The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1909-07-08

- ure, he suddenly
"Conm,SS hu& >oht- leaned forward
Minq 10 say and half wills
pered TO the secretary:
Nah young friend. don't let Sen
ator Langdon Get switched away from
Gulf City 10y them cheap skates from
Altacoola. Now, If you'll get tn SEN
ator to vote 70 Gulf City we'll see
I'll see, sab, as an officer Of til Gulf
CITY Lam company-that you get taken
| ca-ah off,
Haines' eyes opened wide.
go on, colonel; so on with your Of
fer" he said.
"Well, I'll see that block Of stock,
saba big block-is set aside TO- Sen
ator Langdon an another TO you too.
We've made this Arrangement else
wheah. Wen outbid Altacoola everah
time. They're po' sports an hate to
give up"
so Altacoola is bidding, too ex-
citedly asked Haines.
why, of cose it is. All yo' as
blind as that O all yo' foolln' with
me:" questioned Teller suspiciously.
Seems to me yo' ought to know more
about that end Of 1t than a fellah clear
from tn gulf
Certainly, certainly mumbled
Haines impatlently as he endeavored
to associate coherently, intelligently,
| in his mind these startling new reve-
lations Of Teller with certain Incl
dents he had previously noted In the
operations Of the committee on naval
affairs.
Then he looked across at the mayor
and smiled. Apparently he had heard
nothing to amaze him.
Colonel" he returned calmly, drop
ping into voice that sounded of pity
for the gray hairs Of the lobbyist
"about fifty men day come to me
with propositions like that. There is
nothing doing, colonel. l couldn't pos
sibly interest Senator Langdon, be-
cause he has the faculty Of judging
for himself, and he would be preju-
diced against either town that came
out with such a proposition"
Ian speculation is legitimate" pro-
tested the colonel cunningly.
Haines agreed.
"Certainly-by outsiders. But It's
ID thievery when engaged In by
any one connected with putting bill
through. If l We're to tell Senator
Langdon what you. have told me 1t
would decide him unalterably in favor
Of Altacoola. Senator Langdon, sir,
is one of the few men in Washington
who would rather be thought a fool
than a CRATER If 1t came down to
that"
The mayor Of Gulf City jumped to
his feet, his face blazing in rage, not
In shame.
Seems to me yo're mighty fresh,
young man." he clustered. What
kind Of politics is Langdon playin'"
"Not fresh, colonel; only friendly.
I'm just tipping you of how not to be
q friend to Altacoola. AS to his poll
tics, the senator will answer you him.
SELF
A scornful laugh accompanied Tel
fer's reply.
"Altacoola, huh! I reckon yo' must
be a fool, after all. Why, everybody
knows of the speculatin' in land around
Altacoola, and everybody knows 1t ain't
outsiders that's dom 1t. It's the insid-
ers, right here in Washington. If yo'
amt In, yo' can easy get a latchkey.
Young man, yo'll find out things some
day, and yoll drop to 1t all.
II guess I was too late with 20.
That's about the size Of It. guess Al
tacoola III talk to yo'," went on the
mayor. "If that feller Fairbrother Of
Altacoola had been able to hold his
tongue maybe l wouldn't know so
much. But now I know what's what
I know this-that yo're either big fool
or-an insider. Yo're nice young fel-
Ter. have kinda taken a fancy to 20.
like to see yo' young fellers get along
and not miss yo'r chances. Come, my
boy, get wise to yo'rself, get wise to
yo'rself! Climb on to the band wagon
with yo' friends"
Bud concluded that he might be able
to get more definite information out OF
Teller If he humored him bit.
II tell you, colonel" be finally said,
''these are pretty grave charges you're
making, but I'll tell you conadentially,
owing to your liking for me. that It Is
not yet too late to do something for
Gulf City. Now, Just suppose you and
dine together tonight early, apd we'll
20 over the whole ground to see how
things lie. Will you"
The colonel held out his hand, smil-
ing broadly. He felt that at last ne
had won the secretary over; that the
young man was at heart anxious TO
| faEa money for his influence with the