Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-18

chance that there might be some one VINO
would want to buy a ticket or send come
message by the telegraph; but he did not
see Musser, who considered that it might
be unwise to call attention to his plans
by purchasing ticket, and who certainly
did not wish to send a telegram to any one.
The lawyer swung himself. almost with
Jaunt1ness, up to the rear platform of the
old-fashioned, lowroofed, last car, and as
the train went by the door in which Frank
stood he made such good progress through
the car door that the young man had only
a glimpse of a well-clothed fat leg which
he did not identify.
Musser was clever in the course he pur-
sued in Philadelphia and, as a result, start
ed home again with the mortgages in his
pocket and having left behind him an i'm
preston that he was Selkirk's close friend.
whose only aim was to save him from dis
aster threatened by his own impetuous ma
ture and support of an unworthy candi-
GATE against the best sentiment of the seq
ton.
He arrived in Toms River after dark. He
made no stop at the Express" office
Rather he hurried by it when glance
through its windows revealed that Selkirk
was within in company with Sam Bull and
others There was almost no one on the
street, and he spoke but briefly to the two
or three he met. Safe in his house again
he took the papers from his pocket and was
examining them with an expression on his
lace which showed that he thought he had
done very good days work indeed when
Henry Hubbard knocked at the back door
not too loudly, and he rose to let him in
ne was not glad to see him. On the train
ne mad given the situation thought and
believing that he held Selkirk in the hollow
or his hand, had decided that if he could
force him to obedience he would cast Hub
Ddru ASIDE; Inc TACT that it had been he
who had shown him this chance would NOT
prevent him from dropping him like a hot
potato II he could control Selkirk. He had
no no aeslre 10 own and run the paper. With
Out oei II ne did not believe that he could
make 1t pay, and he was the last man in
the world who would be willing to lose
money in order to gain revenge. In The
second place, without Selkirks brains and
khoWledge OF the business he did not he
heve that the paper would be effective as a
poAtical power. He had little faith in Huh-
bards possibilities as an editor
But he did not make all this clear tn
Huobard When the foreman left him that
night he felt assured that as soon az Mnsl
ser could fereclose on the ''Exnrass,, he
would, and that when he did the mama of
the working editor WouId he H. II VI
bard. ihuo
The next step in Musser's camnaien noust
or necessity be a talk with Selj5irk q
which he should reveal his new mower ana
make him bow to II. He sent word ~ lin,
e ehat ne would ike to have a long and con-
the morning when he started the note o,,o,
IN the care of a man who worked ahon.
ms barn, and this messenger did NOT Ga
Seihti tbc the Express office. Instead
ne was informed there by Billy that tba . y
itor was at the Cooper House and tbitho
INTO the very stronghold of the onnositto1,'
Mussers em1ssary went. Selkirk read The
h, csarefuny and then tossed it across the
breakfast table to Cooper. -e
Would you do it?" he asked
certainly I'd do it." said Cooner of.o.
d minutes thought, and after SeIl,frl. he =
written an answer to Musser's note sayina
bis ofti e w tba De glad to have him call at
fr1rr
dropped Tor more enlivening topics
a. the MONDAY dinner table the talk drift
ca 10 general matters and Cooper spoke of
the expenses of the campaign fA' "
I've had lot of fun out If ~ - cola
thought pay Aor IT,
How much has it cost you?" asked Bet.
sey, with mild curiosity. Del
Wont TELL" said Cooper erinnfre, ~.
moment later his face became serioIs aI,fi
say this though; was scared when T fie-
ured up. The worst of 1t is that it's heen
spent honest Now, If I'd had the satisfac
that" AiAe
you bribe!' said Betsey, scornfully
But, seriously, said Cooper, politics is
costlier than fast horses or gittin' married
l ~ meyer was 50 astonished. It's took jest
all the cash I've got I couldn't raise a
thousand dollars without sellin' stock Or
mortgagin' landp'
II you've really got to have q couple of
uoiais " SPeHo liiiS AFTERNOON, said Bet
sey In the midst of the general laugh, and
with fine sarcasm, why, mebbe I could
lend 1t to yeI
"But we'd all have to turn our backs be-
fore she could make the loan" said Sell
kirk, thinking Of the extraordinary maneu-
verings which Betsey Bobbin had been
forced into in order to find the cash with
which to pay or Musser's Portuguese
You ought to be ashamed OF yourselfy'
said Betsey.
Musser did not venture to the Express
ofiice that evening until he was sure that
he would flnd 6elkirk alone there. Then he
went h almost tiatdiy. He was very