Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-02-25

oISSSh' IL \OaSh - 4aOlt vi
confiding in Randolph. a subtle com
pliment, was deeply appreciated by
the lad, who unconsciously became Il
continual advertiser of Norton's many
virtues to Carolina and to his father,
all of which the congressman knew.
That Norton's political career was
the outcome of Carolina Langdon's
known to his friends as we'll as his
family. and his desire to win her and
place her where she could satisfy ev-
cry within had developed almost to a
frenzy. Seeing evidences of Senator
Stevens vast influence, he did not hes.
itate to seek a close relationship with
him, and the senator was clever
enough to lead Norton to consider him
his friend.
At the start of his political career
Norton had higher ideas of honor than
guided his actions now that be had
become a part of the political ma
chine that controlled his native state
of Mississippi and of the bipartisan
combination that dominated both
houses of congress in the interest of
the great railway and industrial cor
porationS. Senator Stevens and other
powers had so distorted Norton'S view
of the difference between public and
private interests and their respective
rights that he had come to believe cap
ttal to be the sacred heritage of the
nation which must be protected at any
cost. The acceptance of a retainer
from the c. st. and p. Railroad COM
pany for wholly unnecessary services
In WaShington-only another way of
buying Il mana transaction arranged
by senator Stevens. was but another
stage in the d~isintegration of the
young congressman's character, but it
brought him just that much closer to
the point where he could claim Caro-
lima Langdon as his own. And oppor-
tunity does not knock twice at Il mans
~door-unless he is at the head of the
machine.
Norton, the ~perSevering young law
student who loved the girl who had
been his boyhood playmate, was now
Norton who coveted her fathers lands,
who boosted that he was on the lin
side" in Washington. who was OH the
way to fortune-if the new senator
from Mississippi would or could b(
forced to stand in favor of the Alta
coola naval base.
His conversation with Randolph
Langdon as HaineS and Cullen saw
them pass through the hotel lobby il
Illustrated the nature of the Norton OF
the present and his interest in the AL
tacoola scheme.
There's no reason why you shouldn'
come in on the ground floor in thi:
proposition, Randolph" he was urgin:
in continuance of the conversation be
gun over a table in the cafe. mo rea
son why you shouldn't do it, my boy
Why, are you still a child, or are yo1
really a man? You have now draft
for $4,000. haven't you?"
yeah" agreed Langdon, chagrinet
at Norton's in%sinuation of youthfulnes
and anxious to prove that he was real
ly a man of affairs, i've got the fift,
thousand, Charlie, but-but, you see
that's the money for Improvements OF
the plantation. AS father has put IN,
in as manage l want to make a show
ing
You can't make it until spring,
urged Norton. The moneys got to liz
in the bank all winter. Now. why
don't you make a hundred thousand
with it instead Of letting it lie idle
Isn't that simpler"
The younger mans eyes opened wide
and his Imagination, stimulated by TIL,
special brand Of Bourbon whisky Nor
ton had ordered for him, took rapit
DoundS.
zone hundred thousand! You meal
I could make hundred thousand will
my fifty between now and spring."
"Sure as a niger likes gin," replied
Norton confidently.
"How?" asked Langdon.
The young congressman leaned owe
confdentially.
"This is under your hat, Randolph
You can keep quiet?"
Langdon nodded eagerly.
"Then put it into Altacoola land"
"The naval baseY" gasped Langdon.
Norton nodded.
"Now you've hit it. The government
will select Altacoola for a naval base
Then land will jump way up to neve
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