Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1911-07-07


Rlount was halted half dozen
times before he could make his way
to the elevator. and the pumping
process TO which he was subjected at
each fresh hating space amused him.
II was plainly evident that in spite Of
all he had said and done a consider
able majority Of the politicians were
still regarding him rs in some sense
his fathers lieutenant Somewhat TO
his disappointment lie found that Pa
tricia had gone out with his father
and his fathers wife to dinner; hence
he was forced to sit at table In the
cafe with three Of the caucusing pol
iticians and was obliged to find his
moderate pleasure In trying to make
their very evident perpleXity lose moth
Ing Of its acutenesS during the table
hour.
When he reached his office on Sat
urday morning. after an early and
solitary breakfast at the hotel. the
young refOrmer scored. or thought he
had scored. bis first small victory.
Among the envelopes on his desk was
one bearing the imprint OF the traffic
Office 1t inclosed a carbon copy OF
the notice required by law OF pro-
posed change In freight rates.
Hastily comparing the figures with
the memorandum in his pocketbook,
Blount felt the tension relaxing for
the first time in weeks. At the long
last Gantry or his superiors had sur
rendered. The rates on lumber, cleo
trical supplies and other commodities
which had been given Illegal prcferen-
tials were to be reduced to the figures
given TO the favored corporations.
Blount passed a busy Saturday. put
ting In most OF his time at his desk.
Calling up the hotel in the afternoon.
he found that his father had taken
Patricia and Honoria for drive In
the roadster, and at dinner time the
automobile party had not yet return
ed. Blount went back TO his Office
after hasty dinner and worked late
into the night The eve Of battle had
arrived. and he was striving to clinch
the nail of argument rs well as he
could 10y writing many letters to the
political friends he had made in going
up and down the state.
The Sunday proved to lie very
quiet day. though the lobby Of the In
ter Mountain was still the assembling
place for the gathering clans OF poll
ticians. Bount went to church in the
morning because Patricia insisted
upon 1t, and his appearance in the pew
ms n member Of the Honorable David :
! family would have caused fresh COM
ment II there had been any church
voers among the visiting politicians.
after luncheon he borrowed the
roadster and took Patricia for drive.
The day was perfect, and the roads
| were in good condition. When he
had put distance between them and
the Sunday quiet of the city streets
he told Patricia Of his experience with
Kittredge's special train.
do you think It was intended?" she
asked when he had finished his story.
Il haven't the slightest doubt Of II
now. More than that, think the
telegram bearing Mr.. McVickar' 3
name was a bold forgery. But i am
! bringing them to time" he went on.
exulting over his one small victory.
There Is to be an evening up OF
| freight rates, and one more room OF
the railroad house Will be clean.
believe Mr.. McVickar has meant TO be
fair all along. but the overZealous
subordinate Is always the hardest man
to handle"
II am glsrd," she said. And in the
sunshine of her approval the young
man spent very happy afternoon.
At breakfast Monday morning Evan
Blount again made the senator's party
OF three a party of four and ut table
found puzzling surprise lying In wait
for him.
The critical day OF days In the cam
paign had arrived, and 1t was sup
possible on every hypothesis that the
commander Of an army would choose
any other day rather than this to be
absent from his post. But at the
breakfast table he heard his father an
nounce calmly that he was going tC
drive out to Wartrace, for no better
stated reason than purely routine
purpose Of having talk with his
ranch manager about the shipment OF
n trainload Of beef cattle
While Blount sat In open eyed as
constituent the day was planned FOL
there and then. The arrangement
made was one that left Patricia FIRE,
erfords' while the senator drove tC
Wartracc In the roadster. The littl,
car. which Patricia had been told (,
call her own, was to be left at tn,
garage. and she was to drive out II
the afternoon. bringing Evan with hel
II he cared to come.
1t was Mrs. IIonoria who made this
arrangement, and in the midst Of hi:
establishment Blount acknowledged {
warm kindling Of gratitude. If tn,
little lady whom he was trying so con
siStently to dislike had seemed to dC
her best TO keep him and Patriot:
apart during the early part Of tn,
girls visit she now appeared to b,
doing what she could to atone. Bloun
ventured one question and one only
rs 1t was addressed to his father.
do you happen to remember tha
this Is the final day before election 2
he asked.
$50 1t Is; so 1t Is, son." was the ever
toned reply.
Il thought maybe you had forgotten
It," said Evan quietly.
Il have in measure" smiled th
boss, land II you'll take my advic
you'll forget 1t too. The political spell
binder who hasn't said his say an,
done his do before sunrise this morn
Ing needn't expect that he's going T.
be able to dig the tree up by its root
between now and tomorrow morning
1t was not until the younger MAJ
was leaving the table. excusing him
self on the plea Of business. that tn
senator's wife clinched the arrange