The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

teIepathy that the born correspondent ac-
auires he knew, for instance, that HO-
bart was all the time with one or the
other Of the three witnesses-Metzger
Thorpe. or Williamson the moment the
most important persons in Grayville by
reason Of their conspicuous connection
with the great case.
When Hobart returned. the edge Of the
sun vas behind the highest mountains.
out he took no notice Of Harley, walking
past him without a word and burying
himself somewhere in the interior OF the
hotel Harley learned subsequently, that
he went directly 10 Jimmy GraysOns
room. and remained there at least half
an hour, in close conference with the
candidate himself.
The next day was a breah n the great
campaign. Owing TO train connections.
which are not tTifies in the far West, il
was necessary, in order TO complete the
schedule, 10 spend an idle day al some
place, and GrayviIie had been selected as
the most comfortable. and therefore the
most suitable. And so the luxurious rest
Of the group was continued for twenty
four hours for all-save Hobart
Harley had never before seen the 'mys-
terry man so eager and so fun Of sup
pressed excitement He frequently passed
his comrades, but he rarely spoke 10
them, or even noticed them; his mind was
concentrated now upon "a great affair in
which they would be Of no avail Har-
ley learned, however. that he was still
much In the company of the three wit
nesses, although he asked him no ques-
tons. Late in the afternoon he saw
him alone and walking rapidly toward the
hotel It seemed 10 Harley that Hobart's
head was borne somewhat high and in a
manner eXulJantly. as II he were over
coming obstacles. and he was about TO
ask him again in regard 20 his progress.
but Hobart once more sped by without a
word and went into the hotel Harley
learned later that he held q secret con-
ference with Jimmy GraysOn
In the evening everybody went 20 the
opera house TO hear the candidate, but
on the way Hobart said. casually. 10
Harley. "Old man, / don't think I'll sit
in front tonight. / wish you would let
me have your notes afgerward9" "Of
course, replied Harley. as he passed
down the aisle and found his chair al the
correspondents table on the stage
There Harley watched the fine Western
audience come into the theater and md
seats. with some noise but no disorder. d
noise merely Of men calling each other
by name, and commenting IN advance on
what Jimmy Grayson would say. The
other correspondents entered one by one
all except Hobart. and took their seats
on the stage. Sylvia and Mrs. Grayson
were with some ladies in a box Harley
looked for Hobart. and TWO or three
times he saw him near the main entrance
OF the building Once he was talking
with brown and lOngish-haired youth.
and Harley, by casual inquiry. learned
that it was Metzger. the cowboy. A man
not greatly differeut in appearance. TO
whom Hobart spoke occasionally was
Thorpe, the tramp miner, and yet an
other. tall fellow with a bulging under
lip, Harley learned, was Williams, the
third witness.
Evidently the witnesses would attend
Jimmy Graysons meeting. which was
natural however, as everybody in Gray
Vile was sure TO come. and Harley also
sUrmised that Hobart had taken upon
himself the task Of instructing them as
TO the methods, the manner and the
greatness Of the candidate. He had done
such a thing himself, upon occasion. the
Western interest in Jimmy Grays0n be
ing so great that often appeals were made
TO the correspondents for information
about him mere detailed than the news
papers gave.
Harley studied the faces OF the three
witnesses as attentively as the distance
and the light would admit. but they re-
mained near the door. evidently intending
to stand there. back 10 the wall. plan
sometimes adopted by those who may
wish to slip out quietly before a speech
is finished. Harley. the trained observer,
saw that Hobart, without their kuOwl-
edge was shepherding them as the shep-
herd gently makes his sheep converge
upon common spot
The correspondent could draw no infer
ence from the faces OF the three men,
which We're ali of usual Western types.
without anything special To distinguish
them, and his attention turned to the
audience. He had received an intimation
that Jimmy Grayson intended to deliver
that evening a speech Of unusual edge
and weight He would indict the other
party in the most direct and forcibIe
manner. pointing out that its sins were
moral as well rs political, but that
day of reckoning would come. when those
who profited by such evil courses must
pay the forfeit; il was a part of the law
of nature. which was also the law of
retributiOn.
The candidate was a little late, aud the
opera house was filled to the last seat.
with many people standing in the aisIes
and about the doors Harley. glancinE
again at the rows and rows Of faces. saw
the three witnesses almost together. and
just 10 the right of the main entrance.
where they leaned against the wall. fac
ing the stage. Hobart fluttered about
them. holding them in occasional talk.
and Harley was just about to look again,
and with increasing attention, but at that
instant the great audience. with Va com
mon impulse and a kind Of rushing sound
like the slide of an avalanche rose to its
feet The candidate. coming from the
wings, had just appeared upon the stage.
and the welcome was spontaneous and
overwhelming. Jimmy Grayson was al
ways a serious man, but Harley noticed
that evening, when he first appeared be-
fore the fOOtiights. that his face looked
tense and eager. as if he felt that great
task which he must assume lay just be-
fore him.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY.