Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-06-24
CHAPTER XVII.
Caleb Conover Makes Terms,

u
Wv over, Railroader, with a Gar
IsSSTS5I gantuan sigh of relief as he
sSz@@z.s=9 flung himself into the great
desk chair in his study, and lighted
one of his eternal black cigars, that's
over!"
1T sure Isl" chuckled Billy Shevlin,
who, alone of the cheering throng that
had escorted the gubernatorial nom.
inee home from the convention, had
been permitted to enter the sanctum.
"But, Boss, | wisht that Standish Eel
Ter hadn't stampeded the herd like he
did. It'll cut holes in your land
slide scheme"
What can the crank do?" grinned
Caleb. mot paper in Granite'H re-
port his speech. And Wen work the
same game upstate we did during
his tour. If worst comes to worst,
there's always quiet, orderly way
of losing sight of him at the polls
No, son, Standish's yawps don't
bother me any more. I've got him
about where I want him, I guess.
Here's the cash for the rooters. And
here's something for the boys tonight,
too. Whoop it up all you like, so long
as you keep on the other side of the
railroad tracks. That'll be all. Come
around by eight tomorrow. And say
BillY!" he called after his departing
henchman, "see if you can find Miss
Lanier downstairs anywhere. / want
to speak to her"
The Railroader leaned farther back
in the depths of the soft chair, draw
ing in great draughts of strong to-
bacco-reek and expelling it in duplex
clouds through his thick nostrils.
1t was good to rest. The grim lines
of the mouth relaxed, the keen eyes
took on pleasanter light. He had
fought He had won He would con-
tinue to win. The one thing remain
ing to complete his sense Of utter
well-being was the presence Of some
congenial soul Wherewith to talk over
his achievement. And
Anice Laniers knock sounded at
the door. Caleb's placid expression
deepened into a smile of real pleasure.
Come int" he called. Il was just
hoping you'd"
He checked himself. Across the
threshold stepped Anice. She wore
a hat and was dressed for the street.
Over her shoulder Caleb caught sight
of Give Standish.
Here's all sorts of unexpected hon
ors!" exclaimed the Railroader. 81
heard you'd bolted Standish, but ]
never thought you'd bolt so far as this
sit down. Well make a real merry
family party, us three"
There was something peculiarly
happy in this advent of the defeated
man to swell the victor's triumph. Ca
+ leb vaguely felt this. He was glad
Anice should see Give and himself
together; should be able to observe
his own reserved strength as opposed
to the bombastic denunciation STAN
dish had doubtless come to deliver.
It would amuse her to note the con-
trast between the two; to see her en-
ployer's superiority in self-control and
repartee.
So as Standish followed the girl into
the room, the host actually beamed
on his intended victim. Then he no.
ticed that neither Anice nor her es.
cort sat down Also that the latter
remained near the door, while Miss
Lanier advanced toward the desk
chair Caleb had drawn so snugly into
the hearthangle. But she ignored q
second and even softer chair he had
arranged on the opposite side of the
fire. And all this dimly troubled Ca
leb Conover.
Anything the matter?" he asked,
with somewhat less assurance. "Come
to propose compromise, Standish?
Or maybe campaign partnership?
Good idea, that Only I'm afraid it
wouldn't work this time.
He ended with laugh that did not
carry conviction, even to himself. No
one replied Neither of his guests
faces showed sign of having heard.
Conoyer's good temper wavered.