home disgraced among the people
that've known me so long. If you say So
II sha'n't be said that L ever went back on
friend II you say so, Noel. I'll vote fol
the bills. but want you to understand the
situation. Send me some kind o. word II
understand when the tussle begins In the
Senate, and I'll play your suit"
The old man got up and began to count
his collars on the floor as il his laundry
slips were the most important things in IN,
world The conference was closed. yer,
evidently. Shacklett left without a word
and with his face as impassive as IL wa,
me time he won the TWENTY-FIVE hundred