The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1909-02-24

" touched the southerner on the
- n well, my boy, what can
do for your" asked the new senator
turning, with pleasant smile.
my name is Haines. 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.
well, you don't look as though you'd
bite. Reckon can stand for It, Is 1t
very painfulY
IL hope it won't be, senator" Haines
said, feeling instinctively that he was
going to like this big, hearty citizen.
"All right, Mr.. Haines, just as soon
as I've said goodby to my old friend.
Colonel Stoneman, I'll be with you"
And to his continued amazement
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 cor
dial invitation to come around to din
ner, meet his daughters and talk over
old times.
The Anticipated Federal soldier march
ed away more erect, more brisk, than
In years, completely restored to 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. They tell me
that's the vicksburg of the north"
81 suppose you haven't been to New
York of late, senator?" suggested the
newspaper man.
"Well. started up there with Gen
eral 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, 1--WE confined my travels to New
Orleans and Vicksburg Ever been in
New Orleans about Mardi Gras time,
Mr.. HainesY
"Sorry, but | don't believe l have"
confessed the reporter reluctantly.
The senator seemed surprised
"Well, sir. you have something TO
live for. I'll make it my special bust
ness to personally conduct you through
one Mardi Gras, with a special under
standing Of course. that you don't
print anything in the paper. I'm
vestryman in my church, but since
misfortune has come upon our state
have to be careful"
Haines 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 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 a fact. ] assure you, Mr..
Halnes, that prohibition stops at my
front door, in Mississippi. So I've been
living quiet life down on my planta-
ton"
This new life will be great change
for you, then?" suggested the reporter.
Change! It's revolutionary, sir!
When you've expected to spend your
old days peacefully in the country,
Mr.. Haines, suddenly to find that your
state has called on YOU
A flavor of sarcasm came into
Haines' reply.
"The Office seeking the manT He
could not help the slight sheer. Was
q man never to admit that he had
sought the Office? Haines 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 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 n 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 to the
highest bidder rise in the convention
hall and In impassioned. dramatic
voice exclaim In praise of the buyer,
Gentlemen, 1t would be a crying
shame, a crime against civilization, If
the chosen representatives Of our
grand old state of - did not go on
record In favor Of such a man, such
true citizen. such an inspired patriot,
as he whose name l am about to men,
tionp So the reporter may be forgiv
en- for the ironical tinge in his hasty
interruption Of the new senator's re-
marks.
Langdon4 could not suppress chuc-
kle at the doubling note In Haines' at
titude.