Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-02-18
CHAPTER VII.
LANGDoN LEARNS OF THINGS UNPLEA
ANT.

| ~
turning, with pleasant smile.
my name is Haines. Senators 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 it
very painful?"
81 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 dill
ner, meet his daughters and talk ovel
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, 'sbut 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.. Haines?
'Sorry, but l 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 special under
! standing, of course, that you don't
| print anything in the paper. I'm a
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.
"Yes, sir, the great old state of Mis-
sissippi went prohibition at the last
pened. We haven't found anybody in
the state that says he voted for it, but
the fact is a fact. assure you. Mr.
Haines, that prohibition stops at my
| front door, in Mississippi So I've been
living quiet life down on my planta-
| tion.''
'aThis new life will be a great change
for you, then?" suggested the reporter.
'Changei 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 man?" He
could not help the slight sheer. Was
a 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 state legis-
lature. In almost every case. he knew,
the candidate must make 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 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. it 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 man, such a
true citizen, such an inspired patriot
as he whose name ] am about to men
tionr So the reporter may be forgiv
en- for the ironical tinge In his hasty
/ interruption Of the new senator's re-
marks.
/ Langdon could not suppress chuc-
kle at the doubling note in Haines' at
titude.
/ ST think fhe man would he prptfy