Western Kansas world., 1912-02-10


he entered. They paid no attention 10
Harlan, but surveyed Chairman Pres
son with disfavor.
General Weymouth knew them. He
addressed one or two by name and
was gracious in his greeting of the
others. Several were clergymen-
1--WE wait on you," began their
spokesman, one of the ministers, "as
committee from the United Temper
ance societies.
MY time is not my own just now,
gentlemen" explained General Way
mouth. II have a luncheon engage
ment with Mr.. and Mrs Presson- I
viii see you at some other time"
The faces of all OF them grew satur-
nine at that announcement, for Chair
man Presson was not recognized as
the especial friend OF prohibition.
The clergyman, following his line of
duty, was not I'm a mood to accept del
tcate hints regarding social engage
ments. He stood his ground.
sour business VIII occupy but n
short time, and I suggest that it VIII
be for your personal interest to listen
now, sir"
It was an unfortunate bit of obsti-
macy.
gagements, Mr.. Prouty. You have
come on your own business, and 10
must await my convenience"
s.It's your business come on, Gen
eral Weymouth, and I advise you to
listen. And 1 will add that it will not
help you with the temperance people
of this state If they are told that with
in two hours after your nomination
you are consorting with the arch enc
my OF temperance reform In our
midstr'
With two strides the general was
back at his door. He opened it.
BE SO kind as to leave the room,
gentlemen" he invited icily. "I'n not
detain you even to have you apologize
for your intrusion on my privacy or
ask pardon of a guest whom you've in
sultedv'
| They obeyed him sullenly. Even
their effrontery could not withstand
| that dignity. But they muttered among
! themselves.
''There go some of the reformers you
were asking your grandfather about q
few weeks ago, Harlan" sneered the
indignant chairman. Those are the
men who are holding themselves up
| as examples for all the rest OF men to
follow"
The chairman took a crafty survey
| of Harlan as the general left the room
Between you and me, my boy" hs
said, getting back upon his old time
footing with Thornton's, grandson, "-ths
| general has got both of my eyes put
out, SO far's his politics go. Did you
hear him just rip into those ramrod-
ders? And yet he's been stifcer and
straighter than the worst OF 'em sincs
he struck this city. I'd like TO know
who in thunder he ts playing with
anyway! He's got to pick his gatt ana
take position somewhereg
"That's something I know nothing
about, SIR
The chairman grew testy. He fela
that he was being played with.
Seeing that you're In close TO ths
Amalgamated Order OF Angels, you'd
better drop him a hint that running a
political campaign isn't like stamped
ing a convention. The state commit
tee stands ready to help, and before
he gets much further along he'll find
he needs the help. You'd better makG
| that plain to him.
With old fashioned gallantry General
| Weymouth made his compliments to
| the ladies whom Mrs. Presson had as
sembled to grace the occasion Her
little crust of social earth had been
tossed alarmingly by the political
| earthquake, but she felt that now shs
was finding safe footing once more.
| Thelismer Thornton was there. so
were Senator Pownal and the secre-
tary of the state committee and a
few other favored ones whom the host
ess had sought as being close to the
new order of things. She led forward
Linton.
"And now, general, were all won
dering just how nice a compliment
you'll pay to the orator whose elo-
| quence makes you the next governor
of our state" chartered the good lady,
poorly informed as to real conditions,
but anxious to force q situation for
her favorite.
OF It comes about that I'm the next
| governor OF this state,'' returned the
| general, eft viii be due entirely to this
young man." He patted Harlan's
shoulder affectionately. "Just how he
has accomplished 1t is a very deep
political secret between us two. pre-
sent my grand vizier, ladies and gen.
tlemenr' They understood that serf-
BUSINESS lay behind bis Whimsical man
ner of speech.
Two very round eyes testified to Mrs.
Presson's amazement. But once more
she found her social feet after this
echo of the main quake. She took
Harlan's hand and placed It on the
chair next to that Of her daughter.
you'll sit here, IL you please. MIR.