Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1909-03-12

At the home he rad later established
In Washington as preferable to the
international hotel were frequently
seen small eoterie Of senators and
eengressmen who had become known
TO the sarcastic party bosses in both
houses of congress as the "Langdon
crowd" which crowd was admitted TO
be somewhat OF a factor when ii final
ly prevailed on the president to take
over 11.e00 postmasters from the ap-
pointment class and put them under
the control of the civil service commits
sion. resulting in the necessity of a
competitive examination for these
pestmasters instead of their securing
positions through political favoritism.
Those who did not know Langdon
intimately suggested that this fellow
ought to be taken care Of What in
Gods name does he want? A commit
tee craftsmanship? An ambassadorship
for some Mississippi charcoal burner?
A couple of federal judgeships for his
friends? Well. whatever 1t is. give it
TO him and get him in with the rest
of u.s.
Again it was Peabody who had the
deciding say.
There's only one thing worse than
a young reformer. and that's an old
one" he laughed bitterly at secret
conclave at his apartment in the lux
urious Louis Napoleon hotel. THE
Young one thinks be is going to live
and wants our future profits for him
self. The old one thinks he's going
to die. and he's sore at leaving so
much graft behind him"
Heads and hearts thinking and throb-
bing together. Langdon and his seere-
tary. Hafnes. plodded along They
had learned to lean ca each other.
the young gaining inspiration from the
old. the old gaining strength from the
young. They loved each other. and,
more than any love, they trusted one
another And Hope Georgia watched
IL al and reioieed. for she believed
with all the accrued erudition of eight
cen years Of innocent gir!heod that
Mr. Bud Haines wss quite the finest
specimen of young manhood this
world had ever produced How could
he have happened She was sure that
she had never met his equal. not even
IN that memorable week she had spent
In Jackson.
The passing weeks taught Haines
that he was deeply in love with caro-
lima, and though he had endeavored
to keep the knowledge of this from
her her woman's intuition had told her
his secret. and she stitled the momen-
tary regrets that fitted into her mind,
because she was now In "the game
herself. the Washington game. that
ensnares the woman as well as the
man and makes her slave to Its fan
CIV. No one but herself and Norton
knew how deeply she had plunged
on a certain possible turn of the po
litical cards She must not, she could
not, lose if life itself were TO remain
of value to her. and on her sway over
this secretary she was told 1t all de-
pended.
\ subject that for some unexplain-
sble reason frequently lodged in
Haines' alind was that of the appar-
ent assiduity with which Mrs Spangler
cultivated Senator Langdons friend
fhip. For several years she had occu-
pied high social position at the capt.
tai. he well knew. but various indeh-
mite, intangible rumors he had heard,
be could not state exactly where had
made him regret her growing intimacy
with the girls and with the senator.
They had met her through letters OF
introduction of the most trustworthy
and assuring character from people or
highest social rank In Virginia. where
the Langdons had many friends. but
even 80, Haines realized. people who
write Introductory letters are some
times thougfltless IN considering all the
circumstances of the parties they In
troduce. and residents Of Virginia who
had not been in the capital for years
might be forgiven for not knowing OF
ali the more recent developments IN
the lives of those they knew In wash
ington. While not wishing to have the
senator know of his intention. the sec
rotary determined to investigate Mrs
Spangier and her present mode OF HE
at his first opportunity. hoping the
while that his quest would reveal her
to be what the Langdons considered
her-a widow of wealth, fashion and
reserve who resided at the capital be-
cause the memories OF her late hus-
band. a former congressman of high
standing. were associated with II
Calling at the Langdons' house one
evening in Fehruary TO receive direc-
lions regarding important work for the
next day. Haines
~ t~l was somew hat
}<AkN puzzled at the pc
x Nt " culiar smile Oh
MA the senator face.
.tft Answering the
W x secretary's look
" IFNvvT Of inquiry. the
tepIM MI Mississippian
a "H 'Sn u said:
M I've been told
/ III - that | can name
~ y the new holder Of
five thousand
- dollar Il year posi-