Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-02-05

continual advertiser of Norton's many
virtues to Carolina and to his father.
all of which the congressman knew.
That Norton's political career vas
the outcome Of Carolina Langdon's
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 q 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 nov that he 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
ital to be the sacred heritage OF the
nation which must be protected at any
cost. The acceptance of a retainer
from the @. st. and P. Railroad com
pany for wholly unnecessary services
in Washington-only another way of
buying a transaction arranged
by Senator Stevens, was but another
stage in the disintegration 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 a 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 din
side" in Washington, who was on the
way to ~fortune-if. the new senator
from Mississippi would or could be
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 H.
Illustrated the nature of the Norton of
the present and his interest in the AL
tacoola scheme.
eGFNh aro5u No rooCa0 univ chnxxIdfsk
come in on the ground floor in this
proposition, Randolph" he was urging
In continuance of the conversation be-
gun over a table in the cafe. mo rea-
son why you shouldn't do 1t, my boy.
Why, are you still a child, or are you
really a man? You have now drafts
for $4,000, haven't your"
"Yeah," agreed Langdon, chagrined
at Norton's insinuation of youthfulness
and anxious to prove that he was real
ly a man of affairs, 1--WE got the fifty
thousand, Charlie, but-but, you see,
that's the money for" improvements on
the plantation. As father has put me
In as manager | want to make a show
ing"
SaA hAAhO ~ I'LL nPAAbS3
/ urged Norton. 1.-THE moneys got to lie
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 the
special brand of Bourbon whisky Nor
ton had ordered for him, took rapid
bounds.
zone hundred thousand! You mean
1 could make a hundred thousand with
my fifty between now and spring."
"Sure as a niger likes gin," replied
Norton confidently.
"How?' asked Langdon.
The young congressman leaned over
confidentially.
"This is under your hat, Randolph
You can keep quiet?'
Langdon nodded eagerly.
"Then put it into Altacoola land"
"The naval base?" gasped Langdon.
Norton nodded.
snow you've hit it. The government
will select Altacoola for a naval base.
Then land will jump way up to never