Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-01-04
ing into the fire.

ing into the fire,
1t is Il curious fact, perhaps worth men
ti"ming here. that it is nearly impossible
for Il college bred man to look at CRATE
fire without being carried back to the old
dayS-thc days when h" was young,
brave free and honest. The phenomenon
was familiar to Ainsworth, aud upon this
occasion quite welcome.
In the ohScurcSt corner of the room sat
an old colorcd man. long Il servant of the
AinSworths and destined thereafter to
attain some measure of fame as ''thc gov
ernor's shadow" When. presently,
AinSWorth arose and began to pace the
floor, the black mans eyes followed him
with the ycHrmnG sulicitudc that one may
see 80 often in dogs eyes.
There was Il 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 hrtrayink anxiety. He put a
visiting card into AnSworth'S hand,
"Ihc devil himself" said the governor
elect softly. "Well. knew somebody
would find me. but hoped it wouldn't lie
this man not so carry, anyway: not until
I'd had time to think it out. Yet it may
us well he now"
The Scrvitor bowed with his own pecul-
lar gravity and then went out into the
hall hy way of the bedroom. Two min
utcS later he returned with the visitor,
retiring to the bedroom after uShcrins
him in.
David Harrow. party leader in the state,
and commonly mentioned in the newspa-
pcrS merely as the Boss, with Il capital
B. would have been Il man of good
height if he had ever stood erect, but GER
tainly he never did it in public lie had
always the look of one who is bcginnin:
to make formal bow, and his characters
iStic expression was one of mingled so
lemnity and condcSccnSion, with an indie
Enable suggestion of muckcry. His griz-
zlcd, pointed beard lay close upon his
chest for a moment as he paused before
AinSworth and murmurcd Good even
ing" Neither of the men extended Il
hand.
"You have been the guest of your pro-
Spcctivc fathcr-in-aw, Mr. Schuyler Her
Old said Harrow. 'Why have you de
serted him."
The impcrtin"ncc of this question did
not in the least surprise Answorth, and
he replied frankly:
Il wanted to he alone, to think, and |
felt it diScOurtcOuS to shut myself up
anywhere in his house So came here
as quietly as possible
\ gray ghost of smile fitted across
the old politicians face.
"Goud resolutions for the new year. he
said. and AinSWorth's eyes aS>cntcd. 1T
begins tomorrow. and your admini>tra
ton also. by the way. how about Lang
ford:'
Il hay" decided not to appoint him.
replied .AnSworth That is the first of
my good resolutions"
Il have your written pledge" said IIar-
row.
1T is a matter of no consequence, of
COURSE" responded Ainsworth, that you
get 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 a
raw palate The important matter is
that this thing was the price of your sup
port of Bruce and Lawrence for the state
senate. | 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" rcioincd IIar-
row, making fcnt of drawing Il docu-
mcnt from his breast pocket. "The nat
ural inference will be that it was Il bar
gam for my support of you, and that hav-
inG rcapcd the reward in your election
you now rcpudiatc the payment. The
publication Of this thing will ruin you,
AinSWOrth."
"Gur bargain was made in the presence
uf''--
Congressman IIanlcy. who has since
died" said Harrow with the air of IL
hired mourncr. How unfortunate. Ii
he had lived, | should have had to fix
him."
'Nou ask me to appoint nOtoriouSly
unfit man to very high position" said
Aiusworth. Il once weakly agreed to do
81, and now | won't. That's the whole
Of it,"
at is essential to my plans that Lang
FORD shoIld be appointed" said the Boss.
"If you do 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"
"You refer to Morton Raymond" re-