The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-07-03

Ma where he watched the politi
M&2SS clan until the staggering tis-
e1k1266S ure disappeared around the
corner Murchell, with faint twinge
at his heart, saw the distaste plainly
written on the young mans face. The
twlnge, was because the time had
come to grind his young friend through
the mills of the organization. The
senator. who set low value upon
gratuitous services, proposed to make
the grinding process worth while to
the man who was to be ground. He
was already forming vague plans OF
setting him on the road to high po-
litical station. Perhaps John might
even prove to be an Elisha, some day
to assume fallen mantle.
To the portrait Of the state leader al
ready painted we may add that William
Murchell was a bachelor. matter for
which he is not to be censured too Sc
verely. since he once made an earnest
effort to repair the condition. His had
been very simple romance He had
loved. had laid himself and his aspira
tions at the lady's feet and had been
rejected 4 short time afterward he
stood with his best friend as the latter
took the same lady in holy wedlock
1t is probable that he had his period
of suffering: but. as became a man of
ambition. he quickly put an end TO it
and gnve himself to the climb to pow
er. In time his romance was almost
forgotten
Almost. for in later years some
times in mellow hour he would
construct for himself a scene in which
gentle faced woman with gray
green eyes sat across the hearth and
around them an indefinite number of
the second generation. In the scene
was always pleasantly laughing
young man who peered out on the
world through eyes like his mothers
This often occurred after Senator MUIR
chell had met or heard something of
John Dunmeade. young man in whom
he thought he saw masculine replica
Of the woman Of his romance. The
senator's memory must have been
good, for she had been dead many
years. He was seeing her that June
afternoon.
John returned to his chair. Murchell
looked around Mt the dingy Office. Over
the desk hung q calendar and another
faded, old fashioned print of Daniel
Webster. Save for this adornment
the walls were given over to calf and
sheep bound books-rows and rows set
upon plain pine shelves. The old ma
hogany furniture. doubtless splendid
in it's day, had been battered and
scratched by many careless hands and
feet.
"You keep the old Office Just the
grandfather built and furnished it."
"Yes; don't like to disturb things,
though Aunt Roberta thinks it's fear
| full mess. Three generations Of Dun
meades have used this office just rs
| it Is"
II used to come here to borrow books
from your grandfather and talk poll
tics. He was u mighty smart man.
He would have been governor during
the war If he hudn't died. He gave
uue my start"
YES" John said idly. Senator
he leaned forward abruptly-"what do
you think Of Sheehan? Why don't you.
with all your power, put men like Shee
| fam <,,,t <.f nolificSt''
Young man," Alurchell answered
dryly. III | were strong enough to put
all the rascals out Of politics I'd make
the Almighty jealous. Are you going
to take the nomination"
II hate to be under obligations te
Sheehan."
You won't be under obligations-tf tt
Sheehan."
II don't want to be under obliga
tions"-John hesitated a moment-''tt
you. Something might come up tha
would make me seem ungrateful"
"Tll risk it."
but I'm not sure I'm the kind o.
man you want"
Il ii FISK IL. MuFCucli iclfS't'cu.
"But l don't think you understand,
John persisted. i've been bothered
a little lately about some things. Tha
trust company affair. for instance-i
, doesn't look right. And then Sheehan-
can't quite stomach his power
don't like to seem to criticise. senator
but 1t looks to me as though the sys
TEN that allowed that trust compan.
affair must be wrong somewhere
''rut. tut, young manr' the senate
answered. a trihe testify. Don't e
flying off at tangent with harebrain
ed theories about perfect systems
John shook his head in troubled fash
ion. i've got to figure that out in IN,
own way. senator
NurchelI looked out of the windoy
int0 the square thoughtfully. It wa
q warm, listless day. There was moth