The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-27

II II hope we shall meet again. said
| cordially as we parted at the cab
stand
: Thank you," he answered, and aft
| erward I remembered the faint smile
IN his eyes.
| i, of course, knew that Roebuck
| was greatly interested in my project
for putting political business on a
business basis; but not until he had
explained why he sent for me did
see how it had fascinated and alb
Isorbed his mind. You showed me.
he began, that you must have under
you a practical man to handle the
money and do the arranging with the
| Ihcelers and all that sort of thing"
/ Yes" said /; Its a vital part of
| the plan. We must find man who
| lis perfectly trustworthy and discreet.
| Necessarily, he'll know or suspect
| ,something-not much, but still some
| sthing-of the inside workings of the
| combine"
We'll, I've found him.. went on
Roebuck, in a triumphant tone. Hes
a goddess person, with no character
| to lose, and no conception of what
|
as 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 Is years. But
| you can judge for yourself"
| l was the reverse of pleased. 1t
was not in my calculations to have
a creature of Roebuck's foisted upon
me, perhaps-indeed, probably spy
purposed to choose my own man;
and l decided while he was talking
that 1 would accept the Roebuck Sc
lection only to drop him on some
plausible pretext before we began op-
erations. I was to meet the man at
dinner Roebuck had engaged
suite at the auditorium. ut 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 I was not much
surprised when my acquaintance. the
iastute 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. Mr.. Sayler?" said
Woodruff.
Glad to see you. DR.. Woodruff" 1
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 thered have been no
- toll h. tai
Anyhow, I didn't know you till you
took out your watch with the mono
gram on the back. just as we we're
pulling In. Then l remem bered where
I'd seen your face before l was up
at your state house the day that you
threw old Dominick 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 US both.
The relation that was to exist be-
tween us-more, much more, than
that CT mere employer and employee
made fidelity. personal fidelity, imper-
alive; 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. I
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 to play upon them for the ad-
vantage of his employers and for his
own huge amusement. He gave
small exhibition of that skill at the
expense of Roebuck. He appreciated
that Roebuck was one of those uncon-
scious hypocrites who put conscience
out Of court in advance by assuming
that whatever they wish to do is
right or they could not wish to do it.
He led Roebuck on to show of this
popularity of his-a jun bling. often in
the same breath. of the most sonorous
piety and the most shameless business
perfidy All the time Woodruff's face
was perfectly grave-there are some
men who refuse to waste any OF their
internal enjoyment in external show
Before he left US l arranged to meet
him the next morning for the settle
menL OF the details OF MS employ moQL-
When Roebuck and I were alone,
said What do you know about
him. Who is he!"
He comes of good family here in
Chicago-one of the best. Perhaps
you recall the Bowker MURDER
Vaguely" 1 answered.
f., at was Woodruff who did It. We
had hard time getting him of. Bow
ker and Woodruff's younger brother
were playing cards one day. and Bow
ker accused him Of cheating Young
Woodruff drew-perhaps they both
drew at the same time. At any rate
Bowker shot first and killed his man
he got of on the plea Of self-defense.
It was two years before Bowker and
Doc met-in the lobby of the Palmer
house, happened to be there. 1 was
talking TO a friend when suddenly I
felt as II something awful was about
to happen. I started up. and saw
Bowker just rising from table at