The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-06-05
CHAPTER VII.
LANGDoN LEARNS or THINGS UNpLEAs.
ANT

= - Wei, my boy, what can l
90 for you?e asked the new senator,
turning, with a pleasant smile
My name is Hanes Senator Ste
vens was to speak to you about Ine.
I'm the first of the newspaper CORE
spondents come to Interview you"
Langdon's familiar smile BroaGeued
We'll you don't look MS though you'd
bite. Reckon | can stand for IT, is iI
very painfu?'
Il hope it won't be, senator HaiEes
said, feeling instinctiyely that he was
going to like this big, hearty citizen
'All right, Mr.. Haines. just as soon
as Eve said goodby to my old friend.
Colonel Stoneman, I'll be with You"
And to his continued amazenent
Haines saw the senator walk away
with the old Union colonel, slap him
on the back. cheer him up aud finally
bid him gocdby after extending u-eor-
dial invitation to come around to din
ner. meet his daughters and talk over
old times,
The antiquated Federal soldier march
ed away more erect, more brisk than
in years, completely restored 70 favor
in the eyes of the hotel people. Lang
don turned to the reporter
'All right Mr.. Haines; 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 a promising town."
drawled the southerner ",Fhey tell me
that's the vicksburg of the north
Il suppose you haven't been to New
York of late, senator?" suggested the
newspaper man
',Well, | started up there with Gen
eraI Lee once" responded Langdon
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, "I've confined my travels to New
Orleans and vicksburg Ever been in
New Orleans about Mardi Gras time,
Mr.. Haines?"
"Sorry, but don't believe have"
confessed the reporter reluctantly.
The senator seemed surprised.
"Well, sir. you have something to
live for. III make il my special bust
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
vestryman IN my church, but since
misfortune has GENE upon our state
have TO be careful
Haines searched his brain He knew
of no grave calamity that, had hap
pened recently in Mississippi
"Misfortunef" he questioned
Senator Langdon nodded.
''Yes, sir. the great old state Of Mis-
sissipPi went prohibition at the last
election. l don't know how it hap
pened. We haven't found anybody in
the state that says he voted for II, but
the fact is fact I-assure you. Mr..
Haines, that prohibition stops at poy
front door, in Mississippi So I've been
living quiet life down on my planta-
ton"
This new life win be great change
for you, them" suggested the reporter.
"Change! It's revolutionary, sir
When you've expected to spend your
old days peacefully in the country,
Mr. Hainos, suddenly to find that your
state has called on you
favor of sarcasm came into
Haines reply
THE Office seeking the mapE lie
could not help the slight sneer. Was
man never to admit that he had
sought the Office? Haines knew only
too well of the arduous work neces-
sary to secure nominations fer high Of
fee in conventions and to win an elec-
don TO the senate from a state legis-
tature. In almost every case. lie knew.
The candidate must make a 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 a 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 not
Haines seen men who had sold their
unsuspecting delegates for cash 10 the
highest bidder rise In the convention
hall and in impassioned, dramatic
voice exclaim In praise OF the buyer.
Gentlemen. II would be a crying
shame, crime against civilization. II
the chosen representatives Of orr
grand old state of - did not 80 on
record in favor of sucba man. such a
true citizen. such TN inspired patriot
as he whose name am about 10 men.
tionr' SO the reporter may be forelv-
en- for the ironical tlnge In his hasty
interruption Of the new senator's re-
marks.
Langdon could not suppress a chuc-
kle at the doubting note In Haines' at
titude.
Il think the man would be pretty
small potatoes who wouldn't seek the
Office OF United States senator Mr.
rrss----" - --aS - - ~~.'ia e@f 't