The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-02
THE RECOVERY. A Story of Kentucky
 Copyright, 1908, by JOSEPH \. ALTSIIELER Entered at Stationers' Hall
 All rights reserved


 1 fight in the House.
 'Tve followed your course there, Mr. 1 Clarke he said.
 What do you think of it?' I ask ed anxiously-I wanted very much to have his good opinion.
 Tt is what I expected you would 1 do,'' he said. Do you <know, MT i Clarke, that you have the qualities of a f1ghter?'
 ''No,'' I replied in some surprise, "I did not know it.''
 l Doubtless you did not But most people with slow tempers are tena- cious. You won't repeat what I say, | but I think you ought to continue the | battle, though that is superfiuous ad- vice to you. It is an opening for you You are on the right side, and if you | fail, you fail i'll 8 good cause with all 1 the odds against you, but if you suc- | ceed, you will have achieved wonder 1 full triumph | What he said sank deeply in my mind and confirmed me in my course. l When I left him I felt encouraged and | uplifted, because it was a great grati- | 1cation to me to have bis approval. We parted at the outskirts of the l city, and I strolled on by the Capitol and then walked toward the railroad station. As I approached the latter in 1 the growing twilight, I saw a figure in front of me walking briskly. The fa- | miliar look of the upright carriage and the shoulders well thrown back told me that it was Harrison. I should not have paid anysfurther attention to him. but just then Louisville train pulled in and man who alighted from it shook hands with him warmly. The rays from the station arc light fell directly upon the face of the man and with a start I recognized Grey. T chn ct but he saw me and called out in bluff manner that he meant to be friendly: How are you Clarke? I say won't you shake hands with a fellow since you've got to be a great man?"
 I gave my hand reluctantly, and not liking at all the contact of his I drop ped it as, soon as possible. It seem ed to me that it would have been more befltting in him after what had pass ed and the talk, to have ignored me, but apparently he had forgotten it. He was now all for comradeship and jo- via1ity.
 You should be glad to see me, Clarke, old fellow" he said, "because I'm going to stay in this tight little town of yours for while. I hear that a man can have good time here when the Legislature is in session"
 "It depends upon what one calls good time,'' I replied.
 6 knOW WQdC d SOOu Cl1Il0 IS. OOn we ?' he exclaimed thrusting an elbow into my side with hideous familiarity.
 I drew off from him with as much dignity as I could muster and replied far from warmly:
 "No, I do not.
 But he refused to be repulsed, hook ed me on one arm, Harrison on the other and insisted on walking thus to the hotel. Fortunately Frankfort is not crowded place and it was dark. I was spared spectators. save a news boy or two, and at the steps of the ho- tel was able to detach myself I re- turned to the lobby al.er dinner and found Harrison smoking in a corner alone. I drew up a. chair and sat down near him.
 Why have you brought him here?" I asked.
 He took his cigar from his mouth. held it lightly between his fingers and regarded me with innocent wonder.
 'Ii I brought him here?' he repeat ed.
 "Yes," I said impatiently "You know that you did. We've been frank with each other so far. Why cease now?"
 That's true'' he replied meditative- ly. "There is no reason why we should cease. You are right. I did bring ilim here. Grey, not having anything
 
 attacked by the political mania. He has got the foolish idea which some people have that money can do any, thing. He is perhaps the richest man in the State and he is wild enough to believe that if he poured out some scores of thousands, he might get the next nomination for the Governorship or something equally. as good. So I've told him to come down to Frankfort and get acquainted
 I looked directly into his eyes and said:
 That isn't all.'
 I saw a faint flush creep into his Hike snow on the deserts dusty face"
 "No, it isn't all," he replied calmly. q might have known that you would guess it. I brought him because he is going to bring Mrs. Grey. I want to see her here. What have you to say about it?''
 I felt a flush in my own cheeks and
 q see,'' he said, ''Im serving you as well as myself Now, Clarke, be frank and admit to me that either you or I ought to have her. Such a man as that is not worthy of the owner ship of Alicia Grey"
 He jerked his finger toward the cell ing-Grey was somewhere in room above. But I felt the flush on my cheeks deepen. did not like his way of speaking of Alicia.is
 "I don't want to discuss her with anybody" I said.
 He laughed again.
 "You neednt'' he replied, 1T know just how you stand without your say- ing word. But you are more of a Puritan than I am.''
 His smile was hateful to me, but I knew that he understood me. An, if the whole truth be told, I should rath- CT have seen her the wife of Harrison than of Grey. He at least was a man and he valued her at her full worth. However, I rose and with a nod I left him.
 Think it over," he called after me.
 Harrison had not exaggerated Grey's folly. The man was a genuine can didate for the Governorship, that is for the Democratic nomination, which was equivalent to an election. He en- gagged a large suite of apartments in the best hotel and began to entertain lavishly Harrison, I could see, was eg- ging him on, and, in a measure, hold ing a restraining hand over him, but he was regarded, nevertheless, as what politicians call an 'easy thing" While Harrison might modify his political propaganda, he did not seek to inter- fere with his personal conduct or ex- pendtures Wine was flowing inces- sanity in Grey's rooms and he was. at io11 iY,o-