Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-03-12
CHAPTER VII.
LANGDoN LEARNS OF THINGS UNPLEAs-
ANT.

lpuNutO tuC oOututIucE Ou tuc
L L We'll, my boy, what can !
Go for you?" asked the new senator.
turning, with n pleasant smile.
My name is Halnes. Senator Ste
vens was to speak to you about me.
I'm the first of the newspaper CORE
spondents come to interview YOU"
Langdon's familiar smile broadened.
We'll. you don't look rs though you'd
bite Reckon l can stand for It, Is 1t
very painfW:'
Il hope it won't be, senator" Haines
said, feeling iustinctively that he was
going to like this big. hearty citizen.
IAN right, Mr. IIaines. just as soon
| as I've said goodby to my old friend.
! Colonel Stoneman, Ill be with YOU"
| And to his continued amazemeut
| Haines saw the senator walk away
with the old Union colonel. slap him
on the back. cheer him up and finally
bid him goodby after extending n cor
| dial invitation TO come around to din
her, meet his daughters and talk over
| CID times.
| The Anticipated Federal soldier march
cd away more erect. more brisk. than
in years. completely restored to favor
| in the eyes of the hotel people. Lang
don turned 10 the reporter.
"All right. Mr.. IIaines: my hands are
| up. Do your worst. Senator Stevens
| spoke to me about you said you were
the smartest young newspaper man in
| Washington. You must come from the
| south"
Bud shook his head.
| mo, just New York" he said
well. that's n promising town."
drawled the southerner. They tell me
that's the VicksburS OF the north"
| II suppose you haven't been to New
York of late. senator?" suggested the
| newspaper man.
| We'll. l started up there with Gen
eral Lee once" responded I.angdon
reminiscently. but we changed our
minds and came back. You may have
heard about that trip"
| Haines admitted that he had.
| "Since that time" went on Lang
don. 1--WE confined my travels to New
Orleans and Vicksburs Ever been In
New Orleans about Mardi Gras time,
Mr.. uaines:"
Sorry, but l don't believe have"
confessed the reporter reluctantly.
The senator seemed surprised.
well. sir. you have something to
live for. I'll make 1t my special busi-
ness to personally conduct you through
one Mardi Gras, with n special under
standing. Of course. that you don't
print anything In the paper. I'm a
vestryman In my church, but since
misfortune has come upon our state !
have to be careful"
Uaines searched his brain. He knew
Of no grave calamity that had hap
pened recently In Mississippi
misfortune" he questioned.
Senator LangdOn nodded.
Eyes. sir. the great old state Of Mis-
sissippi went prohibition Mt the last
election. l don't know how 1t hap
pened. We haven't found anybody in
the state that says he voted FOR 1t, but
the fact Is fact. I assure you, Mr.
Haines, that prohibition stops at my
front door, in Mississippi So I've been
living quiet life down on my planta
ton"
for you, them" suggested the reporter
Change. It's revolutionary, sir
When you've expected to spend YOU
old days peacefully in the country
Mr.. IIaincs. suddenly to find that your
state has called on YOU
A flavor OF sarcasm came into
Haincs' reply.
'Thc office seeking the man" HI
could not help the slight sneer. Was
man never to admit that he had
sought the Office? IIaines knew only
too well Of the arduous work neces
sary to secure nominations for high Of
fee In conventions and to win an cleo
ton to the senate from q state legiS
lature. In almost every case. he knew
the candidate must make n dozen diff
ferent deals" to secure votes, might
promise the same office to two or three
different leaders, force others into line
by threats. send trusted agent TO an
other with roll Of bank bills-the re
cipient Of which would immediately
conclude that this candidate was the
only man In the state who could save
the nation from destruction. Had no,
llaines seen men who had sold theil
unsuspccting delegates for cash to the
highest bidder rise In the convention
hall and In impassioned, dramatic
voice exclaim In praise OF the buyer
Gentlemen, 1t would be crying
shame, n crime against civilization. II
the chosen representatives Of oul
grand old state of - did not GO on
record In favor OF such n man, such a
true citizen. such an inspired patriot
as he whose name am about to men
ton" So the reporter may be forgiv
Ell for the ironical tinge In his hasty
interruption Of the new senator's re
marks.
Langdon could not suppress a chuc
kle at the doubling note In Haines' at
titude.
II think the man would be pretty
small potatoes who wouldn't seek the
office Of United States senator. Mr.
Haines." he said. IF he could get II
When ! was young man, sir, politics
In the south was career for o gentle