The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-04-27

/ THE RECEIVER FELL FROM The CONGRESS
| MANS HAND.
mitter which would cause the person
at the other end Of the line to shrivel
under Its heat. But he was politi-
clan Of long training, and he knew
that such. blasts were sometimes ex-
/ pensive treats. It'@might be well to
hear what his enemy had to say. But
as to going to see him-that was out
| of the question.
II do not" be thundered-"I do not
care continue this conversation. II
If you wish to see me. after what
has taken place between us, am will
ing. in spite of personal repugnance.
to grant you brief interview. NV
servants will admit you here at 8
O'Clock tomorrow morning. But tell
you now that your interference with
this appropriation matter is as useless
as it is ridiculous and impudent 1t is
of piece with the rest of your con
duct"
"All right. Heman, all right" was
the calm answer. II don't say you've
got to come. | only say guess you'd
better. I'm goin' back to Bayport to.
morrer early. And If was you Id
come and see me tonight
II have no wish to see you, nor do
care to talk with you further That
appropriation
Maybe 1t amt all appropriation
Then | cannot understand
II know. but ! understand I've
come to understand considerable many
things in the last fortni't. There
can't holler into this machine any long
er. I've been clear out to Frisco and
back in eleven days. and got cold in
those blessed sleepin' cars. p
The receiver fell from the congress
mans hand. 1t was a difficult object
to pick up again. Heman CROPPED for it
in blind, strangely inadequate way
Yet he wished 70 recover it very much
WAIT. Wait" he shouted anxiously
Ill dropped the Are you there
Whitaker? Are you Oh, yes. J..
didn't Did you say-er-Frisco?'
Yes. San Francisco. California. I've
been west on a little cruise Had an
interestin' time. It's an interestin
place. Don't you think so? Well. I'm
sorry you can't come. Coed night"
Wait" faltered the great man. 4
let me think. Cyrus. do not wish
to seem-er-arrogant in this matter
1t is not usual for me to visit my
constituents, but-but-I have no en-
gagement this evening. and you are not
well. and Hello! Are you there:
Hello. Why. under the circumstances.
think Yes, will come. I'll come
-er-at once
The telephone enables one to procure
a cab in a short time. Yet to Henianl
Atkins that cab was years in coming.
He paced the library floor. his hand to
bis forehead and his brain whirling. 1t
couldn't be! 1t must be coincidence!
He had been an idiot to display his
agitation and surrender so weakly. And
yet-and yet
The ride through the storm to the
Regent hotel gave him opportunity for
more thought But he gained little
comfort from thinking. If it was a
coincidence, well and good. If not
A bellboy conducted him to the
Whitaker room ION the saloon deck" /
1t was small room, very different
from the Atkins library, and Captain
Cy, in a cane seated chair, was hud-
died close to the steam radiator. He
looked far from well.
"Evenin', Heman," he said as the
congressman entered Pretty dirty |
night, amt 1t? What we'd call
gray notheaster back home. Sit down.
Don't mind my not settin' up. This
heatin' arrangement feels mighty |
comf.table just now. If get too Tar |
away from 1t shiver my deck planks |;
loose. Take off your things" j
Mr.. Atkins did not rem6ye~ his over
coat. His hat he tossed on the bed.
He glanced fearfully at his companion.
The latter's greeting bad been so
casual and everyday that he took cour-
age. And the captain looked anything /
but formidable as he Rugged the radi-
ator Perhaps things were not so bad |
as he had feared He resolved not to |
seem alarmed. at all events.
/.
"Have a cigar, HemanY' said Cap |
tain Cy. No? Well, all right; will !
If you don't mind"
: He lit the cigar. The CONGRESSMAN |
cleared his throat.
"Cyrus," he said, 81 am not ac-
customed to run at the beck and call |
Of IHy-er-acquaintan but even |
though we have disagreed of late |
even though to me your conduct seems |
quite unjustifiable, still for the sake |!
Of our boyhood friendship and because
you are not well I-er-came."
Captain Cy coughed systematically, a |
cough that seemed to be tearing him
to pieces. He looked at his cigar re- :
gretfully and laid it on the top of the
radiator.