Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-07-29

strong, alert face, with its ShreWd
light eyes and humorous mouth. was
wreathed in welcoming smiles that
seemed to ripple in series of waves
from the close-cut reddish hair to the
ponderous iron jaw. The thickset
form of the Railroader massive of
shoulder and sturdily full of limb,
was ever plunging forward to grip
some favored newcomer by the hand
or darting to one side or the other as
he whispered instructions to servant
or relative.
81 congratulate you on your friends
repose of manner!" whispered Mrs.
Greer. as she and her husband awaited
their turn. "He has all the calm self
assurance of jumping jack"
But there are springs of chilled
steel in the jumping jack" whispered
Greer He's out of his element, and
he knows it. But he isn't so badly
confused for all that. If you saw him
at convention or a board meeting,
you wouldn't know him for the
same"
"And there's his poor little wife.
looking as much like a rabbit as ever!
She's cipher here; and even her
husbands figure in front of her doesn't
raise the cipher to the tenth power.
| suppose that is the daughter, to Mrs.
Conover's left? The slender girl with
the rust-colored hair and the brown
eyes? She's prettier and more of a
thoroughbred in looks than | should
have"
That's not his daughter. That's
Miss Lanier, Conover's secretary. His
daughter is the"
His secretary? Why, is she receiv-
ing?"
She is his secretary and everything
else. She came here three years ago
as Blanche's goyerness. To give the
poor girl sort of winding-up polish
before Caleb sent her to Europe. She
made all sorts of hit with Conover.
Principally because she's the only
person on earth who isn't afraid of
him, SO | hear. And now she is sec
retary. and major domo, and right
hand man.. and | don't know what
not else. Mrs. Conover's only a
cipher as you say. and Miss Alice
Lanier-not Caleb-is the figure in
front of her That's the new-made
princess, to the right. The tall one
with the no-colored hair | suppose
that's the Prince d'Antri beside her"
He's too handsome to be a very
real prince. What face for a sculp-
tor Or"
''Or a barber A beard like that"
A gorgeously appareled couple just
in front of the Greers. in the line,
moved forward within the zone of
Conovers greeting. Caleb nodded pa
tronizingly to the man, and more civ
lily to the woman.
Mr.. Conover," the latter was MUIR
muring in an anguish of respectful
embarrassment. its great honor
you do me and the man, askin' us here
tonight with all your stylish friends,
an"
"Oh, there's more than your hus-
band and me, here, who'd get hungry
by habit If they heard a noon whistle
blow" laughed Conover, as with a
jerk of his red head and word of
pleasant welcome he passed them on
down the reception line Then the
Railroader's light. deep-set eyes fell
on Greer, and he stepped forward.
Good evening, Greer" he cried,
both hands outstretched.
and there was a subcurrent of latent
power in his hearty voice. Good
evening! Pleased to see you in my
house. Mrs. Greer, | presume? Most
kind of you to come, ma'am. Proud
to make your acquaintance. Letty!"
-summoning with jerk of the head
an overdressed, frightened looking lit
tie woman from the line behind him
Lefty, this is my very good friend,
Mr. Talbot Firth Greer-Mrs. Conover
Mr.. and Mrs. Greer. Mr.. Greer Is
the next Congressman from the Elev-
enth District. (That's little proph-
ecy, Mr.. Greer. You can gamble on
it's coming true.) My daughter. Prin-
cess dAntri-Mr. and Mrs. Greer.
Prince Amadeo d'Antri. My secre-
tary. Miss Alice Lanier-Mr. and
Mrs."
A new batch of guests swarmed
down the hall toward the host, and
the ordeal was over. The Greers,
swept on in the rush. did not hear
Conover's next greeting. This was
rather a pity, since it differed mater
tally from that lavished upon them
selves.
Its recipient was big young man,
with a shock Of light hair and quiet,
dark eyes. He wore his clothes well.
and looked out of place in his vulgar,
garish surroundings. Caleb Conover.
Railroader. eyed the newcomer all
over with cold, expressionless
glance. A glance that no seer on
earth could have read; the glance
that had gained him more than one
victory when wits and concealment
of purpose were rife. Then he held
out a grudging hand.