Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-03-12
CHAPTER VIII.

the arm Of his interviewer.
See here, young man. why
- aren't you In politics?" he said.
TOO busy. senator" replied Haines
Besides. like the newspaper game"
Game" Queried Langdon.
"Oh, use the word In a general
sense. senator" replied Haines. ''Pret-
ty much everything Is 'game'-socie-
ty. politics. newspaper work. business
Of every sort. Men and women make
moves to meet the moves Of other
men and women. Why. even In reli-
gion. the way some people play a.
The speaker was interrupted by the
appearance Of Hope Georgia. who was
searching for her father.
stay here and listen to what n hard
task your old father has got" said the
Mississippian to his daughter, whom
he presented to IIaines with n pictur-
esque flourish reminiscent OF the pride
and chivalry Of the old south. "IIe has
the Idea that those New Workers who
read his paper would actually like to
know something about me-"
Hope Georgia stole many glances at
the reporter as he talked with her IA
Their. He made deep impression on
her young mind. She had spent almost
all her life on the plantation. her IA
Their providing her with a private tu-
tor instead Of sending her to boarding
school. where her elder sister had been
educated. Owing to the death Of her
mother the planter had desired to keep
Hope Georgia ut home for companion
ship. This good looking. clean cut.
we'll built young man who was taking
so big and SO active a part Of the
worlds work brought to her the at
mosphere that her spirit craved. He
gave one an impression OF ability. of
earnestness. Of sincerity. and she was
glad that her father approved Of him.
Hope Georgia. by the same token.
did not escape the attention Of the in
terviewer. Her appealing charm of
face and figure was accentuated by
her daintiness and a fieeting sugges-
ton Of naivete In poise and expression
when She was amused. His first
glance revealed to IIaines that her
eyes were gray. the gray that people
say indicates the pOssessor to have
those priceless Qualities-the qualities
that make the sweetest women true,
that make the maiden's eyes In truth
the windows Of her soul. the qualities
that make women womanly.
She sat close to her father. her hand
In his. listening intently to the unfold
ing OF story Of what to her was a
mysterious world-the mans world.
the strong mans world-which many
q woman would give her all to enter
and play a part therein.
What else have you against po-
litical career Mr.. IIaines?" went ON
the senator. taking up their CONVEX.
sation.
well, my age for one thing. I
haven't any gray hairs"
I.angdOn waved this objection aside.
II might arrange to pool ages with
you. Sometimes think we want
young men In politics. like you"
The reporter shook his head.
"Old In age and young in politics,
Ike you, Senator Langdon." lie replied.
Politics l sometimes think Is pure
hypocrisy and sometimes something
worse A man gets disguised With the
trickery and dishonesty and corrup-
ton"
Then" drawled I.angdon. 1.-The thing
to do Is to jump In and stop 1t!
read In the newspapers great deal
about corruption. The gentlemen III
national politics whom l have had the
honor OF kno 0ng-Senator MOseley,
an intimate friend OF thirty years; my
present colleague. Senator Stevens. and
Others-have been us honest as the day
Is long"
but the days do get short In No
vember, when congress meets, don't
they" laughed IIaines. rising. I'm
afraid I've taken too much OF your
time. and l seem to have talked lot"
LangdOn was amused.
Does look like I'd been interviewing
you. l reckon each one OF us has got
q pretty good notion OF what the other
mans Ike. l wanted It that way. and
like you. Mr.. Haines. I've got prop
Osition to make to you. They tell me
I'll need a secretary. Now. l think
need just such young man as you.
don't know Just exactly what the work
would be or what the financial ar
rangements should be. but think you
and l would make a pretty good team
I wish you'd come" He turned to his
daughter. with smile. What do you
think Of that. Hope Georgia? Isn't
your dad right?"
Smiling her approval. the young CIR
squeezed her fathers hand In her en-
thusiasm.
Il think It's n splendid idea. dad
Just great. Won't you come. Mr.
Haines? We-eh-I-I know my IA
Their would Ike to have you"
As he stood before his two new
found friends-for such Haines now
considered the Mississipian and his
daughter-he could not suppress feel
ings Of surprise tinged with uncertain
~. He had. like other newspaper men
received offers Of employment from
politicians who desired to increase
their influence with the press. Some
times the salary offered had been large
the work so light that the reporter
could earn" the money and yet retain
his newspaper position. Il scantily dis
guised species Of bribery. which had
wrecked the careers Of several promis
ing young reporters well known to
Haines. young men who had been thus
led into selling their columns" by un.
scrupulous machine dicfators.