The Washington herald., 1913-04-06

phrase, could never have triumphed ir
| that town. And now, would he come
again? Would he ever stand in that
room and, with his big. hearty laugh
clasp an arm around Nel's shoulder. OF
speak of her i'm his good, friendly way
as "the little woman" Would he come
now, in the terrible days of the ap-
preaching campaign. for rest and sym.
pathy-come as he used to come In
other campaigns, worn and weary from
all the brutal opposition, the viliication
| and abuse and mud-slinging? She closed
her eyes. She could not think that far.
Kittrell found the task of telling
Hardy just as difficult as he expected
| 1t to be. but by some mercy it did not
last long. Explanation had not been
necessary; he had only to make the
first hesitating approaches, and Hardy
understood Hardy was, in q way, hurt
ktttrell saw that, and rushed to his
own defense:
81 hate to go, old man. I don't like
1t little bit-but, you know, business
is business, and we need the money"
He even tried to laugh as he ad-
ranced this last conclusive reason, and
Hardy, for all he showed in his voice or
phrase, may have agreed with him.
It's all right, Kit" he said. I'm
sorry: l wish We could pay you more,
but-weli, good luck
That was all Kittrell gathered up
the few articles he had at the ONCE.
gave Nolan his sketch. babe the boys
good-by-hade them good-by as if he
were going on a long journey. never
to see them more-and then he went.
After he had made the break it did
not seem so bad as he had anticipated.
AT first things went on smoothly enough.
The campaign had not opened, and he
was free 10 exercise his talents outside
dealing with banal subjects, touching
with the gentle satire of his humorous
pencil foibles which all the world agreed
about. and let vital questions alone. And
he and Edith enjoyed themselves; indulg-
ed oftener i'm things they loved; went
more frequently to the theater: ap-
peared at recitals: dined now and
then downtown. They began to realize
certain luxuries they had not known for
a long time-some he himself had never
known, some that Edith had not known
since she left her fathers home to be-
come his bride.
But March came, and the politicians
began to buster like the season. Late
one afternoon he was on his way to the
office with cartoon, the first in which
he had seriously to attack Clayton
Benson. The managing editor of the Tele
graph, had conceived It, and Kittrell
had worked on IL that day in sickness
Of heart Every lying line of this new
presentation of Clayton had cut him like
some biting acid. but he had worked on,
trying TO reassure himself with the ar
sument that he was mere agent. devoid
Of personal responsibility. But 1t had
been hard and when Edith, after her Gus
tom, had asked to see il. he had said:
''Oh. you don't want to see 1t; it's no
good"
lis it of-him?" she had asked.
And when he nodded she had gone
away without another word. Now. as he
hurried through the crowded streets, he
was conscious that II was no good, in
deed: and he was divided between the
artists regret and the friends joy in
the fact. But il made him tremble.
Was his hand to forget its cunning? And
then, suddenly. he heard a familiar voice,
and there beside him. with his hand on
mis- shoulder. stood the Mayor.
why, Neil. my boy. how are you?"
he said, and he took Kittrelrs hand as
warmly as ever. For moment Kittrell
was relieved, and then his heart sank;
-or he had quick realization that IL was
he coward within him that felt the re-
ief, and the man the sickness. II Clay
would have made it easier; but Clayton
lid none of these things, and kittreli
vas irresistibly drawn to the subject him
;elf
You heard of my-new job" he asked. |
Yes" said Clayton. II heard"
Well" Kittrell began.
I'm sorry,' Clayton said.
so was l." Kittrell FASTENED to say. |
But I felt it-well, a duty, some way
O Edith. You know-We-need the |
money" And he gave the cynical laugh !
hat went with the argument.
What does she think? Does she feel !
hat way about it,"
Kittrell laughed. not synically now. but |
Iueasily and with embarrassment, for |
Clayton's blue eyes were on him, those |
yes that could look into men and I'M
lerstand them so.
'Of course, you know" Kittrell went |
m nervously, there is nothing personal |
n this. We newspaper fellows simply |
10 what we are told; we obey orders like |
you know. With the policy of
he paper we have nothing to do. Just |
ike Dick Jennings, who was a red-hot |
and used TO write free trade |
editorials for the Times-he went over |
o the Telegraph, you remember, and |
writes all those protection arguments"
The Mayor did not seem to be interest
d in Dick jennings or in the ethics Of
lis profession.
''Of course, you know I'm for you, Mr.. |
Layton, just exactly as I've always |
'een. I'm going to vote for you