Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-04
CHAPTER VII.
LANGI'oN LEARNS OF THINGS UNPLEAs.
ANT.

said, feeling instinctiyely that he wa.
going to like this big. hearty citizen
"All right, Mr. Haines, just as soor
as I've said goodby to my old friend
Colonel Stoneman. I'll be with you.'
And to his continued ulnazement
Haines saw the senator walk away
with The old Union colonel. slap him
on the back. cheer him up and finally
bid him goodby after extending cor
dial invitation to come around to din.
ner, meet his daughters and talk over
cid times.
The Anticipated Federal soldier march
ed away more erect, more brisk, than
in years, completely restored to favor
in the eyes Of the hotel people. Lang
don turned to the reporter.
''All right, Mr.. Haines; my hands are
up. Do your worst. Senator Stevens
spoke to me about you; said you were
the snlartest young newspaper man in
Washington. You must come from the
SOUTH
Bud shook his head.
mo, just New York" he said.
"Well. that's promising town."
drawled the southerner. '"They tell lne
that's the Vicksburg Of the north
81 suppose you haven't been to New
York Of late. senator?' suggested the
newspaper man.
'Well. started up there with Cen
eral Lee once" responded Langdon
reminiscently, but we changed our
4 minds and came back. You may have
heard about that trip"
Haines admitted that he had.
.Since that time" went on Lang
don. five confined my travels to New
Orleans and yicksburg. Ever been in
New Orleans about Mardi Gras time,
Mr.. Haines?'s'
Sorry. but don't believe have"
confessed the reporter reluctantly.
The senator seemed surprised.
'eWell, sir, you have something to
live for. I'll make it my special bust
ness to personally conduct you through
one Mardi Gras, with special under
standing, of course, that you don't
print anything in the paper. I'm a,
vestryman in my church, but since
misfortune has come upon our state
have to be careful"
Of no grave calamity that had hap
pened recently in Mississippi
"NIisfortune?" he questioned.
Senator Langdon nodded.
Eyes, sir, the great old state Of Mis-
sissippi went prohibition at the last
election. don't know how it hap
pened. We haven't found anybody in
the state that says he voted for it, but
the fact Is q fact. assure you, Mr..
s Haines, that prohibition stops at my
front door, in Mississippi. So I've been
living quiet life down on NY planta-
ton"
'"This new life will be great change
for you, then?" suggested the reporter.
Change! It's revolutionary, sir!
When you've expected to spend your
old days peacefully in the country,
Mr.. Haines, suddenly to find that your
state has called on your
A flavor of sarcasm came into
Haines' reply.
could not help the slight sheer. Was
q man never to admit that he had
sought the Office? Haines knew only
too well of the arduous work neces
sary to secure nominations for high Of
fee in conventions and to win an cleo
, ton to the senate from a state legis
lature. In almost every case, he knew,
To y;
ferent deals to secure votes, might
promise the same Office to two or three
different leaders, force others into line
by threats, send trusted agent to an
other with roll of bank bills-the re-
cipient Of which would Immediately
conclude that this candidate was the
only man in the state who could save
the nation from destruction. Had not
Haines seen men who had sold their
unsuspecting delegates for cash to the
highest bidder rise in the convention
hall and in impassioned, dramatic
voice exclaim in praise of the buyer,
Gentlemen, it would be crying
shame, crime against civilization, if
the chosen representatives of our
grand old state Of - did not go on
record in favor Of such man, such
true citizen, such an inspired patriot,
as he whose name am about to men,
toni" So the reporter may be forgiv
en- for the ironical tinge in his hasty
interruption Of the new senator's re-
marks.
Langdon could not suppress a chuc-
kle at the doubling note in Haines' at
titude.
81 think the man would be pretty
small potatoes who wouldn't seek the
Office Of United States senator. Mr..
Haines," he said, "if he could get it.
When was young man, sir, politics
in the south was career for q gentle
man, and still can't see how he could
be better engaged than in the service
OF his state or his country"
''That's right" agreed the reporter, !
further impressed by the frank sinceri- I
ty of the Mississippian.
1.-THE only condition in my mind, Mr..
Haines, is that the man should ask
himself searchingly whether or not
he's competent to give the service.
But seem to be talking good deal