The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-07-18

In the second week OF January re-
volted against the doctors and nurses
and had my political secretary.
Wheelock. telephone for Woodruff
the legislature had elected him TO
the senate three days before. When
he had sat with me long enough TO
realize that / could bear bad news.
he said: Goodrich and Burbank have
formed combination against you"
How do you know" said !. show
Ing no surprise. and feeling none
'Bocause"-he laughed-'I was In
H. Al least. they thought so until
they had let me be safely elected. As
nearly as I can make out, they be-
gan the plot about ten days after
you fell sick. At hrst they had II
on the slate 20 do me up. too. But
the day after Christmas-Burban sent
for me-
Walt a minute" interrupted. And
began 10 think. II was on Christmas
day that Burbank telephoned for the
flrst time in nearly three weeks. I'm
AMAANAh hNNNA NY hhhNANlhhs \
bered their telling me how minute
his questionlngs were. And had
thought his sollcltude was proof OF
his frlondship Instead. he had been
inquirlng 10 make sure about the re-
ports In the papers that was GER
tain 10 recover. in order that he
might shift the factors In his plot &C
oordlngly. when did you say Bur
bank sent for your" | asked.
ION Christmas day." Woodruff ro-
piled.
laughed; he looked at me inqulr-
ingly. Nothing" said I. "only an
old joke--as old as human nature. Go
on"
Christmas day" he continued: Il
didn't get 10 him until next morning.
can't figure out Just why they In.
yitcd me into their combine"
But ] could figure Il out, easily n
! had died. my power would have dis.
integrated and Woodruff would have
boon no use 20 them. When they
were sure was going 20 live. they
had to have him because he might be
able 10 assassinate me. certainly
could 40 cripple me that I would
rs they reasoned-bo helpless under
their assaults But II wasn't neces-
sary 20 tell Woodruff this. thought
We'll" said I. ''and what hap.
ponodg"
burbank gave me n dose OF hia
great and gracious way-you ought
20 see the side he puts on nowi-
and turned me over 90 Goodrich. Ito
had been mighty careful not 70 give
himself away any further than that.
Then Goodrich talked 20 me for three
solid hours. showing me Il was my
duty 90 the party as well as 10 myself
10 Join him and Burbank In eliminat.
ms the one dlsturber Of harmony
that meant you"
And did they tell you they'd de-
stroy you n you didntg"
"oh. that Of course" no answered.
indincrcntly.
We'll. what did you dor
played with EN- till I was elected
Thon dropped Goodrich a line You
So 20 he'll wrote. I travel with
men"
VERY imprudcnt." was my com
mont
Yes" he admitted. but had 20
do something TO get the dirt on my
hands"
so Burbank has gone over 10
Goodrich" went on. presently. as
much 90 myself az TO him.
4 always know he was one 81 those
chaps you have 90 keep scared 10
keep straight" said Woodruff. They
think your politeness indicates fear.
ma your friendship fright. Besides.
he's got n dolusion that his popularity
carried the west for him aud that
yon and I ala him only damage
Woodruff interrupted himself with a
laugh "a friend OF mine" he re-
rumcd. was on the train with Scar
/ borough when he went east 10 the
I m citing OF congress last month. lie
,o.la me Il was like a presldentelect
on tho way 90 be inauguraied. The
people turned out NJ every crossroads.
even beyond the Allcghanies. And
burbank knows a. II he wasn't clean
daft about himself he'd realize that n
Il hadn't been for you-well. ia hate
20 say how badly he'd have got left
/ Hut then. n Il hadn't been for you.
| he'd never have been governor. lie
was n dead one. and you hauled him
out 81 the tomb"
True enough. but what did u mat.
tor now1
He's going % get a horrible Jolt
/ before many months" Woodruff went
on. 4 can sec you after him"
you forget He's president" Ian.
swcrcd He's beyond our reach"
mot when he wants a Tenomlna.
tion." insisted Woodruff
"IIo can get that without us-lf"
said You must remember we've
made him a fetish with our rank and
nlc And he's something Of a fetish
with the country now that he's presi.
don't No. We can't destroy him
cant even injuro him. Hell have
60 DO that himself. n It's done. BE.
sides"
I aid not finish. aid not care 10
confess that since Frances and I saw
CRANKY swinging from that tree In
my grounds ! had neither heart nor
stomach for the relentless side OF
tho gamc. Indeed. whether from cal.
/ culation or from aontmentallty or
from both-or. from n certain sympa.
thy and fellow feeling for all kinds
/ ~ wreakneaa-I haVo never uuraued