Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-03-11
CHAPTER XIV.

don and Norton still in the
room. New buoyancy, new
- courage, thrilled in his veins.
He would give this congressman the
battle of his life for this prize. of that
he was confident
II have an engagement with Mrs.
Holcomb, Senator Holcomb's wife,
she said, $50 | must hurry away. but
expect to be back to see father"
Il think I'll just wait" suggested
Norton Il have to see the senator as
soon as possible, and he ought to re-
turn from that ways and means com
mittee meeting pretty SOON"
When Carolina had gone a slight
feeling of constraint settled over the
two
1.-THE senator's pretty busy these
days with his naval base matter COM
ing up, isn't he?"
yes; keeps him pretty busy receiv-
ing delegations from Altacoola and
Gulf City and patting them both on
the back" said Haines. Had a man
from Gulf City in this morning with
some pretty strong arguments
The secretary watched Norton keen
ly to note the effect of this hint in
favor of Gulf City.
Gulf City," Norton sneered.
"Shucks! Who'd put a naval base on
bunch of mud flats? | reckon those
Gulf City fellows are wasting their
time
'"Think sol" suggested Haines. Are
you absolutely sureY
Norton started.
why, you don't mean to tell me-"
he exclaimed, that Senator Langdon
would vote for Gulf City for the
naval baseY'
Il don't mean to tell you anything.
congressman" was the cool rejoinder.
Its lot my business. The senator's
the one who does the talking"
An ugly sneer wrinkled the congress
mans face.
well, Pm glad he attends to his
own business and doesn't trust too
many people," he said pointedly.
The secretary smiled in puzzling
fashion.
That's exactly why / don't talk,
congressman" he said pleasantly.
''The senator doesn't trust too many
people. Ii he did. there might be too
much money made out of land specu-
lation. Senator Langdon doesn't hap
pen to be one of those senators who
care for that kind of thing"
II suppose you think you're pretty
strong with the SENATOR" ventured the
Mississippian.
"Tell you the truth. l haven't thought
very much about it," replied Haines,
but. il you come right down to it, |
guess am pretty strong
Suppose you've influenced him in
the naval base business, then"
Still the secretary smiled, keeping his
temper under the adroit attack.
"Well, | think he'd listen to me with
considerable Interest,"
"But you're for Altacoola, of course"
Haines shook his head.
mo, can't say that I'm for Alta
coola. Fellow who was in here this
morning put up pretty good argu-
ment, to my mind, for Gulf City. In
fact he made it pretty strong. Seem
ed to show it was all to my interest to
go in with Gulf City. Think I'll have
to investigate little more. tell you,
Norton" spoke Haines in a confiden.
JlaI manner, sthis land speculation re-
yer is frightful thing. While / was
talking to this fellow from Gulf City
1 almost caught it myself. Probably
If met the head of the Altacoola spec
ulation might catch the fever from
him too"
"Why don't you put your money into
Gulf City and lose it, then?' replied
Norton, nodding his head scornfully.
''That'd be a good lesson for a rising
young politician like you"
Senator Langdon's secretary peered
straight into Norton's eyes.
Because, congressman" he said, ''if
were to put my money in Gulf City
perhaps wouldn't lose it,
The southerner took step. forward,
leaned over and glared angrily at
Haines. His face whitened.
"You don't mean that you could
swing Langdon into Gulf CityY he
gasped.
| Haines smiled.
II can't say that, Norton, but guess
people interested in Altacoola would
hate to have me try"
Il didn't know you were that kind,
| Haines," said Norton, his virtue