The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28

ne taf Northwest IS Tor you SOllQlyr
Jimmy" said the big man. with joyous
smile. Idaho is right In line at the head
Of the procession, and Wyoming, Mon
tana. and the others are following close
after They haven't many votes. but they
have enough TO decide this election %
Jimmy GraysOn smiled. He had reason
TO smile he. too. liked King Plum
mer. and. moreover. this was good news
that he brought
II fancy that you have had something
TO do with this" he said. You still
know how to whisper a sweet word in
the ear Of the people"
The big man shook himself laughed
again, and looked satisfied
Well I have done a lot of whisper
ing, he admitted. If you call 1t wins
perins, though most people, III gamble
would say It is like the chatter of q
mill. And I've done some riding. too
both train and horse. The mountains
are going 10 be all 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"
PlummeT Laid his big hand protectingly
slightly that no one save Harley noticed
not even the King" The action reused
doubts IN his mind Surely girl would
not shrink from her uncle IA this man
ner, not from big, kindly uncle like
Piummer
= wanted TO get down 10 Chicago and
hear you at your first speech went on
King Plummer. in his big. booming
voice. that filled the room. but I
couldn't manage H. There WAS a con-
ventiOn at Boise that needed little
attentiOu-one likes 10 look on AT those
things. you know his left eye contract
cd slightly-"aud as soon as that was
over | hurried down as fast as an express
could bring me. But I've read I'm all the
papers what "a hOwlin success il was
an I'm Eoin' 10 hear you give it to the
other fellows to-uight-WOn't we, Sylvia o.
He turned 60 the girl for confirmation
Of what needed no confirmation. and her
eyes smiled into his with a certain pride
She seemed 20 Harley 10 admire his big
ness. his Openness OF manner and speech
and his wholesome character. After all
be was her uncle; the look that she gave
him then was that Of one who received
protection, half paternal and half elder
brotherly
And now, Jimmy, / guess I've taken
up enough of your time exclaimed
King Plummer. his big. resonant chest
tones ech0ing In the room, and it's FOR
you 20 do ali the taisin that's left. But
TN be in a box listeuin and just you do
your best for the credit Of the West and
the mountains"
Grays0n smiled ana promised. and
King FiUmmer Joined them in the car
riage that bore them to the hall He
took his place with them in such a ma
tural and mattcr-of-fact manner that
Harley was confirmed iG his renewe,s
opinion that De was Sylvia M0rg3ns
uncle. or. nj least. her next Of kin. after
Mr. Grayson.
At the hail king Plummer. as he had
promised sat in "A box with Mrs Gray
son and Miss Morgan, and always he led
the applause. which On reality needed 80
leading, the triumph nj 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 o. Jimmy
Grayson's oratory upon bin. could not
see any such result as defeat But Miss
Morgan WAS strangely silent. and all her
vivaCity Of manner seemed to be gone.
When the speech was nearly over
Churchill sauutered in lazily by the stage
entrance and took a seat near Harley
Harley had not noticed his I-evious alb
sence until then.
"How's the speech tonight" he asked.
languidly; same old chestnuts, 1 SUPP
pose.
As this is Nj Grayson's second
speech. replied Harley. sharply. lit is a
little early 10 call anything that he saws
same old chestnuts Besides. I don't
think that repetition will ever be one Of
his faults. Why haven't YOU been here -
"Oh, I've been cruising around a bit on
the outside. The Associated Press. Of
course. viii take care OF the speech.
which IS mere routine
He spoke with such an air Of super
CinOus and supreme satisfaction that
Harley looked al him krenIy
Pick up anything he asked, briefly.
on, tTifie or two. nothing however
that you would care about
Now, I wonder what it is that makes
him So content with himself" thought
Harley. but he had little time 10 devote
70 Churchill. as his own dispatch was
occupying his attention
ffdiicE- could not 20 back to the hotel
with the GraysOu party when the speech
was over. and he had to file his dispatch
first, but he saw them all the next morn
ing at the breakfast table. King Plum
me- was there, too. as expansive as ever.
and showing mingled JOY and sorrow-
JOY over the second triumph of the can
didate, 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 I could do it."
he said, I'm his booming tones. happy for
more reasons than one II would be q
big holiday 10 me. Wouldn't I enjoy
hearing YOU tear the enemy 10 pieces
night after night. Jimmy, and then I'd
be with You right along. Sylvia"
lie looked at the girl, and his look
was full of love and protection. She
flushed and seemed embarrassed. But
there was no hesitation or awkxardness
about the big man.
Never you mind. little girl" he said:
when YOU are Mrs Plummer-an that
amt Tar away. / hope-youW be with me
all the time. Besides. I'm goin' to Join
Jimmy Grayson when he comes out West.
an make the campaign there with him.
The color in Miss MOrgan's face deep
ened, and she glanced. not AT king
Plummer or her uncle. but at Harley and
when her eyes net 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 d!sap-
prevail 1t was. as he told himself be-
cause Of the disparity in azes 1t was
true that a man OF this type was the very
kind 10 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 TO look after the happiness
of either Of these people, but it was an
arrangement that he did not ike. violat-
ing as 1t did his sense of fitness.