Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-02-04
ton came down through the lobby.


had long exercised strong influence
over him because of his wider expert
ence in the worlds affairs. Like his
father, young Langdon had stayed
close to the plantation most of his
life, particularly after leaving school.
devoting his attention to studying the
business of conducting the family's
big estate. Norton brought him the
atmosphere of the big outside world
he yearned to see even as did his sis
ter Carolina. and he initiated Norton's
manners, his dress and mode of
speech. The congressman's habit of
confding in Randolph, a subtle COM
pliment, was deeply appreciated by
the lad, who unconsciously became a
continual advertiser of Norton's many
virtues to Carolina and to his father,
NIL of which the congressman knew.
That Norton's political career was
the outcome of Carolina Langdon's
ambition to shine in gay society was
known to his friends as well as his
family, and his desire to win her and
place her where she could satisfy ev
cry whim had developed almost to
frenzy. Seeing evidences of Senator
Stevens vast influence, he did not hes
itate to seek a close relationship with
him, and the senator was clever
enough to lead Norton to consider him
his friend
At the start of his political career
Norton had higher ideas of honor than
guided his actions now that he had
become part of the political ma
chine that controlled his native state
of Mississippi and of the bipartisan
combination that dominated both
houses of congress in the interest of
the great railway and industrial cor
porations. Senator Stevens and other
powers had so distorted Norton's view
of the difference between public and
private interests and their respective
rights that he had come to believe cap
ital to be the sacred heritage of the
nation which must be protected at any
cost. The acceptance of a retainer
from the G. st. and P. Railroad COM
pany for wholly unnecessary services
in Washington-only another way of
buying mana transaction arranged
by Senator Stevens was but another
stage in the disintegration of the
young congressman's character, but it
brought him just that much closer to
the point where he could claim Caro-
lima Langdon as his own. And oppor-
tunity does not knock twice at mans
1n1o hn ies OF %I,n Of fIo
machine.
Norton, the persevering young law
student who loved the girl who had
been his boyhood playmate, was now
Norton who coveted her fathers lands,
who boosted that he was on the 'in-
side in Washington, who was on the
way to fortune-if the new senator
from Mississippi would or could be
forced to stand in favor of the Alta
coola naval base.
His conversation with Randolph
Langdon as Haines and Cullen saw
them pass through the hotel lobby IL
Illustrated the nature of the Norton of
the present and his interest in the AL
tacoola scheme.
there's no reason why you shouldn't
come in on the ground floor in this
proposition, Randolph" he was urging
in continuance of the conversation be-
gun over table in the cafe. mo rea-
son why you shouldn't do it, my boy.
Why, are you still child, or are you
really man? You have now drafts
for $4,000, haven't you?''
"Yeah," agreed Langdon, chagrined
at Norton's insinuation of youthfulness
and anxious to prove that he was real
ly man of affairs, "I've got the fifty
thousand, Charlie, but-but, you see,
that's the money for improvements on
the plantation. AS father has put me
In as manager I want to make show
ing"
"You can't make it until spring."
urged Norton. "The moneys got to lie
in the bank all winter. Now, why
don't you make hundred thousand
with it instead of letting it lie idle?
Isn't that simple?"
The younger mans eyes opened wide,
and his Imagination, stimulated by the
special brand of Bourbon whisky Nor
ton had ordered for him, took rapid
bounds.
zone hundred thousand! You mean
could make hundred thousand with
my fifty between now and spring."
"Sure as niger likes gin," replied
Norton confidently.
"HowY asked Langdon.
The young congressman leaned over
confdentially.
'This is under your hat, Randolph
You can keep quiet?"
Langdon nodded eagerly.
"Then put it into Altacoola land"
"The naval base?" gasped Langdon.
Norton nodded.
"Now you've hit it. The government
will select Altacoola for naval base.
Then land will jump way up to never