The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-08
BUFFUM'S "REMINISCENCES
A Plot That Failed.


into a long and confidential talk with Hector
Cabaniss. o railroad SsaIois ma giiats, who.
as had not reckoned, was with him.
you are getting fat witted, Senator
snapped Cabaniss, o rat Of o man, with a
thin, oolorless face, spiked mustaohe and
black beadsof eyes. III ! had On Office boy
who couldn't ANA 20 better I'd pack him
of to his mother 70 bs put In dresses--'
But II you would only let me explain"
faltered my Senator.
Explain nothingl You can't explain my
money back, can you7 Your political FORE
sight isn't worth a damn. What do you
think we hire you for, anyway
And go on and on he ragged, bitterly, vul-
carly, contemptuously, until he ended with
the ultimatum that II the Senator expected
the aid during the next winter In securing
his reelection which had been 80 important
to him in the past he must prevent Merri-
field and his partisans from enacting their
hsresies into the statute law Of SeQuoia.
That's just It, replied my Senator, and
/ knew from his tones that he was once more
master Of himself. in order to gain a great
deal it is necessary to oonoede q little. By
suffering the Transmontane billt 10 60 through
l have bound Mortified TO me for all time.
just wait. There will be q plenty OF eputter
in Sequoia; and then the light OF reform will
60 out"
"You can't tell mo-" grumbled Cabaniss,
that you ever deliberately planned to drop
such q pot of dough-"
He was Modified, nevertheless, under the
remembrance Of past and the hope Of fu-
ture advantage. Soon the two were dis
cussing, amloably, confidently, the details
- n oo,.at~, - racro.aior ard vacation
all promised upon Senator Sayage's boast
OF his paramount influence over his COL
league.
Ioould see, as readily as either, that this
condition precedent was absolutely essen
tial. In fact Senator Savage Vas between
the horns Of a dilemma.
His natural love Of money, sharpened by
recent misfortunes, compelled him to re-
main loyal to the capitalists who had helped
him through many a profitable deal. On
the other hand, without the backing Of
Merrifeld's strength and popularity and
with no third faction to which he might
turn, his continuance in his high office,
the very breath Of his nostrils, threatened
to be an uphill fight, with desperate odds
against him.
There was but n escape, to reduce
Senator Merriaeld to o state Of subsection
to make him q creature, o tool. How was
this to be done?
They were about to depart for environ
ments less arid, when Cabaniss halted at a
sudden thought.
"Py the way, Savage" he said, there's
a little matter you can do for me; you owe
me a good turn II ever man did. You re-
member Jack Richard, don't you, out in
Sequoia-always a fine fellow, and now
as gallant an officer as ever trod q deck.
well, Jack is in some trumpery trouble.
It seems that his Captain OIL at the China
station gave him some ridiculous order
he has always picked on him-and because
Jack didn't respond as quickly as he might,
sent a file Of marines after him. There was
a row, though 1t was more playfulness on
Jacks part than anything else
.Of'c course, a mere nothing interrupted
my Senator sarcastically, still sore over
the rating he had himself received,
nothing more or less than intoxicaton,
disobedience, mutiny, assault. I suppose
you want me to straighten out such trihes
for your friend CabaDiss2 WE'LL
He stopped short, and It seemed to me
as II I could fairly bear the clicking Of the
little compartment in his brain in which
he had stored away for future use what
had told him about Mrs. Riokard and Merri-
field.
well, Cabaniss,' he continued Ia altered
tones, Il am not going to be 81 III uatured
as you were Just now. One whom ] esteem
as ] do you can always command my SER
vices. What is 1t you want2 It's going 70
be a hard Job, for Richard has the record
OF the devil, but III do my best
.Then you want to do It right away
retorted Cubaniss, 'for It would already
be too late had not the court-martial been
forced to adjourn on account Of the illness
OF the Judge Advocate. I suppose they
are trying poor Jack now, and I might as
well admit that with the prejudice against
him there can be but one result-dismissal.
Its hard lines, Savage. Jack has been
counting the years when he could retire on
paw. The time has just about arrived; and,
by Jove, he Ii Kicked out like an old dog to
starve in the gutter. He'll never stand 1t,
not while a mirror and 4 revolver are to be
bad.
sThere's only one thing that viii prevent
a most appalling tragedy. The President
must be persuaded to retire Jack, now,
with pay, before the findings Of the oourt
are known; then he can d~isapprove Of them
with some grace. You must persuade him,
Scarborough know the ropes, you've been
through this mill before
THAT is all true pondered Savage, and
again I seemed to feel the hidden motives
back of his words; sand my experience
tells me that the only possibility Of hope
lies in Mrs. Richards coming post haste to
Washington.
aThe President is amenable to feminine
entreaty and grief. If she can get here
ahead Of the official record, even by one
hour, 1 believe that, steered and backed by
me. she will gain her point. Cable for her,
Cabanis II lie worth the cost
Cabaniss looked dubious, and then he
evidently accepted q last resort.
ats worth a Thousand times the COST
he snapped, sitting at the desk and scratch
ing of his message. Il didn't tell you that
jack Is my wife's brother. did II More
than that, / like him, and for those I Like
I 20 my pile, mark that. Savage
Perhaps my Senator did mark this charao-
u..z xor ha pever yVag above two strings