Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24

was SO loud a big enough check wouldn't
gag it. This interview isn't SO allooring
that I'm stuck stretching 1T out any
longer. Make your offer"
I've explained to you that I want none
of your money
Then what t OH broke off Conover
to cleaning Sits, II think 1 see. The gov
ernorship, eh?''
Anice inclined her head.
so I'm to throw it to Standish? HIM!
And yet you say you're not putting the
hooks In me. If that isn't cold, straight,
all-wool blackmail 1 don't know what is.
You think you owe me something because
l didn't treat your father just square: So
you pay the grudge off by Matchmaking
me. Maybe your holy New England con-
science is too nearsighted to see it's only In
the DEVILS ledger that two wrongs make a
right
DO you speak from experienced Because
it doesn't fit this case. l propose nothing
of the sort.
Then what in thunder do you want?"
snarled Caleb. thoroughly mystified. IF 1t
amt cash Or
Il want you to give Mr.. Standish fair
chance. That is all. / want you to remove
the embargo from his speeches and adver-
Using; to open the columns Of every paper
in the Mountain state to him. To promise
not to modest him in any way, not to allow
your rowdes to break up his meetings nor
to prevent him from hiring halls. Not to
stuff the ballot boxes falsify the returns.
employ OOdteTS OT-lH snort, 1 WANT you
to give him an equal chance with yourself;
to conduct the campaign honestly, and to
leave the issue solely to the voters. VIII
you do this?'
"And if l beat him at that?'
'If you are elected by an honest majority.
that is no concern of ours. All l demand
is that you fight in the open and leave the
result to the people
Caleb thought in silence for a few mo-
ments.
I n this ~ he asked al last
Then. on the afternoon of election day,
my brother shall turn over to you, or to
your representative. the entire DenZlow
Il have your word for that? Certified
copies and ALP
Yes"
"You don't lie. That's about the one fool
ish trait that I've ever found in you. If
I've got your word, you'll stand by it.
Cant say quite the same of me, eh?'
II don't think that needs answer
Cant turn over the letters to me now,
on my pledge to-?
I'm afraid not said Anice, almost apol-
ogetically. Il must
And you're dead right. promise is
such sacred thing that it's always wise
to keep your finger on the trigger till the
real mony's handed over. Just to keep the
sacredness from spelling. AS 1 understand
it. I'm to loosen up on Standish; and then
if l lick him fair. you and l are quits? I'll
do it, Such fight ought to prove pretty
Sol Townsley said when Father Healy
told him he'd some day burn in hell. I'll
accept those silly terms of yours for the
same reason so many men stay honest
They don't enjoy it, but it's more fun than
going to jail. I'll send out the orders first
thing in the morning. And on the afternoon
of election day I'll get that Denzlow stuff
Yes. And the certified copy the follow
ing morning.
'In case 1 should get absent-minded that
night when the votes are counted? You're
clever girl, Miss Lanier. Pity you're to be
wasted on Standish. Oh. that's all right. 1
don't need to be told. A girl like you isn't
acting the way you do just for the sake Of
a measly principle. And now" his banter
ing tone changing to one of brusque COM
mand, 'if there's nothing more, maybe
you'll both get out I'm tired, and"
Give and Anice withdrew. The latter,
looking back as she left the room, saw
Caleb sitting doubled over, motionless, in
his chair, his gaze again on the fire.
Perhaps it was the flicker from the Goals
that made his face seem to her to have
grown in a moment infinitely old; his keen
light eyes inexpressibly lonely and desolate
Undoubtedly so, for when he glanced up
was no expression save the shadow of a
sardonic grin stamped on his rugged fea-
lures.
Long and late Caleb Conover sat there
alone in his big, silent study. The lamp on
the table flickered, guttered and went out
The live Goals died down to embers. The
cold of early autumn crept through the
great room, along with the encroaching
darkness. The clock on the wall chimed
then again, and a third time, but the Rail
roader sat motionless.
At length he gathered himself together
to his table and drew from a drawer a
gaudy velvet case. As he opened it. the