The Washington herald., 1906-10-28

-
Jimmy" said the big man. with joyous
smile. idaho is right in line 90 the head
Of the procession. and Wyoming. Mon
tana, and the others are following close
after. Phey haven't many votes, but they
have enough to decide this election"
Jimmy Grayson smiled. He had reason
+ 10 smile. He, too. liked king Plum
mer, and, moreover, this was good news
/ that he brought.
( 4 fancy that you have had something
70 do with this" he said. You still
know how to whisper sweet word in
the ear of the people"
/ The big man shook himself, laughed
again, and looked satisfied
We'll, I have done lot Of whisper
ms. he admitted. IF you cell it whis-
pering, though most people, III gamble,
would say It is Ike the CHATTER OF a
mill. And I've done some riding. too.
! both train and horse. The mountains
/ are going to be al right Don't you
+ forget that. Jimmy
/ And it's lucky for me that King
/ Plummer is my friend said Mr.. Gray
+ son. sincerely
During this talk of politics. Sylvia Nor
gan was silent. and once. when King"
Plummer laid his big hand protectingly
/ on her arm. she shrank slightly. but so
slightly that no one save Harley noticed.
not even the King. The action reused
doubts in his mind. Surely a girl would
not shrink from her uncle in this man
neT, not from big. kindly uncle Ike
Piummer.
/ Il wanted TO get down TO Chicago and
/ hear you at your FIRST speech, went on
/ "king" Plummer IN his big, booming
voice. that filed the room. but
couldn't manage it. There was a CON
ventiOn at Boise that needed little
attentiOn-Onc likes to look on at those
things YOU Inow''-his left eye contract
ed slightly-"and as soon as that was
over l hurried down as fast as an express
could bring me. But I've read in all the
papers what a howlin' success i; was.
. an I'm goin' 10 hear you give it 20 the
other fellows to-night-Wou't we. Sylvia -
+ Eie turned 10 the girl for confirmation
Of what needed no confirmation. and her
eyes smiled into his with q certain pride.
/ She seemed 10 Harley 10 admire his big
ness. his Openness OF manner and speech.
aad his wholesome character After all,
ne was her uncle; the look that she gave
him then was that Of one who received
protection, half paternal and hall elder
brOtheTly-
And now. Jimmy, 7 guess I've taken
MP enough of your time" exclaimed
King Plummer, his big, resonant chest
tones echoing In the room. and rs for
you % do ali the talkin that's left But
III be in box listenin'. and just you do
! Your best for the credit OF the West and
tho mountains.
Grayson smiled and promised. and
King Flummer joined them in the car
riage that bore them 30 the hall. He
took his place with them in such a ma
tural and matter-0f-fact manner that
Harley was confirmed IN his renewe-.
opinion that he was Sylvia Morgan's
uncle or. at least, her next OF kin, after
Mr. Grayson.
At the han King PIummer. as be had
promised, sat in box with Mrs. Gray
son and Miss Morgan. and always he led
the applause. which in reality needed no
leading. the triumph at Chicago being re-
peated IN full degree. Harley. watching
him from his desk, saw that the big man
WAS filled with sangUine expectation of
triumph. and. with the glow of Jimmy
1 Grays0n's 0ratory upon him. could not
see any such result as defeat But Miss
Morgan was strangely silent and all her
Vivacity Of manner seemed 20 be- gone
When the speech was nearly over
Churchill sauntered in lazily by the stage
entrance ana took seat near Harley
Harley had not noticed his l.evi0us alb
sence until then.
flows the speech tonight" he asked
. languidiy; same old chestnuts. ! sup
pose
AS this is Mr Grayson-s second
speech replied Harley. sharply. 1T is q
little early t. call anything that he says
same old chestnuts.' Besides. I d0n-;
think that repetition VII ever be one OF
his faults. Why haven't you been here"
'Ch. I've been cruising around q bit on
The outside. The Associated Press. Of
course, VIII take care OF the speech
which IS mere routine"
He spoke with such Oh air OF super
cjlious and supreme satisfaction that
Harley looked az him kcenly
Pick up anything De asked briefly.
"Oh. trifle or two; nothing, however.
that YOU would care about
Now. I wonder what it is that makes
him so content with himself" thought
Harley bat he had little time to devote
TO Churchill as his own dispatch was
occupying his attention
Harley could not go back to the hotel
with the GraysOn party when the speech
vas over, and he had 10 file his dispatch
first. but be saw them all the next morn
Ing az the breakfast table. King Plum
mer was there. too. as expansive as ever.
and showing mingled joy and sorrow
JOY over the second triumph Of the can
did3te which was repeated at great
length in the morning papers. and sorrow
because he could not continue with them
on the campaign which moved TO Detroit
for the third night.
I'd be happy man If 7 could do il.
be said, IL his booming tones, happy for
more reasons than one. 1t would be q
- Tare. 4
hearing you tear the enemy to pieces
night after night. Jimmy, and then I'd
be with you right along. Sylvia"
He looked at the girl. and his look
Was fun of love and protection. she
flushed and seemed embarrassed But
there was 10 hesitation or awlwardness
about the big man.
Never you mind. little girl he said.
when YOU are Mrs PIummer-au' that
amt far away I hope-yOuU be with me
all the time. Besides. I'm goln' to Join
Jimmy GraysOn when he comes out West.
an make the campaign there with him. ="
The color in Miss MOTgan's face deep
ened and she glanced. not Al King
Plummer OF her uncle. but at Harley. and
when her eyes met his the color in her
cheeks deepened still further Then she
looked down at her plate and was silent
and embarrassed.
Harley, as he heard these words of the
King" felt a strange thrill of disap-
prevail. 1t was as ne told himself. be-
cause of the disparity in ages It was
true that man OF this type was the very
kind TO restrain Sylvia Morgan. but
twenty and fifty should never wed. man
and wife should be young together and
should grow old together. II was no
business of his. and there was no obliga-
ton upon him 70 look after the happiness
OF either OF these people, but il was an
arrangement that he did not ike. ViOlat-
ing as it did his sense Of fitness.
King Plummer was to leave tbnr7