The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1911-01-10

politicians county 10 the cornerstone
of his success. and without 1t he can
have only an uncertain structure that
will soon go to pieces. From end to
end of the state the press commented
on the incident and politicians DIS
cussed 1t.
Congressman Morton's career was
ended. He had lost his grip. AT the
first sign OF weakness a hundred men
were ready to spring upon him ana
tear from him his power Another
faction was waiting to rule the coun'
ty and the opportunity had come
Without the support Of his county ne
could not be renominated for Con
gress. He would drop out OF the
political life, and although he would
always stand high in public opinion
he would be that most unhappy man
"a politician shorn of his power.
The convention was called to order.
The routine preliminaries were gone
through. The delivery Of oratoricai
masterpieces began. The chairman
announced the name Of Justice James
Clarkson of the state supreme court.
Justice Clarkson rose.
"Mr. Chairman" he began. ladies
and gentlemen"
There was faint hiss. The Judge
stopped.
1T is my pleasure" he went on
The hiss came again. This time 1t
was louder and seemed to come from
several parts Of the room.
The Judges face darkened with
anger. Again he began to speak, but
from one side of the room came a
catcall. 1t was answered from the
other side. Several voices took 1t up.
The chairman pounded on his desk
for order
The catcalls grew louder. From all
parts of the room came a steady hiss.
ing. A man in the rear began to yell.
In a moment the convention was a
wild uproar of inarticulate. derisive
hootings.
The Judge CHASTITY, furious, stood
in his place. A man caught the tails
Of his coat and jerked him to his
seat. A dozen Of his friends sur.
rounded him, pushed him upon a
chair and shouted to the chairman to
preserve order.
AS the Judge appeared above the
crowd the hooting changed to a reg
ular information, accompanied by a
steady stamping Of feet.
Traitor. Traitor. Where Is Nor
toni"
The Judge dropped from his chair
and buried his face in his arms and
around him the storm Of execration
ragged.
From the gallery Cecilia Morton
watched the turmoil with passionate
wondering Joy. Some one had
planned this demonstration. Some
one had filled the hall with trained
rooters and organized the younger
delegates into a jeering chorus; some
one who knew that Judge Clarkson's
public humiliation would restore the
prestige of the friend he had be
trayed.
Harry Seldom. the all but accepted
lover. the politician Of dreams and
theories which had seemed so beau
tiful to her. was running about the
hall frantically imploring men to be
quiet, to cease their dishonor of 6
judge Of the supreme court An un
utterable contempt for him swept
over her. Didn't the man know thi:
was for her fathers honor?
She looked at Merle Adams HI
was standing a little apart from thu
crowd. On his strong. young fac,
was an expression of quiet satisfac
ton. She saw him raise his hand II
an almost imperceptible gesture In
stantly the regular. rhythmic clacking
the base of sound on which the up
roar was built. ceased. The lighter
miscellaneous hootings continued TO
a moment and time died away.
Merle Adams raised his eyes to tn,
gallery. Cecilia was leaning far owe
the railing. He read the look on he
face and the message of her suddenl
outstretched hands. Across the mo-
of e>cited. gesticulating politician
he sent the answer to her message
pushed his way through the crow
and ran up the gallery stairs.