Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-23

"You know you can't shut me up.
Dick" was his response to Cullen's
oratorical flight. I'm going to have
my say. don't see why senator
shouldn't be honest. All want them
to do is to play a new game. Let 'em
at least seem to be honest, attend to
their business, forget politics. The
country sends them here to work, and
IL they do the work the people really
don't care hang what party they be-
long to-"
"Colne out of it, Bud. Your brain Is
wabbly,' yawned Cullen YEARLY. I'll
buy drink If you'll quiet down. Let's
don appears" He caught his friend
by the arm and in spite Of protest
dragged him off to the cafe just as
young Langdon and Congressman Nor
ton came down through the lobby.
Though but few years older than
Randolph Langdon, Charles Norton
had long exercised strong influence
over him because of his wider expert
ence in the worlds affairs. Like bis
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 y,earned 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
confi1ing In Randolph. subtle com
pliment. was deeply appreciated b.
the lad, who unconsciously became q
continual advertiser of Norton's many
virtues to Carolina and to his father.
all Of which the congressman knew.
That Norton's political career was
the outcome of Carolina Langdo4,'
ambition to shine in gay society Wa
known to his friends rs we'll as hi
family, and his desire to win her and
place her when, she could satisfy ev-
cry whim had developed almost to a
frenzy. Seeing evidences Of Senator
Stevens vast influence. he did not hes
itate to seek 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 a part of the political ma
chine that controlled bis 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 wslich must be protected at any
cost. The acceptance of 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 1t
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
door-unless he is at the head of the
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 Gin
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
soola naval basA