The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-05

ne erected next ran WIN choose my /
successor. AS If my own selfish IN /
terests were all / have in mind! III
am old and feeble. on the verge OF the |
grave. Do you think, Mr.. Sayler, |
that / would continue in public life
II 1t were not for what l conceive to |
be my duty to my party7 I have toll |
ed too long for it"
Your record speaks for itself, SEN
ator," put in, politely but pointedly.
You are very discouraging, Say
ler." he said forlornly. But I refuse
to be discouraged. The party needs
you, and 1 have come to do my duty,
and 1 won't leave without doing it."
Il have nothing to do with the com
pany's political contributions" said l.
You will have to see Mr. Ramsay, as
usual"
He waved his hand. LET me ex-
plain, please. Roover is about to re-
sign-as you probably know, he's
been chairman of the party's state
committee for II years. I've come to
ask you to take his place"
1t was impossible wholly to hide
my amazement, my stupefaction. Had
he had the shadowiest suspicion Of
my plans, of the true inwardness of
the Crofutt-Dominick movement, he
would as readily have offered me his
own head. In fact, he was Offering
me his own head; for, with the money
and the other resources at my com
cial executive of the party to make
me master. And here he was, giving
me the place, under the delusion that
he could use me as he had been using
Roover.
He must have misread my express
sion, for he went on: Don't refuse on
impulse, Sayler. I and the others will
do everything to make your duties as
light as possible"
Il should not be content to be a
mere f1gurehead, as Roover has been"
| warned him. He had come, In his
desperation to try to get the man
who combined the advantage of be-
ing, as he supposed, Dominick's
enemy, and member of one of the
states financially influential families.
He had come to coZen me into letting
him use me in return for q mockery
of an honor. And | was simply tum-
bling him, or rather, permitting him
to tumble himself, into the pit he had
dug for me. Still, felt that l owed
it to myself to give him a chance IF
l take the place, shall fill it to the
best of my ability"
Certainly, certainly-we want your
ability" Behind his bland cordial
mask I saw the spider eyes cleaning
and the spider claws twitching as he
felt his net culver under lowering
wings. eve want you've need you,
Sayler. We expect you to do your
| best"
My best! What would my best"
have been, had l been only what he
thought-dependent upon him for sup
plies-surrounded by his 1ieutenants,
hearing nothing but what he chose to
tell me, and able to execute only such
orders as he gave or approved!
Il am sure we can Count on you"
he urged.
Il will try it," said /, after a fur
! Their hesitation that was not altogeth-
! er show
| He did not lingerie wished to
give me no chance to change my
mind and fly his net. / was soon
alone, staring dazedly at my windfall
and wondering If fortune would ever
! give me anything without attaching to
/ it that which would make me doubt
whether my gift had more of bitter
or more Of sweet in 1t.
Dunkirk announced the selection OF
a new chairman that very afternoon
was the formality of my election by
the 63 members of the state commit
tee to be gone through. His PROPOSE
ton was well received. The old-line
politicians remembered my father;
the reformers recalled my fight
against Dominick; the business men
liked my connection with the Ramsay
company, assuring stability and re
gard for conservatism; the boys
were glad because Z had a rich wife
and a rich brother-in-law. The boys
always cheer when man with money
develops political aspirations
I did not see Woodruff until 1 went
down to the capital to begin my in
itiation. / came upon him there, III
the lobby of the Capital City hotel
AS we talked for a moment like bare
ly acquainted strangers saying moth
ing that might not have been repeated
broadcast, his look was asking: How
did you manage to trap Dunkirk into
doing it?" l never told him thu
secret, and so never tore out the foun
dation Of his belief in me as a DO
litical wizard 1t is by such judiciou:
use Of their few strokes OF good lucl
that successful men get their glamour
of the superhuman. In the eyes o
the average man, who is lazy or in
f.a,.T r. -