Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
The FRIEND
UP THE RIVER

One afternoon last week the City Discov-
erer, while returning from enjoyable
stroll through the suburbs of Washington.
| met meek and mild elderly stranger OF
gentle manners and modest address. who
was walking along in the same direction
and whom he engaged In converse
tion- The City Discoverer soon found that
the old gentleman was not very well versed
! In matters political and that he was very
difhdent about expressing such opinions az
he had. But the D.scoverer and his chance
acquaintance chatted briskly about this,
| that and the other thing and finally the
Discoverer made some remark about the
conditions In New York state politics re-
vealed by the present Insurance inquiry.
And" continued the Discoverer. II took
great interest In reading those letters to
Senator Depew In which our 'cantankerous
friend up the river was mentioned"
Dear me- said the meek and mild ell
derby stranger, pulling nervously at his
straggly mustache.
Yes" continued the Discoverer, "those
letters were very interesting to me. l am
something of a character reader. and from
the way in which those letters spoke OF
our cantankerous friend up the river j can
come pretty near guessing what sort of a
man he Is"
And what kind of a man do you mag
inc he is?' inquired the meek and mild ell
derby stranger. gazing at the City Discov-
erer with patheticaliy dog-like eyes.
I'm the first place." said the Discoverer.
che must have been a corrupt and greedy
fellow, for II appears from those letters to
Senator Depew that he was constantly de-
manding money. And for what purpose?
Why, for nothing IN the world but graft.
Goodness said the meek and mild
stranger, protestingly. you are so en-
phatic. You may be mistaken. because
Not at ALL said the Discoverer The
man who wrote those letters In which he
spoke of our cantankerous friend up the
river evidently knew what he was talking
about. He was frightened. too, He was
evidently afraid that this big. burly.
swashbuckling, hard-swearing legislative
CRATER would do something damaging In
legislative way. Money was the only thing
that would keep him quiet"
Gracious" said the meek and mild
stranger Il wish you didn't think that way
about it, 1t Is such an unpleasant view
to"
firmly. mot at all. 1t il merely the nat
ural view. Why, can see this friend up
the river az plainly as II he were before
my eyes at the present time, .x ana mild
stranger in weak voice. Dear me-
you-
continued the Discoverer, delighted for once
to express his own opinions with an air or
finaiity. He is undoubtedly a large. bru-
tal young and physically capable person.
as crude in manners as he Is In morals.
man without any redeeming virtues. In
other words. he is the true type OF the
| CRATER. The fact that he accepts money
for promises to keep objectionable legisia-
ton of the statute books does not mean
| that he Is any better than the cheap graft
er of the streets"
Dear me-" said the meek and mild stran-
ger dear me! really wish you wouldn't
|
the Discoverer. otherwise, why should
| this man have written TO Depew as he
did?'
"why, you know" replied the meek stran-
ger, with a difildent and embarrassed man
ner, 1.-THE man who wrote the letters may
| have had an object In view He may have
been the man who collected the money.
The person mentioned In the letters as our
cantankerous friend up the river may not
| have received that graft.
flush. Tushv' said the Discoverer, I'M
patiently, did / not say that L have that
grafter's image before my eyes at the pres
ent time? Did not say that 1 could al
most see him.
II know" persisted the meek and mild
stranger, but I'm sure that you-
| Enough cried the Discoverer. 1.-THE
| man mentioned in that correspondence as
! our cantankerous friend up the river is
| just the sort of an individual that have
described. He is CRATER and a crook, and
| should be behind the bars"
I'm sorry you think So" said the meek
stranger, with desparing sigh.
II must leave you here" said the Dis
| coverer he prepared to turn down
side street Il have enjoyed our CONVERSE
| ton very much. Won't you tell me your
name?'
| I'D rather not said the meek and mild
stranger, efficiently. You are a man OF
such decided views But l don't mind tell
| ing you in confidence that I am the man
| mentioned in that Depew correspondence
| our rambunctious cantankerous friend up
| the river who must be satisfied"
hao laid ha
| to himself as he walked slowly homeward.
"Who would have thought ~"