The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-01

1t was past midnight. and the gentle
man from Stafford was sleeping the
sleep OF safety and virtuods content.
when his doorbell jerked and pealed and
ratified with an appalling din. Visions
OF ire and death and disaster struggled
through his mind as he tumbled out OF
bed and hurried uncertainty down stairs
dragging part or his wardrobe with
him
Who is it?'' he called warIly, and the
voice that answered filled HIS soul with
WEAKNESS.
Its Bfnnegan and Kane. Of Hanover.
Can we see you a minute?"
The door opened with obvious reluc-
lance, Williams disheveied head peertnr
inhospitably around it. Finnegan
greeted him, hatIess. breathIess, bu.
ever cheerful.
Sorry to disturb you. but the ses-
sion tonight is very important. and we
are deputized to bring you back"
There isn't a train" began Will
Jams testify. but Kane cut him short.
We have a special car Too tad, but
1t wouldn't be'safe to ignore the sum-
mons There was a horrible row when
they found you weren't there. Hurry
now; climb into your clothes and DOM
stop for frills. The whole House Of
Assembly is being kept in sessic-. for
you"
When the gentleman from Stafford
was bundled aboard the hand car, ten
minutes later, he was rumpled anC in
complete in toilet, and In a very had
temper Every garment felt as though
1t were about to escape from its moor
fngs; his collar button had lost itself in
the fray and the impatient Kane had
hustied him on without collar or cuffs
or ue' callously suggesting that he cut
the latter in his pocket, and purchase
all missing articles In town the next
day.
NOW, Williams" suggested Ffnneoar
cheerfully, Just lend a hand and baIn
work this thing. We nearly cracked
our backs coming down, and we've GOT
TO go faster yet on the home RIM
fou re not travelling on a pass this trim
me last train north reaches the iunc-
ton In sfxty-five minutes. and wen
make that train or die. It doesn't usu-
ally stop, you know. but we've ordera5
1t Ragged for your convenience. and n
wouldn't be polite TO keep 1t waiting
Nothing like pull in this world. Now!
Ready. Steady Col"
The gentleman from Stafford was
portly, and unused to violent exercise
Black night was about him. a raw mid
night wind penetrated TO his sh,var,n.
marrow. suggestive of rheumatisr, an5
grip and pneumonia. He groaned =,
spirit, cursing the charter bill and an
connected with It, and reluctantly bent
his back to the inevitable.
IL was nearly in the morning -hen
tln7egan and Kane brought their priza
into the Assembly Chamber. and the
sight that met their eyes was beautif,,I
to see.
The House of Assembly was stiI1 IN
session. and Winchen still had the floor
lie was talking in the same level voice.
but he was getting hoarse, and grim
lines of anxiety had begun to show as
the hours crawled by and his messen-
ge-s did not appear.
The House had been exhausted long
since. Some were hunched down IN
their chairs, staring gloomiIy at floor
or ceiling. others slept openly and
shameIessiy. and only Van Horn was
still alert. watching his chance.
The Speaker put his hand to his
mouth as the three travellers entered
one hatless, one gioveless. the third
coliarless. and all worn and disheyeled
and smudged from their work on the
hand car, and the sleepers awoke sud
denly at the howl of laughter which
greeted the spectacle. WincheII dropped
thankfully into his seat and laughed
with the rest, while from a desk under
the gallery there arose a weary voice
OF thanksgiving:
Are you really through, winehen2
Thank Godr'
Verify. the wicked prosper. Assembly
Bill No. H3 passed House and Senate.
and the Governor also. at high speed.
and was a law on the day of charter
elections. On that Tuesday "the gang
ried the polls and elected its own mayor.
thanks to a judicious manipulation OF
ballot boxes, and lived high and royalty
upon the emoluments of office. To be
sure few years later the voters OF
that city awoke to the knowledge that
they were being eaten alice. and arose
In wrath and turned the gang out neck
and crop-perhaps TO let another gang
in; but those Intervening years had
oozed with fairness and plenty. and the
members of the gang never deprecated
the value of their services.
OF a truth. the way of the politician
Is past finding out.