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

ND 10 the mark. 30 / cal'late I'll stay
In port much as I can. You come
right down. I'll be In my room. and
the hotel folks II tell you where tbs.
i'll be waitin' for you"
Mr.. Atkins breathed hard. In bis
present frume of mind he would have
liked to deliver a blast into that trans.
mitter which would cause the person
at the other end of the line to shrivel
under Its heat. But he was polit-
cian of long training. and he knew
that such blasts were sometimes ex.
pensive treats. 1t 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" he thundered-"I do not
care to continue this conversation. If
If you wish to see me. after what
has taken place between Us, | am will
ing. In spite Of personal repugnance.
to grant you a brief interview. Ny
servants will admit you here at 0
o'clock tomorrow morning. But tell
you now that your interference with
this appropriation matter is as useless
as It is ridiculous and impudent. II is
Of a piece with the rest Of your con.
duct"
"An right. Heman. all right" was
the calm answer II don't say you've
got to come. only say l guess you'd
better. I'm goin' back to Bayport to.
morrer early. And II was you I'd
come and see me tonight"
II have no wish to see you, nor do
l care to talk with you further. That
appropriation
Maybe 1t aln't 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. ~
The receiver fell from the congress
mans hand. 1t was difficult object
to pick up again. Heman groped for II
in q blind. strangely inadequate way
Yet he wished to recover 1t very much.
wait! Wait! be shouted anxiously
I'LL dropped the Are you there
Whitaker? Are you Oh. yes!
didn't Did you say-er-FriscoT
"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 80? Well. I'm
sorry you can't come. Good night"
"Waitw faltered the great man. ~
let me think. Cyrus. do not wish
to seem-er-arrogan in this matter
It 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
I think Yes. will come. III come
-er-at once"
The telephone enables one to procure
q cub In Il short time. Yet to Hemar
Atkins that cab was years In coming
He paced the library floor. his hand to
his forehead and bis brain whirling. II
couldn't be. II 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 1t was q
coincidence. we'll and good. II not
A bellboy conducted him to the
Whitaker room ION the saloon deck"
II was q small room. very different
from the Atkins library. and Captain
Cy. in a cune seated chair, was hud-
died close to the steam radiator. he
boxed far from well.
"Evenin'. Iieman." he said as the
congressman entered Pretty dirty
night, amt it7 What we'd call a
gray no'thenster back home. Sit down.
Don't mind my not gettin' up. This
hcatin' arrangement feels mighty
comftable just now II ] get too far
away from 1t 1 shiver my deck planks
loose. Take Off your things"
Mr.. Atkins did not remove his over
coat. His hat he tossed on the bed.
He glanced fearfully at his companion.
The latter's greeting had been SO
casual and everyday that he took cour'
age. And the captain looked anything
but formidable as he hugged the radi'
ator. Perhaps things were not 80 bad
as he had feared. He resolved not to
seem alarmed. at all events.
"Have a cigar, HemanT said Cap
tain Cy "No? Well. all right: ] will
II you don't mind"
He lit the cigar. The congressman
cleared his thrUat
"Cyrus." he said. II am not nc
customed to run at the beck and cal
of my-er-ncquaintances. but even
though we have disagreed OF late
even though to me your conduct seems
quite unjustliiablc. still for the sake
of our boyhood friendship and because
you are not well I-er-came.
Captain Cy coughed spasmodically.
cough that seemed to be tearing him
TO pieces He looked ut his cigar re
gretfully and laid 1t OIL the top OF the
radiator
"Too bad" he observed. "Tobaccl
centrally lies up my talkin' machinery
but just now 1t seems to make me
bark like a ships dog shut up In the
hold. Why. yes. Heman. ! see you've
come. Much Obliged to you"
This polltenpss was still more en-
couraging. Atkins leaned back In his
chair and crossed his legs.
II presume" lie said. that you wtsf
to ask concerning the appropriation.
regret
"You needn't. guess well get th'
appropriation"
Heman's condescension vanished. III
leaned forward and uncrossed his legs
"Indetd?' he said slowly. his eye'
fixed on the captains placid face.
"Yes-indeed
"Whittaker. what are you talkini
about7 Do you suppose that hav'
been the representative of my peopl'
In congress all these years withou
knowing whereof l speak? They lef
the matter In my hands. and your In
reference
"I amt goin' to interfere. I'm goin
| % iooya II In vour hands too And