Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-08-24

sachusetts. But now and again the
father came and went, and occasion
ally there was a dinner for two in the
hotel cafe, with a little good natured
raillery from the senator's side of the
table.
"Got you chasing your feet right
lively in the social merry-go-round
these days, haven't they, son? Like it
as far as you've gomez" asked the ex-
cattle king m evening.
cts all in the days work." laughed
the younger man. 'Ill need all the
pull I can get a little later on. won't
II"
II shouldn't wonder If you did. son;
1 shouldn't wonder If you did. And
I reckon you're doing pretty good
work. Was it Mcvickar's idea or your
own-this sudden splash into the social
water holey"
81 don't mind telling you that it is a
part of the new policy" returned the
social splasher, still smiling. eve are
out to make friends this time, friends
who will know just what we are do
ing and why we are doing it."
"H'mv' unused the senator. $50 pub
licity's the word, is it?"
Eyes, publicity is the word. The
Gordon people say they are going to
show US up. There won't be anything
to show up when the time comes. We
are going to beat them to the bill
boards"
"You can't do the circus act-ride
two horses at once and do the same
stunt on both. son." the senator re-
marked gravely. eff you're really 60
ing to put the saddle and bride on the
publicity nag you've got to turn the
other one out of the corral"
"It is already turned out" averred
the young man. not affecting to mis-
understand. I'VE buy no votes in this
campaign"
The stout assertion was good as far
as 1t went. The new division counsel
made it and believed it. But a little
later he could not help wondering if he
had been altogether candid In max
ing it,
The offices in the uptown skyscraper
were not exclusively a railroad social
center where the disinterested voter
could come and have the facts ladled
out to him without fear or favor on
the part of the Ladder. They had come
to be also a rallying point for a hetero-
geneous crowd of ward workers, wire
pullers and small politicians, most of
whom We're anxious to be employed or
retained as henchmen.
Some Of these 'stretcher men," as
Blount contemptuously called them,
had been employed in past campaigns;
others were still the beneficiaries of
the railroad, holding payroll places
which Blount acutely suspected were
chiefly sinecures.
Latterly this contingent of strikers
and heelers had been greatly augment.
ed, and it was beginning to make its
demands more emphatic. A doze1
times a day Blount had the wor1
phrase nothing for nothing dinnet
into his ears, and he was shrewdly sus
pecting that his office had been made
a dumping ground for the other de
partments.
Seeing Gantry, Blount took ar earl.
opportunity of saying: ~7s"s-
"See here, Dick; you fellows down
town are making my office a cesspool
and I won't stand for it. Garrigan
that saloon keeper in the Second ward
came up today to ask for q free tickle
to Worthington and return, and whel
I pinned him down he admitted tina
you sent him to me-"
1did," said Gantry, grinning. "Wh,
otherwise have we got a postgraduate
double certifcated political manager
I'd like to know"
II guess we may as we'll fight thi
out right here and now, Dick" sail
Blount coolly. "I'm not chief vot
buyer for the Transcontinental com
pany." -.~'~rs~
"Who said you wereT" retorted til,
traffic manager.
ut says itself if I am to cut the pi
and hand out pieces Of It to these grub
stakers that you and Carson and Bent
ley and Kittredge are sending to me-
This time Gantry's grin was play
full, but behind it there was a shrewt
fash of the Irish blue eyes that Bloun
did not see
II guess the company will be willing
TO furnish a few small pies If 70,
think you need them to go along will
your Temple our Office fittings" h
said.
"Ah!" said Blount calmly, giving tn
exclamation the true Boston infection
Is :,