The Washington herald., 1907-01-06
THE CANDIDATE
A Political Romance By Joseph A Alsheer

father. who loves him more than any.
body else in the world, ask you to dc
it,"
Harley was tempted to smile, and a;
the same moment water came into his
eyes. No one could fail to be moved by
the old mans intense earrestness. his
iorid and mixed imagery, and his ap-
pealing look. Certainly Jimmy Grayson
was no exception. He glanced at Harley
and saw his expression Of sympathy, but
the correspondent made no suggestion
II appreciate your feelings and your
position Mr.. Moore" he said. but this
is hard thing that YOU ask me to do.
l cannot trdmpie upon a boy. even meta
phOTically, I'm the presence of five thou
sand people. What will they think OF
me?"
They'll understand They'll know why
it's done, and they'll like you for IL. It's
the only way. Mr.. GraysOn. Either you
do 1t or my boys life is ruined"
Jimmy Grayson walked up and down
the room. and his face was troubled. tie
looked again and again at Harley, but
the correspondent made no suggestion
he had none 10 make. At last he stop
ped.
Il think I can save your son and
promise To make the trial. but ] will not
say word just vet. Now don't ask me
any more about il. and never mind the
thanks. I understand; maybe / shall
have grown son myself. some day, to
be turned from the wrong path Good
night. III see you again at Pueblo
Harley, I wish you would stay a while
longer. l want to have further talk with
you"
The candidate and Harley were In deep
/ converse for some time, and. when they
/ finished, much OF the trouble had disap-
peared from Jimmy Grays0n's eyes. 4
/ think ii can be DONE" he said
so do T. repeated Harley. with conf
dence.
! The next day, which was occupied with
/ the run down to Pueblo and occasional
! stops for speeches at way stations. was
I uneventful save for the growing obses-
sion Of Charlie Moore. He was overflow
/ ing with pride and Importance That
/ night in the presence Of 5000 people, he
was going TO reply to the great Jimmy
( Gray son, and show 20 them and 10 him
/ his errors. Mr.. Grayson was sound In
most things, but there were several in
which he should be set right. and he.
/ Charlie Moore. was the man to do Il for
/ him.
Z The Hedging proudly produced several
I
/ 10 that Of the candidate, and talked TO
/ the correspondents Of the main points
that he would make, until they fed into
the next car. But he followed them there
and asked them If they would not like 60
take In advance q synopsis Of his speech
IN order that they might be sure To teie-
graph 1t 10 their Offices in time. All
eyaded the issue except Harley. who
gravely jotted down the synopsis, and.
with equal gravity. returned his thanks
for Mr.. MOOre's consideration.
i knew YOU wouldn't want 70 miss Il. "
said the youth. L come on late. you
know, and, besides, I remembered that
the difference in time between here and
New York IS against us"
Mr.. Moore. the father, was on the train
throughout the day, but he did not speak
to his son. He spent his time In the car
in which Jimmy GraysOn sat. always
silent. but always looking. with appeal
and pathOs, at the great leader. His eyes
said plainly Mr.. GraysOn. you viii not
fail me- viii yOu2 You viii save my son
You viii beat him, and tread on him
until he hasn't left q single thought OF
being a famous orator and public Ieader2
Then he viii return 70 the work for which
God made him."
Harley would look at the old man
a while, and then return TO the next car,
where the youth was chattering away 90
those who could not escape him.
The speech in Pueblo was to be Of the
utmost Importance, not alone TO those
whose own ears would hear 1t, but TO the
whole Union. because the candidate
would make plain declaration upon "a
number of vexed questions that had been
raised within the last week or two. This
had been announced in all the press on /
the authority Of Jimmy Grayson himself, /
and the speech In fun, not a word miss
ing. would have 10 be telegraphed 90 all |
the great newspapers both East and /
West
In such important campaigns as that Of
a Presidential nominee, the two great tele- !
graph companies always send operators |
with the correspondents, in order that /
they may dispatch long messages from /
small way stations, where the local men /
are not used to such heavy work Now |
Harley and his associates had with thetu
TWO veterans. Barr and Wymond, from /
Chicago, who never failed them. They
We're relieved. too. on reaching Pueblo /
10 find that the committee in charge had /
been most considerate. Some forethought- |
fUI man, whom the correspondents |
blessed. had remembered the three 4
hours difference IN time between Pueblo |
and New York, and against New York 4
and he had run two wires directly into 1
tie hall and into a private box on the \
left, where Barr and Wymond could /
work the instruments. SO far from the /
stage that the clicking would not disturb /
Jimmy GraysOn or anybody else, but /
would save much time for the correspond /
ents.
The audience gathered early, and it /
was a splendid Western crowd, big
boned. and tanned by the Western |
winds
They have cranks out here, but it's |
a land of strong men. don't you forget /
that" said Harley to Churchill, and |
Churchill did not attempt a sarcastic
reply.
They were both sitting at -the edge
of the stage, and in front Of them
nearer the footlights, was young
Moore, proud and eager. his fingers
moving nervously- His father. too.
had found a seat on the stage, but it
was in the background, next to the
scenery and behind of the others: he
was not visible from the floor of the
house. There he sat, staring gloomily
at his son, and now and then. with a
sort of despairing hope, glancing at
Jimmy Grayson.
There were some short preliminary
speeches and intrOductions, and then
came the turn of the candidate The
usual fiutter Of expectation ran over
the audience, followed by the usual
deep hush, but just at that moment
there was an interruption. A boy in
the uniform of a telegraph company
hurried upon the stage
You must come at once. sir" he
said TO Harley. Mr.. Wymond hasn't
turned up. We don't know what's be
come of him. And Mr.. Barr has took
sick. sudden and bad. The PuehIn