The Washington herald., 1907-01-06

| nave occasion TO address the pubic con-
cerning them-as you know, a number of
US are to speak with you while you are
passing through Utah"
/ There was a flash in Jimmy Grayson' s
I eye. but Harley could not tell whether il
| expressed anger or amused contempt IT
was gone in a moment, however, and the
| candidate again was looking at the
/ Gedgling with a kindly. smiling. and toll
! Grant gaze But Churchill thrust his
! elbow against Harley.
/ on the child Of the free and bounding
Vest he murmured. What innocence,
and what a sense of majesty and power"
| Harley did not deign reply. but he
made the acquaintance by and by. Of the
men who had joined the train with Moore.
/ One of these was a county judge named
| Basset. sensible and middle-aged. and he
talked freely about the fledgIlng, whom
| he seemed to have in a measure on his
mind. He laughed at first when he
spoke Of the subject, but he soon became
serious
Charlie is a good boy; but what do you
| think he is? or. rather, what do you
think he thinks he is?"
Il don't know" replied Harley.
Charlie thinks he's a spellbinder. the
greatest ever. lie is dreaming by night
and by day too. that he's 70 be the
Vests most wonderful orator, and that
he's to hold the thousands in his spell
Hes a coming Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster rolled into one. He's read that
story about Demosthcnes holding the peb-
be IN his mouth to make himself talk
good. and they do say that he slips away
out on the prairie. where there's nobody
about and with a stone in his mouth tries
to beat the old Greek at his own game.
don't vouCh for the truth of the story
but ] believe it,
Harley could not keep from smiling.
We'll, it's at least an honest ambition, a"
he said.
I don't know about that" replied the
judge. doubtfully. Not in Charles case,
because as a Spellbinder he isn't worth
shucks. He can't speak, and he'll never
learn to do IL. Besides. he's leaving a
thing he was just made for to chase a
rainbow, and it's breaking his old daddy's
heart"
What IS il that he was made for?''
He 5 a born telegraph operator. He's
one of the best ever known In the West
They say that at eighteen he was the
swiftest IN Colorado. Then he went down
to Denver. and a month ago he gave up a
job there that was paying him a hundred
and fifty month 10 start this foolish
ness. They say he might be a great in
ventOr, too, and here he is trying TO
speak on politics when he doesn't know
anything about public questions. and he
doesn't know how TO talk. either: I don't
know whether to be mad about it or just
feel sorry, because Charles father is an
old friend of mine"
Harley shared his feelings. He had seen
the round peg in the square hole so many
times with bad results to both the peg
and the hole that every fresh instance
grieved him. He was also confirmed in
the soundness of Judge Basset's opinion
by his observation Of young Moore as the
journey proceeded. The new speIbinder
was anxious 20 speak whenever there was
an occasion, and often when there was
none at ALL The discouragement. and
even the open rebukes of his elders, could
not suppress him. The correspondents.
comparing notes. decided that they had
never before seen SO strong a rage for
speaking. He took the whole field Of pub
lie affairs for his range He was willing at
any time to discuss the tariff. internal
revenue, finance. and foreign relations.
and avowed himself master Of all. Yet
Harley saw that he was i'm these affairs
a perfect child, shallow and superficial,
and depending wholly upon few catch
words that he had learned from others.
Even the former P0pulists turned from
him. But their sour faces when he spoke
taught him nothing. He was still, 10 him
self, the great spelIbinder. and ne looked
forward 90 the day when be, too, a nomi-
nee for the Presidency, should charm
multitudes with his eloquence and logic /
He had no hesitation in confding his
hopes 20 Harley, and the correspondent J
longed To tell him how he misjudged him /
self Yet he refrained. knowing that il I
was not his duty, and that even if il 4
We're. his words would make no impress I
sion
But in other matters than those Of pub I
lie life and oratory Jimmy Gr8yson peo- /
pie found young Moore likable enough /
He was helpful on the train; now and I
then. when the telegraph operators had /
more material than they could handle I
be- gave them valuable aid. be- was a me /.
.Omrade. taking good luck and bad luck 4
with equal philosophy. and never com /
planning. III only hc wouldn't try 10 4
peak gr0aned Hobart Tor whom he /
had sent a telegraphic message with skill 4
and Dispatch
But that very afternoon Moore talked /
10 them on the subject Of national finance /
until they fell into "a rage and left the /
ear That evening Harley was sitting /
with the candidate, when an old man. +
bent of figure and gloomy OF face, came /
10 them.
II beg your pardon, Mr.. Grayson,' he /
said. "f0r intrUdng on you, but I've /
come 20 ask "a favor. Im Henry Moon,
1f Council Grove. the father Of Charlie /
Moore. who was the best telegraph oper-
ltor In Denver. and who Is now the
poorest public speaker in Colorado"
old a,H : l
mile cut off early. Jimmy Grayson was
'ull of sympathy AZ once, and he shook
Nj Moores hand warmly.
Il know your son" he said; ''he IS a
bright boy"
Yes, he's nothing but a boy" said his
father, as If seeking an excuse Il sup
pose all boys must have their foolish
spells, but he appears TO have his
mighty hard and long"
The old man sighed. and the look Of
sympathy on Jimmy Graysons face deep
.ned.
Charlie is a good boy" continued Mr..
Moore, "and If he could have this fool
sh notion knocked out of his head
heres no other way to get it out-he
would be all right; and that's why I've
'ome to you You know you are to speak
It Pueblo tomorrow night in a big hall.
md one of the biggest crowds I'm the
Vest viii be there TO hear YOU Two or
hree speakers are to follow you, and
What do you think that son of mine has
lone? Somehow or other he has got the
committee TO put him on the programme
light after you, and he says he is going
o demolish what he calls your fauacies."
Harley saw the Candidates lips curve
little. as f he were about to smile.
ut the movement was quickly checked.
imny GTayson would not willingly hurt
he feelings of any man.
Your boy has that right" he said to
IT. Moore
No he hasn't!' burst out the old man.
a boy hasn't any right TO be so light