The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-14

IN great deal too
~ W. muchw
Blount got up
~ and relighted his
~ TOO ,Snczw cigar with a
m atch taken
from the traffic managers desk box
"It's up to you," he said, with his
hand on the doorknob. "Get into COM
munication with whatever powers
that be- there are that can give the
necessary orders and see to 1t that the
orders are given and that they are put
in the way of being carried out Dick,
/ mean what say. It's q clean sheet
or an exposure that'win make a lot
of you wish that you had never been
born"
Hold on-one question before you
go, Evan" pleaded Gantry, land give
me straight answer. Is this another
move of the honorable-of your IA
ther'sT'
Blount's smile was as grim as any
that Gantry had ever seen on the face
of the Honorable David.
1dknCEA likely 10
take sides with you, 1 am sorry to
say. No, Dick; you've got only one
man to fight, but you mustn't forget
that his name also is Blount. Go to
1t and send me word and let the first
word be that you have scetched the
head of this lumber company snake
That's all for today. Goodby."
Returning to his Office in Temple
court, Blount found that the morn
ing mail had been busy with him also.
There were three, invitations from
widely separated cities in the state. all
based upon the newspaper reports of
his Ophir speech. and the afternoon
mail brought three more.
1t was evident that the campaign of
education had struck popular chord.
and the young political manager saw
what a miraculous opportunity was
opening for the railroad If only the
powers" that Gantry had refused to
name could be broad enough and high
minded enough to seize it.
After that for three weeks Blount
scarcely saw his Office in the capital.
One appointment followed another in
rapid succession, and everywhere there
was a repetition of the welcome ex-
tended by the Ophir miners-a cordial
welcome, generous applause and kind
~ hospitality at every turn.
It was not until he was deep into the
fourth week of the hurryings to and
fro that he began to admit suspicion
which grew like a juggler's rose when
he had once given 1t place. These in
vitations, which were now coming
from all parts of the state-could it be
possible that they were all spontane-
GUS? And if they were not
If they were so many subtle moves
in the great game he could see no pos
sfble end to be subserved by them save
one-they were effectually keeping
him away from the capital, which was
the nucleus and center Of the cam
paign activities.
Was there something going on at
headquarters that 1.-The powers did
not wish him to find out? Of one
thing he was fairly well assured
/ Gantry was lodging him. was ap-
parently keeping an accurate record
of his movements, for whenever the
! hurryings to and fro permitted a fly.
ing visit to the capital Gantry was al.
ways out Of town.
With the awakening suspicion came
rapid putting together Of two and
two. Wherever he went there was al
ways the same pressing hospitality
with many urgings to delay his going
At the same time it became evident In
many little ways that he was in reali
ty merely skimming over the surface
in his campaign work
That a hot political fight was going
on all around him he could not doubt
The newspapers were full Of 1t, and in
many sections of the state the fight
had become acrimonious and bitter
But, although he was supposed to be
in the fight, it began to be apparent
that he was little more than an on.
locker when 1t came to the really vital
struggle Of the moment
1t was as If everything had been
carefully prearranged, like a sort OF
| triumphal procession. None the less
the invisible barrier, the barrier which
was shutting him out from the inne,
workings of the campaign. was there
and he could neither surmount it mol
push 1t aside.
Notwithstanding the hard work and
the hard travelling he was doing be
did not let the missionary effort out
weigh the sturdier purDose which was
to hold his principals rigidly up to the
mirror Of vigilant watchfulness.
Arguing that the opposition newspa
pers would be quick to seize upon any
charge Of corruption involving the rail
road company, he read them faithful
~. AS yet there had been nothing
more than spiteful innuendoes and {