Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-09


passed the hotel stage Of living at the
capital. He rented furnished house
on an eminently respectable street, and
the polished doorplate bore his name
In uncompromising characters.
The library furniture was solid and
dignitied. Its businesslike appearance
impressed the stray excursionist from
the Atkins district when he or she vis-
tied the great man In whose affairs we
felt such a personal interest. Partic-
ularly impressive and significant were
a map Of the district hanging over the
congressman's desk and an oil paint.
ing of the Atkins mansion at Bayport.
which. with the iron dogs and urns
conspicuous in its foreground. occupied
the middle of the largest wall space.
The CHEEKY fire was very comforting
on night like this. for the sleet was
driving against the windowpanes. the
sidewalks were ankle deep in slush.
and the wet, cold wind from the Po-
tomac was whistling down the street
Somewhere about the house an un-
fastened shutter slammed In the gusts.
Mr.. Atkins should have been extremely
comfortable as he sat there by the fire.
He had spent many comfortable win
ters in that room. But now there was
a frown on his face as he read the let
ter In his hand. It was from Simpson
and stated. among other things. that
Cyrus Whitaker had been absent from
Bayport for over two weeks and that
no one seemed to know where he had
gone. 1.-The idea seems to be that he
started for Washington" wrote Tad.
but If that Is 80 It is queer you haven't
seen him. I am suspicious that he is
up to something about that harbor
business. should keep my eye peeled
II l was you"
Alicia. the Atkins hopeful. rustled
into the room.
"Papa." she said. i've come to kiss
you good night"
Her father performed the ceremony
in perfunctory way.
"All right. all right" he said. Nov
run along to bed and don't bother me;
there's a good girl. wish." he added
testify to the housekeeper. who had fol-
lowed Alicia into the room-"l wish
you'd see to that loose blind. 1t makes
me nervous. Such things as that
should be attended to without specific
orders from me-"
The housekeeper promised to attend
to the blind. She and the girl left the
library. Heman reread the Simpson
letter. Then he dropped It in his LAP
and sat thinking and twirling his eye
glasses at the end of their black cord
His thoughts seemed to be not OF
the pleasantest The lines about bis
mouth had deepened during the last
few months. He looked older.
The telephone bell rang sharply. Mr
Atkins came out of his reverie with q
start. arose and walked across the
room to the wall where the instrument
hung 1t was before the days Of the
| convenient desk phone. He took the
receiver from its hook and sp0ke into
the transmitter.
Hello" he said. Hello! Yes. yes
Stop ringing. What is itf"
The wire buzzed and purred In the
storm "Hello| said voice. "Hello
there! Is this Mr.. Atkins house"
"Yes; 1t is. What do you wantT'
Hey? Is this where the Hon. BE
man Atkins lives"
"Yes. yes. tell you! This ia Mr.. At
kins speaking. What do you want?"
"oh! Is that you. Heman? This
Is Whittaker-Cy Whitaker Under
standT"
Mr.. Atkins understood. Yet for an
instant be did not reply. He had beer
thinking as he sut by the fire OF Ger
tain persons and certain ugly though
remote possibilities. Now. from
mysterious somewhere. one OF those
persons was speaking to him. The
hand holding the receiver shook mo
mentarily
Hello. say. Heman, do you un
ierstand? This Is Whitaker talkin.'
"I-er-understand." said the con
gressman slowly. well. sir"
"I'm here in Washin'ton."
81 have been informed that you were
In the city Well. sir"
"Oh, knew | was here, did you? Is
that so? Who told you? Tad wrote
| suppose. !iey?'
The congressman did not reply Inn