The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-25

ey RICHARD WASHBURN CHILD
Author of "A kink IN the System,
Etc, Etc.
Copyright by The Red Book Corpo-
ration.)

scarf of damp Winter mist; dusk
added but little to the muddiness of
the day From his office window
high up in the department building,
with its musty odors and eternal
ot-beats of government clerks, the
chief OF the Bureau of Water Sheds
and Forest Drainage raised his head
from contemplation of a brown
and yellow contour-map, saw the dull
stare of lights in other office-build-
ings, and realized that another day
was done. Almost at the same mo-
ment the ground glass door opened
and, framed in gloom, a little man
stood there.
Well" said this stumpy individ-
ual, ARE you glad to see me, friend
Wallace?' He had brisk, untram-
meled voice; he spoke as if he were
glad that his words were heard
by everyone within ordinary hearing
and a few others besides.
Wallace rose to the height of his
big frame, reached forth his large
impressive, muscular hand and for
a moment silently inspected this
supposed stranger of windy manners,
b!ithe spirit, little body, prosperous
smile. and many layers of uphoi.
stored clothing.
"Ha, ha!" laughed the newcomer
sizably We'll, I'll tell you. I'm
Harry Fanshawe.'
Come into the light cried Wal
lace, turning the button. I'm hearth
ly glad to see you. II has been at
least"
Just twenty-five years since We
graduated the other interrupted.
He smiled as if his ready answer
gave him some superiority over his
old acquaintance. The desk-chair re-
ceived him. He rubbed his knees like
man well pleased. ''Well, Wallace"
said he, Il had not been here long
before l found out you were here,
and | came up. Yes, sir, | came up
to see you
You are passing through
"How's that"
'Busipess?"
why, no." cried Fanshawe. THAT
shows what fame is. I'm a con-
gressman! You didn't know it? Well,
well, | declare, Yes, sir. | made
my way and saved my pile, and
thought I'd like the honor of the
thing-the honorable before my
name" He made a pretense of writ
ing it with his finger nail on the
gray blotter.
Wallace watched him with some
embarrassment. Perhaps / ought to
have known it," he said suddenly.
But the work here is rather con
filming in "a way You can do as much
as you like or the U. S., or only
a little. am kept busy, however,
and after a long term of govern
ment-service ] have gotten rusty on
who is up on the hill The only
congressman i know are those
see about my recommendations for
legislation and--well there are not
many of them Id take home to
dinner" He paused with some en-
barrassment.
The other laughed with good
cheer. Yes, yes, | understand per
fectly. I'm beginning to understand,
now that I'm here in Washington.
so, congressman, as such, seem
to me merely disagreeable individ-
uals that ] have to beg to do the
decent thing by whatever work we
have planned and think best TO put
through" Wallace smiled. You are
Harry Fanshawe, of course He
leaned against the wall as if a lit
tie weary. The honorable won't
prejudice me against you. I'm mighty
glad to see you. OF course | have
heard, just heard
It's nothing" exclaimed his old
friend, waving his hand It's moth
ing. OF course. I've been successful.
Just between ourselves, | never was
much fitted for technical training.
wasn't near so good a civil en-
gineer-not in your class. But
made money at it in the West. out
in my State. very good money. And
when it came to developing water.
powers, | saw that i, ~ras the pro-
moters who held the money-basket.
Yes, sir. the big money is in that.
Successful? Well, yes, Of course, it's
nothing"
Wallace gazed back at the man
who sat in the desk-chair swing
ing his short and active legs; he
knew very well that this old friend