The Washington herald., 1906-12-02
THE CANDIDATE
APolitcaI Romance By Joseph A. AItheer
By Joseph A. AItsheIer

battlefelds. He glanced again at the cor
respondents, but, as they continued 10
stare resolutely at the dark mountains
he turned and walked abruptly into the
hotel
Boys" exclaimed Barton, 'ft's tough"'
Yes, damned tough" said Hobart
King" PlUmmer. who was with them,
maintained d stony silence.
An hour later the valet of the Hon Her
bert Henry Heathcote, a smooth trim
young Englishman. arrived in Red Cloud
and never before in his vassal life had he
been a person of so much importance
The news had been spread in Red Cloud
that a rare specimen was coming. a kind
hitherto unknown in those regions. When
John-that was his name-alighted from
the train in the dust Of a vast, desolate
Western night. a crowd of tanned. tail
men was packed closely about him.
watching every movement that he made.
Harley saw him glance feaTfullv at the
dark thrOng, but no one said "a word. As
he moved toward the hotel, a valise in
each hand, the way opened before him,
but the crowd. arranging itself in a solid
mass behind him, followed. still silent
until he reached the shelter of the build
ing and the protecting wing of his master
Then it dispersed in an orderly manner
Red Cloud was the Hon. Herbert Henry
Heathcote and his man." especially the
man"
At the appointed hour the candidate
spoke from a stage in the public square,
and il would not be fair to say that his
address fell fiat: but for the first time in
the long campaign Harley noticed a GER
tain Coldness on the part of the audience,
a sense of aloofness, as if Jimmy Grayson
were not one of them. but a stranger in
the town whom they must treat decently,
although they might not approve Of him
or his ways. And Harley did not have 10
seek the cause. for there at "A corner of
the stage sat a dominating presence, the
Hon. Herbert Henry Heathcote, his neck
encircled by very high collar. his trous-
ers turned up at the bottom, and his
white spats bleaming through the dark
ness. More eyes were upon him than
upon the candidate. but Mr. Heathcote
was not daunted. His own gaze, as il
swept the audience. was At times disap-
proving and at other times condescending.
About the middle of the speech the
night, as usual, grew chilly, and Mr.
Heathcote's man." stepping upon the
stage, assisted him on with light over
coat. A gasp went Up from the crowd.
and the candidate. stopping, looked back
and saw the cause. Again that shadow
came over his face. but in a moment he
recovered himself and went on as if there
had been no interruption. When the
speech was finished Mr.. Heathcote stood a
moment by the table at which Harley was
still writing. and said:
I think you and your associates should
leave out of your report that part about
our foreign relations. However we'll re-
! n
would have a very good effect in the
East"
But he said it" exclaimed Harley.
looking Up in surprise
Quite true, but there should be a GER
tain reserve on the part of the press.
These expressions have about them a
| trace Of rawness. perhaps inseparable
from man Ike our nominee, who is the
product Of Western conditions I trust
that / shall be able to correct this unfor-
tUnate tendency
Harley was burning with anger. but the
long practice Of seIf-controI enabled hin,
70 hide it. He did not reply, but resumed
his work. Mr.. Heathcote spoke 10 him
again, but Harley his head bent over
his pad, went on with his writing. Nor
did any of the other correspondents
speak. The committeeman. astonjshed
ana indignant, left the stage. and fol-
lowed by his man." returned to the ho-
tel between two silent files of spectators.
Experience number one" was the only
comment of the correspondents, and it
came from Barton
When Harley Went into the hotel he
saw Jimmy GraysOn leaning against the
clerks desk as if he were waiting for
something. He glanced at Harley, and
there was tnge Of reproach In his look.
Harley's resolution faltered, but it was
only for a moment, and then, taking his
key from the clerk, he went in silence
to his room. He understood the position
Of Jimmy GraySon. he knew how much
the party was indebted TO Mr. Heathcote
for payment Of the campaigns necessary
/ expenses, but he was determined to carry
out his plan, which he believed would
Succeed.
But there was one man in Jimmy Gray
sons group to whom the appearance OF
0T HeathcOte was welcome, and this
was Churchill. who was sure that he
! recognized in him kindred spirit. He
sent long dispatch to the Monitor, tell