The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-03-19

| ana Wlen IL 8 all over DICK there III
Mississippi l shall be able, | hope, t.
patch up your broken lives and togeth
er we will work out your mistakes.
| can't think of that now. The honor o.
the Langdons calls. This is the tint
| for the fight and any one who fights
against me must take the conse
! quences."
He walked over and touched the bell
Thomas" he said to the servant
who responded, take that letter al
once to Senator Peabody, in the libra
y."
"What is it, sir?" asked Randolph.
"It's the call to arms" responded his
father grimly
Senator Peabody read the letter to
which Haines had signed Langdon's
name and jumped up from his chair in
the library in astonishment. Without
a word to the startled Stevens he rush
ed to confront Langdon.
whats the meaning of thisT he
shouted as he burst in on the junior
senator from Mississippi.
"Of what?" asked the southerner
with blandness that added fuel to
Peabody's irritation.
Don't trife with me, sir!' cried "the
boss Of the senate" "This letter. You
sent it. Explain it! Pm in no mood to
joke"
Langdon looked at him calmly.
81 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. VIII 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.
"Now. senator go ahead and, Ran
dolph, you bring Stevens"
You're switching to Gulf CityY 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. Were committed
to Altacoola. and Altacoola it is. l
don't care what you heard of Gulf
City. Now, I'd like to settle this thing
in q friendly manner, Langdon. l 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 raightfOrwardness, 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 1 tell
you now I'll throttle any Gulf City
plan you bring mp"
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 a man who has inside infor
nation as to what's doing up on Capt.
toll hill"
Senator Peabody" asked Langd1n
"why are you so strong for AltacoolSg"
The Pennsylvania hesitated.
''Its natural advantages" he said at
last.
The southerner shook his head.
ooh, that's all? Well, If natural ad-
vantages are going to settle it, and
not influence, go ahead and vote. and
I'll just bring in minority report for
Gulf City"
"The boss of the senate" was in a
corner now.
"Confound it, Langdon. If you will
have it, l 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.
IL don't mind telling you, then, Sem
ator Peabody" answered Langdon
calmly. "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, la. Altacoola it's got
to be, for the good of the country and
the honor Of Mississippi.
"And one thing more, senator. I'd
just like to add that not single man
connected with that committee is go
ing to make cent out of the deal.
You get that straightT