The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-05-13

When Willard and Newcomb met at
the club. at the Saturday-night lunch
cons, they avoided each other tact
fully, each secretly longing to grasp
the others hand and say: Don't be-
heve a word of it, old boy; it's all TOM
myrot." But policy held them at
arms length. What would the voters
say If they heard that their respective
candidates were hobnobbing at pri-
vate club? Newcomb played billiards
in the basement while Willard played
q rubber at whist upstairs; and the
Saturday rides out to the country club
became obsolete. Only few cynics
saw the droll side of the situation;
and they were confident that when the
election was over the friendship would
be renewed all the more strongly for
the tension.
One night, some weeks before the
election, Willard dined alone with the
senator at the Gordon home. Betty
Gordon was dining elsewhere. With
the cognac and cigars, the senator
drew out slip Of paper, scrutinized it
for a space, then handed it to his pro-
tege.
!. That's the slate. How do you like
it,?
Willard ran his glance up and down
the columns. Once he frowned.
What's the matter?' asked the
senator, shrewdly.
Il do not like the idea of Matthews
for commissioner of public works.
He's blackleg-there's no getting
around that. He practically runs that
faro-bank above his downtown saloon.
Can't you put some one else in his
placer"
The senator tipped the ash from
the end of his cigar
Honestly, my boy, l agree with
your objection; but the word is given.
and il we turn him down now, your
friend Newcomb will stand a pretty
fair show of being the next mayor"
you might get worse one," Will
lard laughed. Jack is one of the
finest fellows in the world" Loyalty.
mot bit of doubt; but politically"
said the senator, laughing, "he is
rascal, a man without a particle OF
character, and all that. But personal.
ly speaking, I would that this town
had more like him. Win or lose, he
will always be welcome in this house.
But this Matthews matter; you will
have to swallow him or be swallowed"
He's a rascal" .....
Perhaps he is. Once you are elect.
ed, however, you can force him out.
and be hanged to him. Just now il
would be extremely dangerous. My
boy, politics has strange bed-fellows.
as the saying goes. These men are
necessary; to fight them is 20 cut
your own throat. No one knows just
how they get their power; but one
morning you will wake up and find
them menacing you, and you have to
placate them and toss them sops."
Il might at least have been con-
suited"
Il appreciated your antagonism be-
forehand. Politics is a peculiar bust.
ness. A man must form about himself
a shell as thick as a turtles, or his
feelings are going to be hurt. Now,
II you would like to change any of
these smaller Offices, the health de-
partment doesn't matter. What do
you say?"
"Oh, If Matthews remains on the
slate, ] do not care to alter the rest
of II. But l warn you that shall get
rid Of him at the earliest opportunity"
"Just as you like"
T. The senator smiled covertly. Mat
thews was one of his henchmen in the
larger matters of state His name
had been the first to appear on the
slate and the senator was determined
that it should remain there. Not that
he had any liking for the man; simply
he was one of the wheels which made
the machine run smoothly. The sen.
ator knew his power of persuasion:
he knew Williards easy-going nature;
but he also knew that these easy.
going persons are terribly stubborn
at times. He was obliged to hold on
to Matthews. The gubernatorial cam.
paign was looming up for the ensuing
year, and the senator was curious to
learn the real power that went with
the seal of a governor of a first-class
state.
There fell an intermission to
the conversation. willard smoked
thoughtfully. He recalled the years
during which he had accepted the
generous hospitality of this house, and
the love he. held for the hosts daugh-
ter. Only since his return from
abroad had he learned the strength of
his sentiment Heretofore he had
looked upon the girl as sister, jolly,
talented, fine dancer, a daring rider.
good comrade. He had been out
OF the country for three years. On
his return he had found Betty Cor.
don beautiful woman, and he had
silently surrendered. AS yet he had
said nothing, but he knew that she
knew. Yet he always saw the shadow
OF Newcomb, old Jack Newcomb.
Well, let the best man win!
Il can find way to dispose of Mat.
thews," he said, finally.
Il dare say"
But Willard did not know the ten.