Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-12-02
CHAPTER XIV.
Billy Shevlin's Loyalty.

n HANGING over the scene OF
I0I the late conflict before de-
~E parting for his ride, his
~ glance fell on solitary, i'll
dressed figure seated at one corner of
the deserted table.
"Billy!" exclaimed Conover, exas-
perated, "why didn't you get out with
the rest?"
"'Cause l don't belong with that
cheap-skate push. l belong here with
you, Boss"
"But I'm out of it, you idiot. Out
Of the game for good and all. I'm
leaving Granite"
'When do we start?"
Conover looked at his little hench-
man in annoyance that merged into a
vexed laugh
II tell you," he repeated, I'm out
of politics for good"
"So'm I, then" cheerfully responded
Billy. Dye know, Boss, I'm kind O.
glad. Sometimes I've suspicioned
politics wasnt-well, wasn't quite
square. Maybe it's best that two
pious men like us is out of it. Now,
say, Mister Conover," he hurried on
more seriously, 81 know what you
mean. You want to shake the whole
bunch. You're sore on 'em all. You're
goin' to cut out Granite, too, after the
lemon you've been handed. But what
ever your game is an wherever you
spiel 1t, 1t won't do you no harm to
have Billy Shevlin along with you as
'also-ran.' Now, will it? Why, Boss,
I've worked for you ever since l was
no bigger-n-no bigger'n StaatZ's
chances of becomin' white man. An
amt goin to cut out the old job at
this time of day. If it amt Caleb
Conover, Governor, l work for, then
It'll be Caleb Conover, Something-or-
other. An that's good enough for w.
Shevlin. So let's let it go at that. l
won't bother you no more tonight,
cause I see you're on edge. But Pm
comm around in the mornin'. An
when I come I'm comm for keeps.
Just like I've always done. So long.
Boss"
Poor old Billy!" muttered Conover
as Shevlin slipped out too hurriedly
to permit of his Leaders framing any
reply to what was quite the longest
speech the henchman had ever made.
He'll never make hit in politics till
he gets rid of some of that loyalty.
Next to gratitood there amt another
vice that hampers man so bad"
Then, dismissing the recent events
from his mind, the Railroader ran
downstairs, lightly as boy. and to
the outer entrance, where Dunderberg
was plunging and pivoting in the grip
of two grooms. A third groom,
mounted on quieter steed, sat well
beyond range of the stallion's lash
ing heels.
Late as 1t was, Mrs. Conover was
still up. Caleb brushed past her in
the hall. cutting short the feeble re-
monstrances with which she always
prefaced one Of his wild rides.
ooh, Caleb!" she pleaded as she
followed him ont on the broad veran-
da. mot tonight. dear! Just give it
up this once, to please ME-! He's
he's such terrible horse. l never
saw him SO wild as he is now The
men can scarcely hold him. Oh,
please"
But the Railroader was already pre-
pairing to mount.
Don't you worry, old girl" he
called back over his shoulder; "he's
none too wild for my taste. There
never was horse yet could get the
best of me-"
The wind was rising again. 1t
whistled across the grounds, ruffilng
the puddles and stirring the dead
leaves. A Whit of it caught Conover's
hat as-he fought his way to the plung-
ing stations back. The exultance of
coming battle was already upon both
rider and horse.
your hat, sir!" called one of the
grooms. as another sprang forward to
catch the falling headgear But Caleb
had no mind to wait for trifles. The
night wind was in his face, the furious
horse whirling and rearing between
his vice-like knee-grip.
"All right" shouted Conover in
glorious excitement, signalling to the
groom to release the bit.
"All right! Let him go! Never mind
the hat. Come on, Giles"
Ito Be Continusd.l