Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-08
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

window while the panegyrlc was In proS-
rass. and ] saw Jimmy Wartields blond
nustache NOV d slightly by a smile.
Where is Mr. Grey?" I asked. with
purpcseful malice; Il thought he was to
be here"
80 he was" replied Applegate, perkiiy'
but Grey's a rover: you can't always d.
pend on him
Harrison gave him warning look.
and Applegate. crushed, reapsed into
hsilenco
Mr.. Grey-a particular friend of yours,
is he not Mr. Clarke will be here pres
entity" said Mr. Harrison, in soft, smooth
tones
Startled I glanced at him. What did
he know? What had he observed? Had
I let my face disclose too much of my
feelings? Applegate was fool but Har-
riSon was man of keenneSS and pene-
ira ton / felt that he was studying me
closely and with intent purpose. Yet L
was s;roDs enough to control my feelings,
and I showed him mask. on which he
was able to read nothing-at least at the
time.
IL have known Mr.. Grey some years.
I replied evenly. but I cannot say that
we are intimate friends.
Warfield now talked for Guthrie. telling
d
| and what credit he was to the district.
| ] saw Harrison glance covertly once or
| twice at his watch, and I knew of what
| he was thinking. Grey was indeed late
very late. 1t was almost II o'clock when
| he came, and then his face was nushed
and his manner disordered
Il know I'm late" he said in tone
| that was defiant rather than apoloseuc'
"but couldn't help ii. A sudden and i'm
portant engagement that simply had to be
kept"
| His rowing eye met mine. and at that
! moment must not have been in absolute
control of myself. as his face suddenly
famed into an angry glance. Evidently
| he read In my eye my simple opinloR II
| expressed in words: You are a liar.
"A sudden and important engagement.
one that had to be kept he repeated
| irritably looking al me-
The others seemed to be surprised at his
way of challenging me. all except Jimmy
Warfield. who was silent. and Harrison,
on whose face came a slow smile. | was
irritated and ! said somewhat testify:
NO one questions your statement MIR.
Grey
He did not pursue the subject. but | had
a feeling that he was suspicious or rather
that he believed himself to be suspected.
and ii behooved me to be cautious.
The conference lasted until past mid
night and il was finally agreed by the
leaders that no nomination should be
MADE DN a cOfDnlltIee, lIlSledu lie flN d
claims of Guthrie and Goblet should be
submitted to primary election. Goblet
and Harrison gI'umbled because they were
| none TOO confident of their success in such
a test but they had to submit. and we
| feared nothing now. but treason.
AS came away Warfeld said To me:
Grey acted in most peculiar manner
tonight. Harry. He seemed TO be chai-
| longing you.
1T looked like it, admitted.
two or three squares away from head
quarters and then putting his hand upon
my arm he said slowly and with the
greatest earnestness.
Caution. my boy! Caution. Caution.
Caution"
Il understand and | will be cautious"
replied.
But careful as | was. | was soon at
tackled by an insidious and subtle foe.
People began to link my name and Ali
cia's. Only the faintest murmurs of it
came to me. perhaps none at al to her.
and it was impossible to face and crush
so airy and impalpable thing.
I knew. nevertheless. whose was the
hand in the dark that had been raised
against me. Harrison was crafty. subtle.
far in advance of either Cobbett or Grey.
and he had become needy. Here were two
men who could supply his needs, and |
the third was disliked by both. Harri-
sons interests could lie but one way and
|
from njuring me.
Had | foreseen this unhappy turn. |
should have stayed out of the campaign.
but could not do SO now without SEEM
| ing the veriest' coward and traitor.
spoke every night for Guthrie. and AS |
warmed to my task | had feeling of
power. ] learned that ! could sway an
| audience. ! could make the crowd feel a.
| felt, ! could make il serious when !
chose that 1t should be So and | could
nal n 11ptc v-hn I ;SI1n 70 he
merry. II is power that gives deep
and intimate thrill, and I used it freely.
Harrison himself spoke in the campa gil
for Cobbett, and two or three times when
met him I found that he was no mean
/ speaker. All orator he was not. but 4
crafty. inciSive talker he certainly was.
He had power Of irony and ridicue that
feared. and when ! saw his measuring
eye upon me ] admit that ] wished some
other man to be in his place He knew
too. my secret. that is one of my two Sc
crets. the other I shared with Alicia
alone and it made me- weaker before him
than should have been otherwise. felt
that he was going to make an attack
/ upon me and presently it came. unfair
and poisonous in its nature. and not ad-
hitting of reply
w" were speaking in the western part
of the city. with ladies the plat
| form and before crowded audience.
Alicia was among the ladies and Grey
himself sat in the front row. Just behind
the speakers. Alicia had been present
twice before at our meetings. but 7 sup
pose that Harrison had not found the oC-
ca sion convenient or the atmosphere had
not suited him-a trained public speaker
| has an instructive feeling for the latter
and it is perhaps his most va liable asset
Harrison. after speaking for d little
while upon the real issues. turned 10 rid-
| Guile of me. light. easy and APPARENTLY good
natured He said that | was young
| man from the country who had come UP
| to take Il part in city election. but he
| suspected that politics was not the whole
| attraction. In the spring a young man 5
| fancy-wel it was not worth while to
quote the poet. but ! was bold fellow
and all could that | would not keep
| out of districts which were not mine.
| 1t was Il daring thing that he did skill
| full. insdious and devilish and it had two
| meanings. one for the audience and an
other. more intimate for a few OF us on
the platform. l saw Grey's heavy face
contract into d froWn--Harr;son undoubt-
| eddy had sown suspicion in his mind,
| to flame-and bye and bye l stole look
| at Alicia. That she understood. despite
| her pure mind, was TOO clear TO me
| Her face was pale and she gaZad straight
ahead. but bye and bye her expression
hardened into one of scorn and contempt
4 and | glad to see il so.
Harrison continued little while in tn 2
! same vein and then when he had said
enough turned deftly away. |. of course.
! undertook no reply | was willing to treat
| it so far as the crowd was concerned
! as mere chaff which was the only course
! eft to me. but / had such feeling