Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-06
CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII.
~ ENION came to town to remind
u his Antioch friends and sup
n por1ers that presently be would
Al be needing their votes. He was
Ryder's guest for 8 week, and the Her
aid recorded his movements with pains
taking accuracy and with what its ed
itor secretly considered metropolitan
enterprise. The great man had his Of
6cial headquarters at the Herald Of
ice, a ramshackle two story building
On the west side of the square. Here
he vas at home to the local politicians
and 10 such Of the general public as
wished TO meet him. The former snok-
ed his cigars and talked necessarily
Of primaries. nominations and najor-
ues-1opics on which they appeared TO
be profoundly yersed. Their distin-
gushing mark was their capacity for
strong drink, which was far in excess
Of that OF the ordinary citizen who took
only q casual interest in politics.
Kenyon was g sloppily dressed man
of forry-dye, o. thereahou1, who pre-
served an air Of rustic shrewdness. He
was angular faced and smooth shayen
and wore his hair rather long in a
tangled mop. He was generally de-
scribed in the party papers as the
picturesque statesman from old Han
over" He had served one term in
congress. Prior TO that, by way Of ap-
premiership. be had done q great deal
of hard work and dirty work for his
party. His fortunes had been built on
the fortunes Of q bigger and an ADLER
man. who, after a fight which was al
read! famous in the history Of the
state for its bitterness. had been elect
ed governor, and Kenyon, having pick
ed the winner, had cone TO his reward.
Just now he had q shrevd idea that
the governor was an1ionS 10 unload
him and that the party leaders We're
sharpening their knives for him. Their
change Of heart grew u of the fact
that be had dared TO assert his indie
pendence." as he said. and had played
the sneak and broken his promises" Is
they said, in q little transaction rhict.
had been left TO him to put through.
Personally Ryder counted him an un-
nitigated scamp. but the mans breezy
vulgari1y, his nerve and his Infinite e.
pacity to Jolly tickled his fancy. He
had 50 far freed himself Of his hahitual
Indifference that he was displaying IN
unheard of energy in promoting Ken
yon's interest. OF course he e. 1rctea
to derive certain very substantial bene-
Cts from the alliance. Tho coz .-asS-
man had made him endless promises.
and RYDER saw, or thought he saw. his
way clear 10 leave Antioch in the near
future. For TWO days he had been
saying, MI. Brown, shake hands with
Congressman Kenyon" or. Mr.. Jones.
I want You to know Congressman Ken.
yon, the man we must keer at Wash.
ington."
He had marveled al the speed with
which the statesman GOT down II first
names. Nj. KENYON said m,destly
when Grlf commented on this that his
methods were modern-they were Ger.
tatnly vulgar.
II guess I'm going 10 give 'enl a run
for their money, Ryd~ ! can see In
doing good work here. Thee $ uJL-4.
like being on the ground yourself"
II was Characteristic OF li-l 1l41 l..
should ignore the work Ryder had Goni
in his behalf.
You are an Inspiration. San1. II,
people Know their header" sad LIE "a
itor genially, but with 4 1odcu OF 5 :
ca SID that waS haS1 ON Tn,,~a,. -s,
took himself quite seriously.
Yes, sir, They'd u done Lua dirt
feelingly, but ] am on my onn r..a
now and ready TO pun off my coat anl
fight for what's due me"
They We're seated before the o,,r.
door, which looked out upon the square
Kenyon WAS chewing pervously III la
end OF an nnlit cigar which he held be
, tween his fingers. When the uo4ulua
ton Is made ] guess the other fellow
will discover ] amt been letiia. III
grass grow in my path" He spat on
over the doorsill into the street
Whats that You were just telling u
about the Hucklelerry p
This new manager OF Cornish's !
going 10 make The road pay. and he'
going 10 DO II from the pockets OF Ia
employees said Ryder, with q ais
> gruntIed air, for the memory Of Lis IN
terview with Dan still ranked.
THAT mint bad either. You know
THE governors pretty chose 10 Cornisi
The general was Il bic contributor I