News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1911-04-05

MS WAS more IKE " nlS was
more nearly the tone In which Mr. At
kins was wont to be addressed II
was possible that the man. recognizing
the uselessness of further opposition
desired to surrender
II cannot" declared the honorable,
understand why you should wish to
speak with me- We have very little
in common, very little. I'm thankful
to say. However, I will hear you
briefly. Go on"
Much obliged Well. Heman, /
only wanted to say that | thought
maybe you'd better have little talk
with me. I'm here at the hotel, the
Regent You know where It's, pre-
sumo likely. / guess you'd better come
right down and see me-"
Heman gasped. actually gasped with
establishment
Il had better come and see you? l.
Well. sir-well! | am not accustom-
ed''-
81 know, but I think you'd better.
It's dirty weather, and I've got cold
| somehow or other. / amt feelin' quite
up TO the mark. so / caPlate I'll stay
! in port much as | can. You come
right down. I'll be in my room, and
the hotel folks II tell you where tits.
I'll be waitin for you"
Mr.. Atkins breathed hard. In his
present frame 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 it's heat. But he was a politi-
clan 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.
~ do not" he thundered-"I do not
care to continue this conversation. If
if you wSh to see me. after what
has taken place between us. am will
ing. in spite of personal repugnance.
to grant you a brief interview. My
servants will admit you here at 9
O'Clock tomorrow morning. But tell
you now that your interference with
this appropriation matter is as useless
as it is ridiculous and impudent. 1t is
of a piece with the rest of your con-
duct"
"All right, Heman, all right" was
the calm answer. II don't say you've
got to come. only say guess you'd
better. I'm goin' back to Bayport to-
ri I n
come and see me tonight"
Il have no wish to see you, nor do
l care to talk with you further That
appropriations
Maybe it amt 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 boiler into this machine any long
er. I've been clear out to Frisco and
back in eleven days, and | got cold in
those blessed seepin' cars. T.
The receiver fell from the congress-
mans hand. 1t was a difficult object
to pick up again. Heman CROPPED for it
in blind. strangely inadequate way.
Yet he wished to recoTer it very much.
Wait Watt he shouted anxiously.
III dropped the Are you there,
Whitaker? Are you Oh, yes. l
didn't Did you say-er-Frisco"
Yes. San Francisco. California. I've
been west on little cruise. Had an !
time. It's an interestin' |
place. Don't you think so? Well I'm |
sorry you can't come. Good night"
Wait" fatered the great man. q |
let me think. Cyrus. | do not wish
to Seem-er-arrogant in this matter |
1t is not usual for me to visit my |
but-but-I have no en-
this evening, and you are not
well. and Hello. Are you there?
Hello. Why. under the circumstances,
1 think Yes, will come. I'll come
once"
The telephone enables one to procure
q cab in short time. Yet to Heman
Atkins that cab was years in coming.
He paced the library floor, his hand to
his forehead and his brain whirling. 1t
couldn't be. 1t must be a coincidence!
He had been an idiot to display his
agitation and surrender so weakly. 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 it was a
well and good. If not
bellboy conducted him to the
Whitaker room ION the saloon deck"
1t was small room, very different
from the Atkins library, and Captain
-y. in cane seated chair, was hud-
He'd close to the steam radiator. He
ooked far from well.
"Evenin'. Heman," he said as the
entered. Pretty dirty
night, amt it? What we'd call a
gray no'theaster back home. Sit down.
Don't mind my not gettin' up. This
lpatin' arrangement feels mighty
,omftable just now. If ! get too far
lway from it | shiver my deck planks
oose. Take off your things"
Mr.. Atkins did not remove his over
'oat. His hat he tossed on the bed.
He glanced fearfully at his companion.
The latter's greeting had been so
,asual and everyday that he took cour-