The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-03-18
by WILLIS EMERY

n LITTLE old building of one
story IN tho corner Of lum
II - Der yard contained the Offices
OF John Wadaw0rih Tho er.
tcrlor was M plain ag possible and
showed the touch of age. within there
were solid and costly furnishings and
n general inspect Of confident and long
sustained prosperity
I'y desk In rallied md screcned
inrlosurc Miss ilildn Lawrence was
opening tho morning mail, She always
opened all Of Mr.. WndBworihs letters
Private communications addressed 10
him ns political boss Of the ward never
came 10 the lumber yard
IN onc of the envelopes which Ililda
opened on this particular morning she
found n check drawn 10 the order Ot
thr brnrcr for $500 ana signed with AZ
illegibr Ncruwl II wna tho first time
thht she had seen II remittance In that
form. aud she glunccd nj the ncc0mpn
nyiug letter curiously It WAS upon n
plain sheet Of paper. md thcr" was nc
naur At the beginning or the cnd Of 1t
lnniosod mud balance due You have de-
iytrci tho goods and arr entitled TO yout
mou~f hu sick. out Of town uf would
have rEod this IN person yrnlrrday
iliIdn knew instantly TINT this wa,
payment FOR II political Eorvic" Of dis.
honorable nature, aud she was tillcd
with ylcarlouN shame nj the thought OF
It and with sudden fnintness Of sur
prise II waN incredible even in the
face OF this evidence that Mr. Wnds
worth could traffic IN his own influence
and augment his wealth with putty
hrlbes The worst that she had ever
believed OF him was that Lee conaorted
with mcu who were accused 0f such
of1cnAes aud held his leadership with
thcir approval,
II was clear, however, that this check
did not figure Ia an ordinary business
transaction. and 80 instead Of putting
II with the others she returned It TO the
envelope, and thus the supcrscrptIon
camc for the frHt time under her eye,
The letter had been directed not TO Mr..
Wndsworth, but 10 John ". Allen. BE.
meath the name an address had been
crossed or with II lead pencil and the
words Try care OF Wadsworth Lum.
her company" had been written by n
carrier
iiIldn shifted her position very III.
tie 80 thnt SHE could look past the edge
Of the screen and see Allen at his desk
u Young man whom Mr. WndAworth
had tnken into his employ nbout a
year ago at the request OF friend Al
that time Allen had evidently been In
sore straits. and hc had subsequently
shown voluhle gratitude and n stead.
lily waning Industry or late he had
been occupied with an odd service for
which he had exhibited remarkable
aptitude. He had been writing speech.
es for Mr. Wadsworth.
For the hrst time In long career Of
politics John Wndsworth had found Il
use for oratory A strange ambition
had taken possession Of him. He as.
plred TO Office The congressman elect
In that district had died A special
election was TO be held. and Wads.
worth had quietly passed round tho
word that he would be the candidate Of
his party In the caucus,
Up 10 recent days hint from Wads
worth would have been equivalent TO Il
nomination, and his election would
have been assured But n change had
come over the complexion OF the dis
trIct. In part OF It where there had
been small business buildings and