Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER VII.
.veno. LEARNS OF THINGS UNPLEAs-


well, my boy, what can l
do for your" asked the new SENATOR
,urning. with pleasant smile.
.My name is Haines. Senator Ste
xons was TO speak TO you about me.
I'm the first OF the newspaper CORE
.noudents come TO interview you"
Iansdons familiar smile broadened.
.Well you don't look rs though you'd
b,te Reckon l can stand for 1t. Is 1t
very painful!
81 hone 1t won't be, SENATOR" Haines
aid feeling instinctively that he was
,oinp 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
Eaines 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 a cor
dial invitation to come around to din
ner. meet his daughters and talk over
old times.
The antiquated 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
ND. 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.
swell, that's a promising town."
drawled the southerner, "They tell me
that's the Vicksburg Of the north
~ suppose you haven't been to New
York of late, senatorr' 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.. Haines?"
"Sory, 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 1t my special busi-
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
yestryman In my church, but since
misfortune has come upon our state i
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
election. ! don't know how 1t hap
pened. We haven't found anybody in
the state that says he voted for 1t, but
the fact is a fact. assure you. MIR.
Haines, 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
Tor you, then?" suggested the reporter.
"Changel It's revolutionary, sir!
When you've expected to spend your
old days peacefully In the country,
MIR. 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 sneer. Was
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.
nee In conventions and to win an elec'
uon to the senate from state legis.
Mture. In almost every case, he knew
me candidate must make dozen diff
terent deals" to secure votes. might
promise the same Office to two or three
ainerent leaders, force others into line
oy threats, send trusted agent to an
other with roll of bank bills-the re
eipient Of which would Immediately
conclude that this candidate was the
only man In the state who could save
the nation from destruction. Had moi
names seen men who had sold theil
unsuspecting delegates for cash to the
highest bidder rise In the convention
naii and In impassioned. dramatic
voice exclaim in praise Of the buyer
Gentlemen, 1t would be crying
shame, crime against civilization. Il
tue chosen representatives Of oul
grand old state Of - did not go OF
record In favor Of such man. such
tfue citizen. such an inspired patriot
az ne whose name am about to men
uon" So the reporter may be forgiv
en- Tor the ironical tinge In his hast.
interruption Of the new senator's re
marks.
Langdon could not suppress a chuc
nie at the doubling note In Haines' at
titude