The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1909-04-21

what are you going to do, sir?" she
asked, afraid.
I'm going to spoil all your little
scheme, dear" he returned, smiling
sadly. "Pm going, fear, to make you
it easy for you, but l can't. You've
got to take your medicine, children.
and when it's all over back there in
Mississippi l shall be able, l hope, to
patch up your broken lives and togeth-
err we will work out your mistakes. l
can't think of that now. The honor of
the Langdons calls. This is the time
for the fight, and any one who fights
against me must take the conse-
quences."
He walked over and touched the bell.
Thomas" he said to the servant
who responded, take that letter at
once to Senator Peabody, in the libra
ry."
"What is it. sir?' asked Randolph.
cts the call to arms" responded his
father grimly.
Senator Peabody read the letter to
! which Haines had signed Langdons
name and jumped up from his chair in
the library in establishment. Without
word to the startled Stevens he rush
ed to confront Langdon.
whats the meaning of this?" he
shouted as he burst in on the junior
senator from Mississippi.
! "Of what?" asked the southerner,
with a blandness that added fuel to
Peabody's irritation.
Don't trihe with me, sirr cried "the
boss of the senate" "This letter. You
sent It. Explain it! I'm in no mood to
joke"
Langdon looked at him calmly.
81 think the letter is quite plain, SEN
ator." he said. You can read" Then
he turned to his daughter. This dis
cussion cannot possibly interest you,
my dear VIII you go to the drawing
room to receive our guests?"
Carolina obeyed. she seemed to be
discovering new qualities in this father
whom she had considered to be too old
fashioned for his time.
"Now. senator, go ahead, and, Ran
dolph, you bring Stevens"
"You're switching to Gulf City2' de-
handed Peabody.
Tm considering Gulf CITY," agreed
Langdon.
Peabody brought down his fist on the
table.
Its too late to consider anything,
Langdon," he cried. Were committed
to Altacoola. and Altacoola 1t Is. l
don't care what you heard of Gulf
City. Now. I'd like to settle this thing
in a friendly manner, Langdon. like
always for every member of the senate
to have his share of the power and the
patronage. We've been glad to put you
forward In this naval base matter. We
appreciate the straightforwardness, the
honesty of your character. You look
well. You're the kind Of politician the
public thinks 1t wants nowadays, but
you've been in the senate long enough
to know that bills have to pass, and
you know you can't get through any
thing without my friends, and / tell
you now I'll throttle any Gulf City
plan you bring up"
can't object to my being for Gulf
City?" asked Langdon.
"Are you financially interested in
Gulf City," demanded Peabody
Senator Peabody exclaimed Lang
don.
Don't flare up, Langdon," retorted
Peabody. THAT sort of thing has
happened in the senate. There are
often perfectly legitimate profits to be
made in some regular commercial ven
ture by a man who has inside infor-
nation as to what's doing up on Capt.
toll hill"
Senator Peabody" asked Langdon,
"why are you so strong for Altacoola"
The Pennsylvania hesitated.
"Its natural advantages" he said at
last.
The southerner shook his head.
"Oh, that's all? Well, If natural adj
vantages are going to settle 1t, and
not influence, go ahead and vote, and
I'll just bring in minority report for
Gulf City"
"The boss of the senate" was in a
corner now.
"Confound 1t, Langdon, II you will
have 1t, am interested in Altacoola."
Langdon nodded.
"Thats all / wanted to know" he
said.
NOW you see why It's got to be
Altacoola," persisted the boss.
II don't mind telling you, then, Sen
ator Peabody" answered Langdon
calmly that my being for Gulf City
was bluff I've been trying to draw
you out. Gulf City is mud bank
and no more fitted to be a naval base
than Keokuk, la. Altacoola it's got
to be, for the good of the country and
the honor of Mississippi.
"And one thing more, senator. I'd
just like to add that not single man
connected with that committee is go
ing to make cent out of the deal.
You get that straight?"