Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-03-23
THGMAS A. 0yESE

T expect I'm going to be pretty busy the rest of the evening, Bud, 50 in case forget to mention it again re-
 member to show up at your old desk ln the mcrning"
 T will. Thank you, sir"
 "Tou sent for us, senator, :" said Nor tun approaching with his two dupes
 You are Interested in Altacooia lands" the senator angrily charged
 II am, sir" he said.
 ard you told Mir raines that was interested in Altaeocla landsg.
 Ihe a"hcmer Ecsitated, and tue sea- ator broke in on him in rage
 @aIieas out. man! Tell tlc truth. # you can.'
 q did" admitted the congressnan final!y.
 Was there any particular reason for vour rot telling the truth?" demanded the 8lississippian in threatening tone.
 T tcld the truth" replied Norton. "you are interested in thenl"
 For an instant Langdon seemed about to step toward him. then he con trolied himself.
 T didn't know it." he said.
 ''You have several things to learn. aeratcr," declared the congressman.
 T hare things to learn and things 70 teach" he said. "But go on. Why am I intercstedf"
 "You are interested. senatcr," replied the trickster making his big play. through your son Randolph. who in- vested $5o,oo0 of ycur money ia Alta cccla, and also through your daugh- ter. Miss Carolina, who, acting on my advice. has put her own money--$25 oo0-in Altacoola land also"
 Fer a moment Langdon was speech less. It was too much at first for the honest old southerner to comprehend.
 "You mean" he gasped at last, that you induced boy to put S50,000 in Altacoola land when you knew I had to vote on the bill? And you even let my daughter put her money in the same schcme?'
 "Of course I did. It was splendid chance, and l let your son in for friendship and your daughter because she has done ne the honor to promise to become my wife"
 "What! You have my daughters promise to marry you, you'-
 "She admits it herself"
 ''Then l reckon here's where I lcSe a prospective son-in-law," sneered Langdon. "But that's unlmportaut. Now, Norton, who's behind you?"
 q must decline to answer that"
 Langdon looked at him sternly.
 every we'll" he said. "Yon are too small to count I'll find out for myself Now you go to my study and wait there until I send for you. l must be alone with my children"
 When Norton and Haincs had left them, Langdon turned sadly to the two children who had disgraced him.
 Can you underestimate" he said. Do you know what you've done to mel"
 What. father? We've done nothing wrongT protested Carolina.
 "They told me it was perfectly leciti- mate," urged Randolph. "rhey said everybody and Stevens and the rest-were in it, and Peabody is the boss of the senate"
 Yes, my boy" assented the cid planter. "he's the leader in the senate. and that's the shameful part of all this that man of his high standing should set you so miserable an exam pie"
 Raad9lqh l.aasdon WAS net T vicious lad. not youth who preferred CT chose wrongGoing fer the increased rewards tt offered. He was at heart a chival- rous. straightforward. trustful south ern boy who believed in the splendid traditions Of his family and loye1 his father as a son should parent having lhe qualities of the old hero Of Craw- fo.Gsville. Jealous of his honor. Le lad teea victim of Norton's wiles because of the congressman's position aud pnr- suasiveness. because this companion of lis yourg days had won his confidence aEd lad net hesitated to dlstort the iads idea of what was right and what was wrong.
 Randolph began an irGlgnant protest against his fathers reprcoi wien Ile senator cut him short.
 Don't you seer said tue senator. T can understand there being rascals in the outside world and that they should believe your careless, foolish o.l father lawful zane. hut that he should be thought tc9l for dishonest Ihiaving by members of his own fam Fly is i..comprchensible
 Randolph. iay son, Carolina, my laughter, through all their generations tLe Langdoas have been honorable. Your mosher was Randolph, and this rom yoa. Oh, Carolina! And. you. How could you? How ,ould you betray or seek to betray your father, who sees in you the image Of TOUT dear mother. who has gone7"