Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-22
BY
FRANCIS LYNDE

I with MIN In the halfway CluO IcI-
ting SO you feel little more at home
with us?'
IF I'm not it isn't your fault, Dick.
or the fault of your friends Naturally
: 7 expected some sort of welcome as
J Davids Blount's son. but that doesr'
| seem 10 cut any figure at all"
Gantry's smile was inscrutable-
( The people with whom IL cuts The
largest figure will never let you know
anything about it. Just the same. it's
cutting a good Bit Of ice. 1 have met
a dozen men. more or less. within the
past day or so who have discovered
that you are the brainiest thing that
ever escaped from the law school"
-.Tommyrot!" derided Blount.
! IT'S q fact. And they are prophesy-
I ing all sorts OF a future for you" And
again Gantry's smile was broadly sly
/ Like what?" scoffed the listener.
I We'll. for one thing. they are say
/ ing that you are pretty sure TO run for
attorney general this fall. It's all
over town Everybody's talking about
talking a lot and guessing good
deal more"
btOGuI W DIS SEtOOA OA4 t44%
edge of his claret glass and frowniag
nbstractedly. II was the first little
discord in the flial harmony-almost
z breach Of confidence. Without con-
sulting his wishes. without waiting for
his decision. his father had commit
ted hiT-"taken snap judgment upon
him" was the way be phrased II.
Dick. viii you believe me II I sag
that haven't authorized any such talk
as this you've been hearing?" he
asked.
This time Gantry's smile was q grin.
The honora bic senator took it out
of your hands, did he? You'll under
stand that I don't mean any disrespect
when I say it's just like him. If he
has slated you. you are booked to run,
and if he runs you you'll be elected.
Those are two of the things that say
themselves in the Sagebrush State
B!ount was indignant-'justly indig
nant." he called it.
IF that is the case. Dick. il is high
time that some one should break the
charm. I haven't said that / would
accept the nomination. and ] am not
a alI sure that shall say so. And if
! don't say so that settles IT.
Gantry was plainly shocked. You
don't mean TO say that you've got
nerve enough to buck the old m-your
father, l mean. Why, great cats.
Evan. you don't know what that
stands for I'm the greasewood hills
And l don't care, Dick Up TO this
agent. / haven't surrendered any right
Of decision TO any one so far as / am
aware"
Gantry's eyes dropped to his plate.
and his rejoinder was not altogether
, free from guile.
Will you authorize me to contradict
the ralk as I CAM" he asked quickly
Blount was still warm enough TO be
peremptory. Yes; you may contra
dict II. You may say that ii is wholly
unauthorized" Then he remembered
the claims Of friendship. I'm be frank
with you. Gantry. This thing has been
mentioned TO me once. but nothing was
decided. absolutely nothing. didn't
even promise TO take it under advise
ment"
Among those who knew him exter-
nally Mr.. Richard Gantry had the rep
utation OF owning "a loose tongue. But
none knew better than the real Rich
ard Gantry when TO make the loose
tongue wag away from the subject
which has reached its nicely adjusted
climax
Almost before he knew # Evan
Blount was gossiping with his table
al no MT ,ss,I
days old. A little later the waiter
brought the cigars, and the danger
point if any there were, was safely
past.
1t was when the two young men
were on their way TO the club smok-
ing room that some one stopped Gan
try To talk business with him.
Blount strolled on by himself and.
finding the smoking room. went to
lounge in a lazy chair, whose chief at
traction was that 1t stood half hidden
in little alcove lined with bookcases.
He craved solitude and a chance to
think things over fairly and without
heat
A few minutes later Gantry looked
in and. apparently missing the half
concealed easy chair and it's occupant
IN the bookcase alcove. went his way.
He was scarcely gone before two
men entered. coming down the corri
dor from the grill room.
B!ount saw them, and be made sure
that they saw him. But when they
had taken chairs on the other side OF
the room he was suddenly assured that
they had not seen him They were
talking quite freely of him and of his
father.
Wei, the Honorable Sagebrush has
got McNickar dead to rights this
time" said the elder of the two, a full
faced man. TO whom Blount had been
introduced on his first day in the CAPT
tai. but whose name and station he
could not recall This scheme of put
ting his son up for attorney general is
the foxiest thing the senator has ever
put across. You can bet the air was
blue in the Transcontinental Chicago
offices when the news cot there"