News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-04-14

Senator Peabody read the letter t
which Haines had signed Langdon'
name and jumped up from his chair il
the library in establishment. Withou
a word to the startled Stevens he rush
ed to confront Langdon.
"What's the meaning of this?" hi
shouted as he burst in on the junior
| senator from Mississippi
"Of what" asked the southerner
| with a blandness that added fuel tt
Peabody's Irritation
Don't trifie with me. sir" cried "the
boss Of the senate" This letter You
sent it. Explain it, I'm in no mood tc
Joke"
Langdon looked at him calmly.
II think the letter is quite plain, sen,
ator," he said. you can read" Then
he turned to his daughter. "This dis
cussion cannot possibly interest you,
my dear. Will you go to the drawing
room to receive our guests?'
Carolina obeyed She seemed to be
discovering new qualities in this father
whom she had considered to be too old
fashioned for his time
snow. senator, go ahead, and, Ran
dolph, you bring Stevens"
you're switching to Gulf City?" de-
handed Peabody.
I'm considering Gulf City," agreed
Langdon.
Peabody brought down his fist on the
table.
ITS too late to consider anything,
Langdon," he cried We're committed
to Atacoola and Altacoola 1t is. l
don't care what you heard of Gulf
City Now. I'd like to settle this thing
in a friendly manner, Langdon. | like
always for every member of the senate
to have his share of the power and the
patronage. We've been glad to put you
forward in this naval base matter We
appreciate the straightforwardness, the.
honesty Of your character. You look
we'll You're the kind of politician the
public thinks it wants nowadays, but
you've been in the senate long enough
to know that bills have to pass. and
you know you can't get through any
thing without my friends, and tell
you now IA throttle any Gulf City
plan you bring up"
Then If you are as sure of that you
can't object to my being for Gulf
City," asked Langdon.
Are you financially interested in
Gulf City," demanded Peabody.
Senator Peabody" exclaimed Lang.
don.
Don't flare up, Langdon," retorted |
Peabody. THAT sort of thing has |
happened in the senate. There are |
often perfectly legitimate profits to be
made in some regular commercial ven
ture by man who has inside infor-
nation as to what's doing up on Capt. |
tol hill"
Senator Peabody" asked Langdon.
"why are you so strong for Altacoola?"
The Pennsylvania hesitated.
"Its natural advantages" he said at
last.
The southerner shook his head.
"Oh, that's all? Well, if natural adj
vantages are going to settle 1t, and
not lnUuenCe, 20 duedu anu NOle, anu
I'll Just bring in a minority report for
Gulf City"
1.-THE boss of the senate" was in
corner now.
"Confound it, Langdon. If you will
have it. am interested in Altacoola."
Langdon nodded.
That's all | wanted to know" he
said
NOW you see why it's got to be
Altacoola," persisted the boss.
81 don't mind telling you, then, Sen
ator Peabody" answered Langdon
that my being for Gulf City
was a bluff I've been trying to draw
you out Gulf City is a mud bank
and no more fitted to be a naval base
than Keokuk. Ia. AltacOola it's got
TO be. for the good of the country and
he honor of Mississippi.