Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-09-28

it is pure popularity growing out of
his speeches or whether it's the as
sisted kind"
"Assisted?" said the vice president,
with a lifting Of the heavy penthouse
eyebrows.
YES Gantry went on ut has
been too unanimous. Collins has kept
me posted, and he says the invitations
have futtered in thicker than the au-
tumn leaves in Vallombrosa, and
kittredge's men tell us that the young
orator has been making what figured
as a triumphal progress all we the
state-bands. receptions, committees,
banqueting and all that everywhere
he has gone"
But his speeches have been straight
to the point. u point" interrupted
the vice president. 1--WE been reading
them"
Kittredge shook his head.
"Gantry says Yes but l say No."
he contended. There is such q thing
as putting too much sugar in the cof-
fee. Blount's been OVERRIDING it. He's
been putting the w%hitewash on so
thick that any little handful of mud
that happens to be thrown will stick
and look bad"
I'VE must take chances on that"
was Mr.. McVickar's decision. young
Blount's good work has undoubtedly
had its effect upon public sentiment.
There is Il distinctly better feeling to-
ward us. and it is fairly state wide.
We must be exceedingly careful not to
let the opposition newspapers get hold
of anything that can be used against
u.s.
'They are moving heaven and earth
to do it." said the superintendent.
"And l believe that old David is help
ing them. That is the explanation of
the safe blowing incident, as I put it
up"
Again the vice president refused to
comment on the office breaking.
"What I am most afraid Of now is
that our young nan will be overzeal-
ous,' he said musingly. "He is ome
thing of a fanatic. as you have init
mated, Gantry."
Hes more than that" Kittredge put
in quickly. "I've had one man keep
ing tab on him-Farnsworth-who is
as good as any detective that ever
walked. He says Blount isn't half as in
nocent as he looks. His speechmaking
has taken him into every corner Of the
state, and Farnsworth says he has
been doing a lot Of quiet prying and
investigating On the side-looking up
evidence, was what my a thought"
Gantry began to look uncomfortable.
Perhaps l ought to have mentioned
1t BEFORE" he said. "Blount has been
holding me up to the rack all along;
says if he breaches straight we've got
to walk straight. I've argued with
him, but it doesn't do any good"
Once more the vice presidents heavy
eyebrows ose
"You mean that he might be tempted
to try compulsion?" he asked.
"Yes-er-in fact, he has threatened
to do just that" stammered the traffic
man.
At that the shaggy eyebrows bent
themselves into a frown of distracted
reflection.
1--WE must take car not to give him
a chance" he announced finally. Our
ing the few days that intervene be-
tween now and the election he must
be kept safely in hand. 1t won't do
for him to be around and in the way
while you two are trying to do bust
ness with Hathaway and the others.
Keep him out Of the capital. And If
you think he has been gathering evil
dence see to it that he doesn't get a
chance to use it. How about that mat
ter in the Fifth ward? We've got to
make sure of Gryson this time"
Kittredge held up a thumb and fore
finger tightly pressed together.
We've got the city wards right
there" he said. with the Honorable
David pretty safely euchred. He is
playing a deep game this time-so deep
that it is altogether underground and
out Of sight. But we have him down
just the same"
The vice president reached over and
pressed the bell push which signaled to
his train conductor.
"That is all I have to say" he con-
cluded. Keep your eye on young
Blount and get rid Of him for q few
days. I'll leave the details to you.
Get orders for me as you go up, Kit
tredge, and let mt out as soon as pos
sible. I ought to be halfway to Alkali
by this time
1t was young Ranlett, a reporter for
the Daily Capital, who told Evan
Blount Of the arrival Of the presi-
dents car. running as second section
Of the overland.
Ranlett had tried Intellectually to get
to the private car, having for his OBJ
ject the interviewing OF the vice presi-
dent.
Blount thought It a little singular
that the vice president should como to