Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-26

surprise. and feeling none.
"BeCause"-he laushCG-'I was in il.
At least, they thought so until they had let
me ne safely elected. As nearly | can
make il out. they began to plot about ten
days after you fell sick. At first they
, had ii on the slate to do up,
too But-the DAY after Christmas-Bur-
bank sent for me"
Wait "A minute" 1 Interrupted And L
began to think. 1t was on Christmas day
that Burbank telephCned FOR the first time
in nearly three weeks. inGuiring about my
condition. | remembered their telling me
how minute his questiun:ngs were. And L
had thought his solicitude was proof of his
friendship Instead, he had been inquiring
to make sure about the reports in the pa
pers that | was certain TO recover. in order
that he might shift the factors in his plot
accordingly. When did you say Burbank
sent for your | asked.
On Christmas day Woodruff replied.
laughed; re looked al me inqu:ringly.
Nothing said l. 'Ony old joke-as
old as human nature. Go on
Christmas day" ne continued: Il didn't
get to him until next morning. l can't fig
ure out just why they invited me into their
combine
Eut could figure it out. easily. If had
died. my power would have disintegrated
and Wcodruff would have been of no use
10 them. Wien they Were sure | go
ing to live. they had TO have him because
he might he able 10 assassinate me. GER
tain.y could 50 cripple me that | woud-as
they reasonable helpless under their
Woodruff this. | thought.
We'll" said t. and what happened?'
Burbank gave me dose OF his great and
gracious way'-you ought to see the side
he puts on now!-and turned to
Goodrich. He had bCca mighty careful not
TO give himself away any further than that.
Then Goodrich talked to me for three solid
hours, showing me il was my duty 10 the
party as well rs to myself to join him and
Burbank in eliminating the one distIrber of
harmony-that meant You"
And didn't they tell you they'd destroy
you if you didnt?'
oh that of course" he answered indif-
ferently.
Wei. what did you dor
played with EN- till | was elected. Then
l dropped Goodrich a line. You can go to
h | wrote. 4 travel only with men
Very imprudent. was my comment.
Yes he admitted. but | had to do
something 20 get the dirt OF my hands"
so Burbank has gone over to Goodrich
| went on presently, as much to myself as
to him.
Il always knew he was one of those chaps
you have to keep scared to keep straight"
said Woodruff. They think your polite
ness indicates fear and your friendship
fright Besides. he's got a delusion that
his popularity carried the west for him and
that you and | did him only damage"
Woodruff interrupted himself to laugh. "A
friend of mine" he resumed, was on the
train with Scarborough when he went east
to the meeting of Congress last month.
He tells it was like President-elect on
the way to be inaugura.ed. The people
turned out AT every crossroads, even be-
yond the Alleghanies. And Burbank knows
it, If he wasn't clean daft about himself
he'd realize that if il hadn't been for you
well u hate to say how badly he'd have
get .eTt. But then, If it hadn't been for
you. he'd never have been governor. He
was dead one, and you hauled him out Of
the tomb"
True enough. But what did 1t matter
now?
He's going to get horrible jolt before
many months Woodruff went on. II can
see you after him..
You forget. He's President" answered.
Hes beyond our reach"
'Not when he wants a denomination" in
sisted Woodruff.
''He can get that without us-if," said.
You must remember we've made him a
fetish with our rank and file. And he's
something of a fetish. with the country
now that he's President. No. we can't de-
stroy him-can't even injure him. He'll
have to do that himself. II it's done. Be-
side
Go tie continued tomorroWA