The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-02

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III was In all the Chicago papers.
! was Interviewed myself. assure
yon the other candidates (there were
two) tried the very lowest political
methods, Melville said II was scandal
U There wore Il least three lunch.
cons given against me. II wasn't the
congress. It was the lobby defeated
me. And their methods. would not
believe that gentlewomen could stoop
to such infamy Of Misrepresentation 2
The colonel chewed bis mustache; he
felt for TINT reporter Of the Chicago
paper; he was evidently getting q
photographic record now, he made an
inartlculatc rumble of sympathy IN his
throat which was as the clucking VI
the driver to the mettlcd horse, Mrs
Melville g%esticulated with Dclsartian
grace as she poured forth her woes.
They accused mo Of a do%mineerlug
spirit; they said ! was trying TO sc,
up q machine. T. worked fer them
many q time, half the night at my
desk; never was a letter unanswered
| dia half the work OF The correspond
Ing secretary; yet at the crucial mo
ment she betrayed mol learned
more in those two days Of the petty
Jealousy, the p%ltllcss maleyolonce OF
some women than ! had known an my
life before: but at the same time, to
the faithful band Of friends the
colonel had the sensation Of listening
to the record agaln-whosc fidelity
was proof against ridicnlc and cruel
Misrepresentation, | return q graft
tude that will never wane Rupert
she turned herself IN the seat and
waved the open palm Of her hand IN
n graceful and dramatic gesture
THOSE women not only stopped to
malignant falsehonds, they not only
irampled parliamentary l't luderfoot.
but they circulated through the hall
q cartoon called The Mating Of the
Slate or course. We. had oar quarters
al a hotel. and after lhe evening meet
ing, after | had retired, IN fact, a bell
hoy brought me O message; It was
necessary TO have o meeting al once
10 decide for the Hoc%relaryshlp MS we
had found ont Mrs, Elleunere was
false The ladies' Ia the adjoining
rooms and the others az us on the
board who were loyal came into MY
chamber. Rupert. will you believe It,
those women had n g%rotesque picture
Of us, with faces cut out Of The news
papers-of course, all our pictures
were In the papers-and they had the
%audaelty and the mi 20 picture
me in--ln the garments Of niehtl'
That was pretty Tough. But whore
does Miss Smith come in?"
she was at the convention. She IS
a Daughter, I've always said w are
too lax In cur admissions
Who drew the pieiureg"
1T may not be Miss Smith, but
she does draw. I'm sure that she
worked against me-. she covered up
her footprints so that | have no proof;
but | suspect her. She's deep, Beriie,
she's deep. But she can't hoodwlnk
me. I'll find her out"
The colonel experienced the embar-
rassment that is the portion Of a rash
man trying to defend one woman
against another; he retrcated because
he perceived defense was In vain;
but he did not feel his growing opinion
Of Miss Smiths Innocence menaced by
Mrs. Melyille's convictions.
She played too square a game for a
kidnaper-and Smith was the com
monest Of names No, there must be
some explanation; Rupert Winter had
lived too long not 10 dIstrust the plaus'
lhle surface clew. ~ ia the lmproha
bio that always happens, and the i'm.
possible most of the time Aunt Re-
bcena had once said, He quite agreed
with her whimsical phrase,
Nothing happened 10 rouse his sus
plclons that day, Haley reported that
Cary Mercer was going on to San
francisco. The conductor did not
know his name; he seemed TO know
Mr.. Keatcham and was with him in
his drawing. room most Of the time.
Had the great man a secretary with
him. Yes, he seemed 20 have, a little
fellow who had not much TO say for
himself. and jumped whenever his
boss spoke 10 him. There was also d
valet, an Englishman, who did not re-.
spond properly to conversational over.
lures. They were all going to get on
al Drnveg.
Haley was not mlsinformed. as the
colonel perceived with his own eyes
and he saw Cary Mercer bow IN mart
Ing 10 The great man, who requlted The
low salute with a sfuf nod Here was
an opportunity for q nearer glimpse OF
Mercer. possiblg for that explanation
In which Winter SIN had a lurking
hope. lie caught Mercer JUST IN The
car doorway. and politely greeted him
Mr.. Mercer. I thinks You may not
remember me. Col. Winter, | met sou
In Cambridge, three years ago.
It seemed a syutal thing 70 do. 10 re-
cali a meeting Cauer such clrcunt
stances; but n MenGsr could give TIE
explanation he would exeuse him It
was better than %snspecting an limo
cent man. But there was no opnur
tunity for explanation Mercer turncd
a blank and coldly suspicious face %,
ward ain. 7 beg pardon, he said In