Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-06-01

first view Of the scar terrible. He
shook his big aead and big shout
ders reused himself, made ready to
take a drink, noticed me. and said
Won't you join me?' His look was
most engaging.
accepted, and we were soon so
ciahle, each taking an instructive lik-
ing TO the other We talked Of the
business situation. Of the news in
the papers aud then of political az
fairs. Each of us saw that there he
was al the others keenest interest in
life He knew the game-practicaJ
politics as distinguished from the pol
itics talked by and % the public But
he evaded without seeming to do so,
all the ingenious traps laid for
drawing from him some admission
that would give me a clew to where
he fitted in ! learned no more
about him than | thought he learned
about me.
Il hope we shall meet again said ]
cordially as we parted at the cab
stand
Thank you he answered, and aft
erward ] remembered the faint smile
in his eyes
|, OF course. knew that Roebuck
was greatly interested in my project
for putting political business on
business basis; but not until he had
explained why he sent for me did J
see how 1t had fascinated and alb
,sorbed his mind You showed me. y
me began, that you must have under
you practical man to handle the
money and do the arranging with the
.1eelers and all that sort of thing
Yes. said ! its a vital part of
the plan. We must End man who
Is perfectly trustworthy and discreet
Necessarily, he'll know or suspect
something-no much. but still some
combine"
Well, I've found him. went on
Roebuck, in a triumphant tone He's
a goddess person, with no character
to lose, and no conception of what
character means. But he's straight
MS a string. Providence seems to
have provided such men for just such
situations as these, where the devil
must be fought with fire. I've been
testing him for nearly 5 years. But
YOU can judge for yourself"
| was the reverse of pleased. 1t
was not in my calculations TO have
creature of Roebucks foisted upon
me, perhaps-indeed, probably--a spy.
| purpoSed to choose my own man;
and | decided while he was talking,
that | would accept the Roebuck Sc
lection only to drop him on some
plausible preteXt before we began OPP
erations. | was to meet the man at
dinner Roebuck had engaged a
suite at the auditorium 1T wouldn't
do to have him at my house or club
said he; neither do we want TO be
seen with him"
Coincidence is so familiar a part of
the daily routine that / was not much
surprised when my acquaintance. the
astute poker player with the scar
walked in upon us at the Auditorium
Roebuck was both astonished and
chagrined when We shook hands and
greeted each other like old friends
How do you do, MI Sayler?" said
Woodruff
Glad TO see you. DR.. Woodruff" |
replied. Then you knew me all the
time? Why didn't YOU speak OUT
We might have had an hours business
talk in the train"
IF I'd shown myself as leaky as
all that | guess there'd have been no
business to talk about" he replied
Anyhow didn't know you till you
took out your watch with the mono
gram on the back. just as we were
pulling in Then | remembered where
I'd seen Your face before was up
at your state house the day that you
threw old Domiuck down That's
been a good many years ago"
That chance, easy. smoking-compart
ment meeting, at which each had stud
led the other dispassionately. was
most fortunate for MS both.
The relation that was to exist be
tween us-more, much more, than
that Of mere employer and employee
made fidelity. personal fidelity imper-
au>e, and accident had laid the
foundation for the mutual attachment
without which there is certain to be,
sooner or later, suspicion on both
sides, and cause for it.
The two hours and a half with
Woodruff at and after dinner, served
to reinforce my first impression
saw that he was a thorough man Of
the world that he knew politics from
end to end and that he understood
the main Weaknesses OF human nature
and how 80 play upon them for the ad
vantage Of his employers and for his
own huge amusement He gave a
small exhibition of that skin at the
expense Of ROebuck. He appreciated
that Roebuck was He OF those unc on
scous hvpocrites who put conscience
out OF court in advance by assuming
that whatever they wish 10 do is
right or they could not wish 10 do il
| He led Rophucb IN "a show off this