Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-09

81 where he watched the politi.
~ y clan until the staggering fig-
&Ez ure disappeared around the
corner. MurchelI. with faint twings
at his heart, saw the distaste plainly
written on the young mans face. The
twinge was because the dme 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 70
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 q bachelor. . matter tor
which he is not to be censured too e.
verely, since he once made an earnest
effort to repair the condition. His had
been q very simple romance. He had
loved. had laid himself and his aspira.
tons at the lady's feet and had been
rejected. A short time afterward he
stood with his best friend AZ the latter
took the same lady In holy wedlock.
1t is probable that he had his period
Of suffering: but. 40 became Q man Of
ambition. he quickly put an end to It
and gave himself to the climb to pow
err 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
a 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 q masculine replica
of the woman of his romance. Tho
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 ut the dingy Office. Over
the desk hung 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
same. see. remember when your
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 az
1t isl
II used to come here to borrow books
from your grandfather and talk poll
tics. He was mighty smart man.
He would have been governor during
the war II he hadn't died. He gave
me my start"
YES" John said idly. SENATOR
he leaned forward nbruptly-"what DO
you think of Sheehan? Why don't you.
with all your power, put men like Shee-
han out of politicsT"
Young man." Murchell answered
dryly. III were strong enough to put
all the rascnls out of politics I'd make
the Almighty Jealous. Are you going
to take the nomination."
II hate to be under obligations to
Sheehan."
You won't be under obliGations-to
Sheehan."
II don't want to be under ohliGa-
tions"-.John hesitated mon""nt-"to
you. Something might come up that
would make me seem ungrateful."
I'll risk It" 5.
but I'm not SURF I'm the kind Of
man you want"
I'll risk it." Murchell repeated.
"But don't think you understand"
John persisted. i've been-bothered
little lately about some things. That
trust company affair. for instance-tt
doesn't look right. And then Sheehan-
! can't quite stomach his power. l
don't like to seem to cnticise. senator.
but 1t looks to mo as though the sys-
TEN that allowed that trust company
affair must be wrong somewhere"
Tut. tut. young manr' the senator
answered. I tribe testify. Don't 60
flying Oh at tangent with harebrain-
ed theovies about perfect systems"
John shook bis head IN troubled fash.
ion. :I've got to figure that out 10 my
own way. senatoe."
Murchsll looked cut Of the window
into the square thoughtfuily. It was
4 warm. listlsss day. There was moth
Ing In the peaceful. fndolent scene to
tell him that the serene waters upon
which be had sailed 70 power were to
become sesthing. passion dashed fury
whose subsidence he would never SEQ.
He knew only that the people. even
satl example OF the inRrntitude OF r.