The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-02-21

An afternoon train. rolling down cut
of the hills into the fat lands. bore
William Murchell to the city that had
witnessed the last step in his over
throw 4 cab took him, By appointment.
to the home OF Philip Wilder. where he
lay overnight Philip Wilder was not
a monarch. TO be sure. but be was a
prince of the blood, and he ruled over
a province of street railways. Many
things did this princely gentleman de-
sire. and for them he was willing tc
pay-the least price that must be paid
He. like Miss Roberta and Watkins.
was astounded when he beheld. not a
shuffiing. harmless shadow, but man
who showed the marks of ages bat
tering. yet was clear minded. hale and
hearty, who had not forgotten how to
drive a close bargain. who knew ex.
actly what he wanted and who got it,
So pleased was he by his discovery
that the next morning. breaking a sol
emn promise to Murchell, he reported
1t to Sackett e Richard be declar
ed. is himself again.
But by that time Murchell was well
on his way back to the capital
A rumor that the once great poll
tician was on the train quickly spread
among the passengers. and many OF
them found occasion to stroll past his
seat But there was no visible ripple
of emotion to betray to their curious
eyes the swelling sense of triumph
within him.
When. his energy Slapped up by the
sickness. the seriousness of which he
did not yet realize, he had confronted
Sackett and declared his purpose to
quit. he had spoken In all truth; but
the operation over and strength creep
ing back into the body whose tissues
austere living had never devitalized
the hunger the need for action reas-
serted itself.
Hence he planned, not consciously
to reseek his old power and RESPONSE
bility. but from his castle in tie forest
to make sudden. unexpected forays to
harass those who had deprived him OF
his glory. Then came the opportunity
to wreak the sweetest of all revenges
to save those who had thrown him
over. to torture his enemy with the
sense of inferiority and obligation
perhaps-the warrior soul leaped-to
make of revenge also lever to open
the gates in the road back to su.
premacy.
Under the stimulus of sharp, sue
cessfuI action he felt almost the
strength of his prime Whirring
wheel struck from rail an iron song of
triumph in which his soul joined-the
mad. exu1tant shout of the viking re.
turning victorious.
But he found a Sherrod who had had
time to think. to measure the situation
who had recovered his nerve. And OF
Sherrod this may be written: he was
great fighter. cunning and daring
constituencies. proud. disloyai-yes-
but even his treacheries were ac-
complished with a certain reckless
grace and decision that gave them
the seeming of the born masters in
stinctive strategy. And he had what
Murchell had not. Il personal magnet.
ism that often won faith even where
interest failed; though he lacked what
made Murchell great, inf1exibility and
self control Coward he was not Al
most any man. beaten by the same
knowledge of crime and imminent dis
covery. with so much to lose. would
have suffered a lapse from courage
But the hour of cringing and weak
ness was past
Murcheil found him in the same hotel
room, through the open windows OF
which biting wind had swept the last
trace of the fetid fumes of tobacco
and whisky. Murchell carefully closed
and locked the door and. without
speaking. sat down across the table
from him. Sherrod's eyes. cool. not
defiant. but aggressive, menacing al
most. locked with MurcheIl's steady
ones
'Well?" The voice was cool.
81 went to Wilder" said Murchell
almost in whisper He is selling
your securities today at the market.
He will lend you the balance. To
morrow man will come with the
cash.
And in return?'' Sherrod knew the
prince
He wants some charters in Adelphia
and some traction legislation. He viii
explain in detail when you see him.
have promised him what he wants.
You will see that he gets it,
Yes. The balance-you say it is a
loan. How am I to repay?
THAT is for you to say" Murchel
paused. then added. 'I understand
banks are still paying for the privilege
of state deposits
How much do Paine and Watkins
known
AS much as | guessed"
Il can keep their mouths shut
Again silence. broken first by Sher-
rod. His lips twisted in a faint sneer
A .