The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-22

he asked. you got from your friend, the
Land Office inspeotor7s
1T was Snifen just back from an In
speotion Of The various registrars' Offices
in the Southwest I answered. He told
me on the quiet that when the Land Com
missioner was we'll enough to take up his
report there would be dancing
'Hum! / think he made some conf
dential observation about the Sequoia Office,
didn't he2'
He said It was rotten.'
'Ah, yes; rotten was the word.'
In striving 10 determine what actuated
my Senator In his conduct with the Bitches
I had to put myself In his place and figure
how they might possibly be made to serve
his two darling purposes, the retention Of
his political power and position and the
revenge Of the blow Senator Merrifeld had
dealt him.
I soon became satisfied then that Mr..
Savage had In his own inimitably delicate
way assured Jessioa Bitch that Mr.. Merri-
field was very susceptible, and that such o
pretty girl as she should have little diff
Guilty In securing his influence for her
father. Why had he done so1 In the
hope, Of course. that il Bitch was reap
pointed and his ~chicanery in office was
then exposed the Senator who had brought
about his denomination and confirmation
would be discredited in the eyes Of the
people.
The fact that my Senator kept asking me
to. inform myself regarding the illness Of
the Commissioner Of the Land Office led
me to. believe that he was calculating the
time that must elapse before that official
would be able to take up the consideration
OF Sniffen's confidential report.
But was this alf Senator Savage was
not wont to be 30 direct and single In his
plottings. Besides, he we'll knew that
Senator MerriAeld not only was an hon.
orable gentleman, but that his affections
were unalterably fixed on the widow Of the
late dashing Jack Richard Of the navy,
whose court-martial and suicide had in
q way caused the break between the Sen
ators from Sequoia.
Why, then, did he keep poor Bitch in
suspense, vibrating day after day from
Office to Capitol and then back and forth?
Why did he, while continually emphasizing
his own helplessness. raise hopes one day
only to dash them the next with reports
Of what Merrifeld had said or might dor
II.
1t doesn't take long for Washington to
wither and blight the freshest Of office
seekers. That sickness which springs from
hope deferred Ii always epidemic there,
but Blitch's heart had its own personal
bitterness besides, the knowledge, he
exclusive, Of his misdeeds and the
certainty that they would be exposed
unless he had another term In which to
them over completely. No wonder,
then, that his mind warped az his body
developing those delusions and
fixed ideas from which In turn fierce and
uncomfortable passions are developed.
In time the Sniffen report was published.
Merriheld, who doubtless, had been
.pprised Of the situation, recommended
\ worthy adherent Of his own az Registrar
FOR Sequoia. The appointment was duly
made and promptly confirmed. Poor
Bitch was left stranded in Washington,
bankrupt Of purse and reputation, criminal
proceedings impending against him.
In all the time Of his wearing suspense
I had not seen his daughter Jessica; but
he morning after the confirmation Of his