The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-19

senator wanted to sue US for libel we
could prove every word that was said.
And 1T got him-got him right in the
solar plexus. If you don't see some
fireworks within the next few days
miss my guess and lose my ante"
On the other hand, If Evar had lin
gered few minutes longer on the sta
ton platform he would have marked
Vice President McVickar crossing to
the carriage stand, followed by the
private car porter bearing impedi-
menta. At the carriage rank the vice
president climbed heavily into the
senator's roadster, which seemed to
have been arranged for in advance,
and was whtrled stormily up to the
Inter-Mountain. where he traced his
fllegible name in the great guest book
two minutes after Blount, still anx-
ious for the comfort of Professor An
nerS and the serene eyed maid, had
gone up in the elevator with them to
see that the rooms to which they had
been assigned were all that they
should be.
Coming down few minutes later to
give the several luggage checks to the
hotel porter, Blount missed another
incident which might have sent him
back suddenly to his problem and its
unsettled condition. When Mr.. Nc
Vickar turned away from the clerks
desk it was to shake hands perfume
torily with the owner Of the fast road
ster
"WeIl, senator" he said, with a GER
tain logged emphasis, I'm here. Let's
find a place where we can fail it out"
And together they entered an elevator,
which, as chance would have 1t, pass
ed, in ascending, the car Ill which the
younger Blount was coming down.
1t was to the senator's suit that the
two opposing field commanders made
their way when their car reached the
fourth floor. In the senator's sitting
room McVickar dragged a chair over
to one Of the windows which COM
manded a view of the Lost River
mountains and dropped into 1t mas
sively.
'I suppose we may cut out the pre-
nminaries and come to the point at
once" he began. "Ackerton wired me
that you had definitely announced your
son as a candidate for the attorney
generalship. Have you"
The senator was opening q box of
| cigars, and his reply saVored of good
natured irony.
THE primaries do the nominating in
this state, Hardwick. Didn't you know
that?" he asked mildly.
See here, Blount, I've come 5000
miles to thrash this thing out with
you, and I'm not in the humor to spar
for an opening. Do you mean to run
| your son or not? That is a plain ques-
ton, and I'd like plain answer"
81 told you two weeks ago what I
meant to do, McYickar, but you
wouldn't believe me. I'll say 1t again
II you want 10 hear it."
"And told you two weeks ago that
we couldn't stand for 1t; that you
might name your own price for an al
tentative"
"Yes, and told you my price, If
you happen to remember"
u know. You said you wanted us
to turn everything over to the reform
ers and take our chances on q clean
administration. Naturally we are not
going to do any such utopian thing.
What I want to know now is what it
is going to cost us to get your consent
to do the practical and possible thing
want to buy me outright this time.
do your said the boss, still smiling
gently.
"We"-McVickar was going to say,
Eve bought you before" but he
changed it to less offensive form
ave have had no difficulty In arriving
at some sensible and practical conclu-
siOns in the past, Blount, and we
shouldn't have now. We can't let you
have your son for attorney general.
That's out Of the question. If you put
your son in as public prosecutor you
can have but one object in view-you
mean to squeeze us till the blood runs.
We're willing to discount that object
before the fact"
$50 you have said before a number
Of times and in a number of different
ways" was the mild counter sugges-
ton.
'T shan't say it many more times,
David. You're pushing me too far
What will you say thenT'
'Just this-if you won't meet me
halfway, if you insist upon a fight. I'll
fight you with any weapons can get
hold Of"
you've said that in other cam
paigns, Hardwick, and in the end
you've always been like the possum
that offered to come down out Of the
tree If the man wouldn't shoot"
''Tn hand you another proverb to go
with that one" snapped the man in
the chair by the window. The pitch
er that goes often to the well is sure
to be broken at last You've got a
joint in your Armor now, Blount
You've always been able to laugh a
publicity before. Can you stand j
now?7
81 reckon I'll have to stand it 1
you buy UP few newspapers, as yo'
usually do" was the half quizzical re
ply, then for an added flick of tn