The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-16
GAIN OF ONE POLITICAL CAREER

GAIN OF ONE POLITICAL CAREER.
In the old days. when he was manager
for the big clothing house OF Hickman,
Fletcher < Co., Frank Humphrey never
thought much about politics. lie voted,
OF course. and had some vasue predilec-
tons and preJud-ces that served 10 de-
eide his choice of candidates, but bust
ness. his business, and pleasure, were up
permost with him.
With the girls whom he employed he
had the reputation of being a pretty gay
chap for his age, ne was past 80, and ne
made no particular effort 10 cloak his gal
lantries or to assume those virtues which
he had not The men with whom he asso-
ciated knew him for "a sport" but they
agreed that he was frank healthy lib
eTsl fellow, and that. though they al
ways, suspected his motives in dealing
with the pretty women whom he en-
plcyed. he was square" Probably ne
was as selfish as most men; perhaps be
vas what good women would call lib
eTtine. Sport is the word men use TO
express the same type.
In the Office where he was supreme, the
confidential clerks, all women. called him
Frank" and We'd for his favor. But
when Anne Kimbal, the new steno-
gTapheT was installed. she refused to IN
dulge in any sort of familiarity. She was
very pretty and no longer a child She
had the ways of an honest woman, great
brown eyes that looked at everyone and
everything with gentle but certain candor.
There was 70 nonsense about her Be
Ing poor. she worked hard bat cheerily.
Eeing virtuous, she did not overdress her
ccmely person. nor bedeck herself with
gauds that must be either sinister or
counterfeit when worn by honest, pretty
women who are poor.
Manager Frank Humphreys at once in
stalled her in favor. He was respectful.
but Infinitely considerate. She didn't know
anything of his motives, but took it for
granted that they We're good. When her
mother was i'll and she lost a week from
the office. her pay was sent 10 her. The
other women in the office were jealous.
and exchanged winks. But Anne minded
her work and said Mr.. Humphreys At
Christmas time he sent her a beautiful
present TO her home. To the other girls
he gave presents at the office. Her
office" present may have cost a dollar.
The other. the one that went 10 her home.
must have cost ten. This was an extra
ordinary indication Of delicacy in him.
and Anne was glad that her envious as
scciates knew nothing about it.
Finally, Mr.. Humphreys, having pros
his own. He asked Anne to take charge
OF his office She said that it might make
the others jealous. but he told her that
he meant TO take none of them with him.
He wanted only her-for his new office.
I'm to be married in the spring, Mr..
Humphreys. she said, not seeing him
Vince. and perhaps I'd better stay here.
You've been very kind to me, and if
thought you really needed
&c
main with me-Td like that; buff you're
to be married perhaps you'd better not
come" And he looked at her with kind
of wistful regard that she had never seen
IL him before.
The new firm of Humphreys & Hough-
telling prospered for a while. Then il held
its own for six months. Then it retro
graded. and at last. after two years.
l. failed. utterly. disastrously. ruinously
Perhaps the young bankrupt had forgot
ter Anne. She had left the old firm. He
knew that. He determined TO retrieve
his fortunes. and saw his chance when
he heard that the International Trac-
ton company meant to take a hand"
IN the approaching municipal election.
He met the spokesman Of the traction
company, and some ward bosses and d
banker He became candidate for the
city council. He was to get a regular
salary OF S25.O00 a year for looking after
the interests OF the International Trsc-
ton Company" When he entered into
this agreement he didn't exactly realize
that he was accepting a bride But he
was elected. and he stuck to his agree
ment. In the course of the first session
he found out that thsre were always
other opportunities to do business with
certain Legislative agents" who init
mated that If he voted so-and-so. and
would take this key and go down to this
and that deposit vaults ne might find a
little present in the shape Of negotiable
stock. or bonds. or. if he preferred it..
Greenbacks. The newspapers from time
t. time printed vague diatribes about
The City Council Combine, etc. but
Humphreys noticed that this only caused
n majority Of his colleagues to laugh.
and he. too, laughed.