The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-02
THE HAND OF THE MASTER
BY HENRY HILLS.

Copyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Col
 He had not realised how deeply he de- sired to win until now that he saw the prize slipping away from him. In fact. he was not yet quite ready for politi- cal career; he needed few years more of professional labor in order to put him. self in . financial position which would warrant his entrusting himself amid the pitfalls of official life. ta
 But she had set her heart upon his going to the Legislature-wanted to spend the honeymoon at the State Capital, she said. with recognized position. And so he had. thrown discretion to the winus and entered the campaign.
 The moment was propitious. as she had urged. The incumbent of the ofice had moved up higher and 1t was Center coun- tvs turn to have the ofiice. And no one In Center county stood higher nor was in closer touch with the party leaders than Arthur Woolcott. At first 1t had looked like a walk-away. But later opposition had nysteriously developed and had grown so strong that all Wool cott's powers as S fighter had been called into play and he had gloried in the fray. He had won, too--at least he had thought so until now. Of the & delegates to the county convention hs had 70 instructed
  out of the F uninstructed delegates. Once endorsed by the county convention the fight was over, as the other counties con- ceded that Center should have the nomi- Lnee. ~ l
 But now while the convention was as- sembling W ooicott sat in a room down stairs and saw defeat staring him in the face. He had been called there to meet some friends" and immediately upon his entrance smelled mischief. There was present one MT. Whitley, a local corpor- ation attorney. Major Sam Robey, whom Woolcott recognised as one of the coldest and cleverest lobbyists in the State. and two other men with whom he was not acquainted.
 With the most diplomatic indirection, but so plainly as not to be misunderstood, they had unfolded their desires. The op- position had been instigated, 1t develop ed. entirely by certain influences" which desired friendly Indiana in the Legisla- ture. They now held the key to the sit- uation.
 You see. it's just this way. Woolcott," said Major Robey, smiling blandly. we've got at least ten out of the 12 unirstructed delegates-and I think we've got every blamed one. But more than that we've got six of your fellows who I have figured out a good excuse to break away from instructions"
 It appeared, however, that the certain infiuences' were not violently opposed to Woolcott, If assured that he would be a friendly Indian," and upon such assur- ance properly given, would withdraw their support of the other candidate and make the election of Woolcott certain. The | certain influences" it was delicately conveyed, were persons interested in the c. T. & B. Company about whose fran chbses considerable legislation was pend- ing.
 l Woolcott was fighting mad and had Major Robey not been so long about com ing to the end of his harangue, would have tossed the proposition back into his teeth, perhaps with physical accom- paniments. But while the majors sooth- ing voice was bringing the proposition to a close he glanced through the half closed shutters and saw Helen Kirton | tripping along to the convention with a | number of friends. The sight drove the blood back upon his heart. Helen, his affianced, going to the scene of his triumph only to witness his defeat and share in his humiliation. He shrank from the disappointment he saw coming into her dancing eyes He shrank, too, from admitting to her that he had failed -she whose faith in his ability was per- I IeCt Anu lHcH lnS OI meet ing the rest of the worrS a defeated man galled him. It was his first try for a po- litical office, and to be defeated in his | own county seemed very bitter. By the time the majors suave tones were stilled he was debating with himself. The G. T. & B. franchises did not affect his district, anyway. but the entire mat ter was reputed to be rotten and. corrupt. He replied abruptly:
 
 in ten minutes"
 "All right" responded the major. But remember there isn't much time. The convention will be called to order in 30 minutes"
 Woolcott went straight upstairs to the gallery of the convention hall and straight to where Helen sat. She greeted him with a gay smile.
 "You are not to come for your laurels.