Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-24
XIII.
In Which a Mouse Helps a Lion.

to my dear friend" Roebuck. AS 1t was,
with each refusal had seen his confidence
In me sink; IL he should get an mixing how
near to utter disaster l and my candidate
were, he would be upon me like tiger
upon its trainer when he slips. 1 reasoned
out my course while We We're descending
from the fifth Kings" office to our cab:
II the negotiations with the opposition
should be successful. l should not get a
cent; If they should fail. Wall street would
be frantic to get it's contributions into my
hand; therefore. the only sane thing to do
was to go west and make such prepara-
tons as / could against the worst
Let's go back to the Holland" said l
to Roebuck. in a weary. bored tone. These
people are waste of time. I'll start home
tonight. and when they in the morning
papers that I've left for good. they may
Gene to their senses. But they'll have to
hunt me out. I'll not go near them again.
And when they come dragging themselves
to you. don't forget how they've treated us
To-Day"
Roebuck was silent, CHANGING furtively at
me now and then, not knowing what to
think How is it possible to win without
them?" he finally said. This demagosue
Scarborough has set the people crazy. l
can't imagine what possesses these men of
property with interests throughout the
country. They are inviting ruin"
l smiled MY dear Roebuck.' I replied.
do you suppose I'm the man to put all
my eggs into one basket-and that basket
Wall street,"
And 1 refused to talk any more politics
with him. We dined together, / calm ana
in the best of spirits; we went to a musical
farce, and he watched me glumly as l
showed my lightness of heart. Then / went
alone, at midnight, to the Chicago express
sleeper--to lie awake all night staring at
the phantoms OF ruin that moved in dire
panorama before me. In every great affair
there Is crisis at which one must stake
all upon a single throw l had staked all
upon Wall street Without its contribu-
lions WoodruTs arrangements could not
be carried out
When descended at the Fredonia station
I found De Milt waiting for me. He had
news that was indeed news. l shall give 1t
here more consecutiYely than my impa-
thence for the event permitted him to give
1t to me.
About ten days before paragraph in one
of Burbanks pilgrimage" speeches had
been twisted by the reporter that It
seemed a personal attack upon Scarbor-
ough. AS Burbank was stickler for the
etiquette of campaigning, he not only sent
out a denial and q correction, but also d.
rected De Milt to go to Scarborough's home
at Saint X, Indiana. and convey the ex-
PLANTATION in personal message De Milt
arrived at Saint X at eight in the evening.
AS he was leaving the parlor car he saw a
man emerge from its drawing room. make
hasty descent to the platform, hurriedly
engage a station hack and drive away. De
Milt had an amazing memory for identities
for faces. He was convinced he knew that
man; and being shrewd and quick OF
thought he jumped into trap and told the
driver to follow the hack which was just
disappearing. A few minutes driving and
he saw it turn in at gateway.
Whose place is that?" he asked.
THE old Gardiner homestead was the
answer. President Scarborough lives
there"
De Milt did not discuss this rather prema-
ture emitting of Senator Scarborough. He
said: ''Oh-Ive made mistake descend
ed and sent his trap away. Scarborough's
house was quiet, not soul about, lights IN
only few windows. De Mit strolled In at
the open gates and. keeping out OF view:
made detour Of the gardens the lay or
which he could see by the starlight. He
was soon in line with the front door-his
man was parleying with servant. "Evi-
IDENTIFY he's not expected" thought my chief
Of publicity.
Soon his man entered. De Milt, keeping
in the shadows. moved round the house I'M
til he was close under open windows from
which came light and mems voices. Peer
ing through bush he saw at table desk
a man whom he recognized as Sena-
tor Scarborough. Seated opposite him,
with a very uneasy. deprecating expression
on his face was John Thwing. president OF
the Atlantic and Western system. and SEN
ator Goodrich's brother-in-laW.
De Mit could not hear what Thw1ng was
saying SO careful was that experienced
voice to reach only the ears for whom ITS
he saw a puzzled look come into scar
borough's face. heard him say: Il don't
think I understand you. John"
Thwing unconsciously raised his voice IN
his reply and De Milt caught-'satisfac-
tory assurances from you that these alarm
ing views and intentions attributed to you
are false and they'll be glad to exert them
selves to elect you"
Scarborough smiled 'lmpOSSl Die, ne
said. Very few of them would support me
in any circumstances.
You are mistaken, Hampden." was
Thwing's answer ION the contrary, they
will"
Scarborough interrupted with an impa-
tient motion of his head. "Impossble!' he
repeated. But in any case. why should
they send you to me? My speeches speak
for themselves. Surely no intelligent man
could fancy that my election would mean
harm to any legitimate business, great or
small, east or west. You've known me for
twenty years. Thwing. You needn't come
to me for permission to reassure your
friends-such of them as you can honestly
reassure."
II have been reassuring them" Thwing
answered. II tell them that you are about
the last man in the world to permit mob
rule
Precisely" said Scarborough. IT pur-
pose to continue to do what l can to break
up the mob that is being led on by dema-
gogues disguised captains of industry
and advance agents of prosperity-led on
to pillage the resources of the country. Its
riches and Its character
This ought to have put Thwing on his
guard. But, convinced that the gods he
worshiped must be the gods of all men,
whatever they might profess. he held to his
purpose.
STILL you don't quite follow me-" he per-
sisted. You've said some very disQuet-
Ing things against some Of my fIiends-of
course they understand that the exigencies
of campaigning. the necessity of rouslng
the party spirit, the
Thwfng stopped short; De Milt held his
breath. Scarborough was leaning forward.
was holding Thwing's eyes with one OF
those looks that grip. DO you mean"
said he. that, If I'll assure these friends
Of yours that 1 don't mean what l say,
they'll buy me the presidency"
my dear Hampden," expostulated
Thwing nothing of the sort. Simply that
the campaign fund which Burbank must
get to be elected won't go to him. but will
be at the disposal of your national COM
mittee: My friends, naturally. won't sup
port their enemies"
De Milt. watching Scarborough, saw him
lower his head. his face flushing deeply
believe me, Hampden" continued
Thwing without our support Burbank Is
beaten, and you are triumphantly elected
not otherwise. But you know politics; 1
needn't tell you. You know that the presi-