The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1909-02-10

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"Btg Bill" Langdon, "a Gentleman from
Mississippi"
unnu anu-perrecuIy useless. what's
wanted now is to get the work done,
not play the game"
Thoroughly a cynic through his
years of experience as a newspaper
man, which had shown the inside
workings of many important phases
of the seemingly conventional life of
this complex world, Cullen pretended
unbounded enthusiasm.
Hear Hearp he shouted. IAN you
earnest citizens come vote for Re
former Haines. I'm for you, Bud
What do ] get in your cabinet2 I've
Joined the reformers, too, and, like all
of them, me for PURITY as long
as she gives me a meal ticket"
But not even Cullen could make
Haines consider his views on the
necessity of political regeneration to
be ridiculous. His optimism could not
be snuffed out, for he was a genuine
believer that the natural tendency of
humankind was to do right. Wrong
he believed to be the outcome of I'M
natural causes. This quality, COM
bined with his practical knowledge Of
the world and his courage, made him
formidable man, one who would one
day accomplish big things-if he got
the chance.
"You know you can't shut me up,
Dick" was his response to Cullen's
oratorical fight I'm going to have
my say. | don't see why a senator
shouldn't be honest. All | want them
to do is to play new game. Let 'em
at least seem to be honest, attend to
their business. forget politics. The
country sends them here to work, and
If they do the work the people really
don't care hang what party they be-
long to-"
Come out of it, Bud. Your brain is
wabbly." yawned Cullen YEARLY. '!'U
buy drink if you'll quiet down. Let's
be comfortable till this fellow Lang
don appears" He caught his friend
by the arm and In spite of protest
dragged him off to the cafe just as
young Langdon and Congressman Nor
ton came down through the lobby.
Though but few years older than
Randolph Langdon, Charles Norton
had long exercised strong influence
over him because of his wider expert
ence In the worlds affairs. Like his
father, young Langdon had stayed
close to TIE plantation most of his
life, particularly after leaving school,
devoting his attention to studying the
business Of conducting the family's
big estate. Norton brought him the
atmosphere of the big outside world
he yearned to see even as did his sis
ter Carolina. and he initiated Norton's
manners, his dress and mode Of
speech. The congressmans habit of
confiding In Randolph, a subtle COM
plIment, was deeply appreciated by
the lad, who unconsciously became a
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 Langdons
ambition to shine in gay society was
known to his friends as well 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 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 he had
become 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
ital to be the ncred heritage at the
nation which must re protected at any
cost. The acceptance of retainer
from the @. st. and p. Railroad COM
pany for wholly unnecessary services
In Washington-only another way Of