Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-09-12
b The BobbS- Merrill Company

had made upon him, how he entered
his private office without troubling
the pale, pimpled office boy to an
nounce him, how he lifted from his
carefully parted hair his straw hat
with its youthful band of blue, and
laughed out, John, my boy, how are
you? Hot, isn't it," He could see
Baldwin as he sat in the solid oak
chair that stood intimately beside his
! roll-top desk, tanning his rudy face
with the hat, which had impressed a
broad red band on his forehead. I'm
derwood had been glad enough to
close Cooley on Taxation" and re-
volve his chair to face Baldwin, just
as If he had been a client, for Bald
win was the most important politician
who had ever called upon him profess
sionally.
Underwood remembered clearly how
Baldwin's excellent teeth glistened
when he smiled, how he lighted a
Turkish cigarette and, fitting up his
chin, blew long, airy stream Of blue
smoke through the thick hairs Of his
mustache. He could even remember
how carefully BALDWIN sheltered the
flame of the match for Underwoods
cigarette, In that curious spirit Of
economy men always practice with re-
gard to matches, much as II there
were only one match left in the whole
world. And then he could recall al
most word for word their converse
ton. Baldwin had frankly told him
that Conway had him handicapped, be-
cause he had the city hall with him
and controlled the Fifth ward. Sim.
mons, Baldwin had said, didn't cut
much Ice; he had some labor leaders
with him, and would get a bunch of
delegates from his own ward, but that
was about all. In fact, said Baldwin,
concluding his judicial summing up,
Conway could win out, hands down, If
1t were not for his recent quarrel With
Malachi Nolan. Underwood remem-
bered that during all this frankness
he had refiectively drawn rude little
geometrical figures on an envelope
and had been somehow afraid to look
up at Baldwin, for the noted lobbyist
had sat there transfixing him with an
eye that could read the mind of a man
when it was impinged on politics
that is, practical politics-as easily as
it could poker hand across a table
stacked with blue chips.
He knew Baldwin had come with
some practical proposition, and when
the lobbyist suggested that he was too
respectable, and would run better in
some residence district, that the boys
looked upon him as a reformer, and
that the silk stockings were not prae-
teal enough to help him, Underwood
had felt that at last 1t was coming.
1t was simple enough. Baldwin had
been talking that very morning about
Underwood's candidature to Mr.. Weed
of the Metropolitan Motor System,
and to Mr.. Peabody, president of the
Gas company, and they had been very
much interested. They had an anxiety
to see good men nominated that year,
for they had large business interests
that were more or less affected by
legislation, and had feared they would
have to settle on Conway Conway
had experience in legislative matters,
and had been friendly enough in the
city council, yet they felt they could
hardly trust him--he was such a
CRATER, and in such things, Baldwin
blandly assured Underwood, they had
to depend upon a mans honor alone,
and so they had sent Baldwin to sug-
gest that Underwood meet them at
luncheon, and talk matters over. Bald
win. with his love OF ease and luxury,
had preferred a dinner over at the
Cardinals in the evening, but Mr.. Pea
body had something on hand with the
trustees of his church and couldn't
meet them then. Baldwin had taken
out his watch at this point, with the
air of man who suddenly remembers
some important engagement-the de.
tails all came back with fidelity that
was painful-and etood awaiting I'm.
derwoods reply. with the open watch
ticking impatieptly in his palm.
OF course, Underwood had under,
stood-and he wished ardently to be
nominated and elected. He could see
himself swinging idly in big chair
behind a walnut desk in the senate
chamber, just as an actor sees him
self with an artists ecstatic, half
frightened gasp, in some new part he
is about to study. The position would
give him much Importance, he would
be riding back and forth between Chi
cage ana Springfield on a pass, Il
would be so pleasant to be addressed
as senator, to be consulted. to head
delegations in state conventions and
cast the solid vote for any one he
pleased; besides, IL would be gooe
training for Washington, he could
practice in oratory and parliamentary
law just as he practiced on friendless
paupers over in the criminal court
when his father influenced some
Judge to appoint him to defend ar
INDECENT prisoner. 1t meant only one
little word, he could be wary of prom
ises His heart had expanded he haC
turned half around in his chair to face
Baldwin, when suddenly the reformel
within him rose to object, pointed tt
his ideals. rehearsed the speech OF
The Tendencies of Modern Politics,
recalled all the good words the indie
pendent papers had spoken of him
urged the beauty of great sacrifices
for principle. At the idea of self-sac
rifice, Underwood had felt a meltini
self-pity, he admired himself in thi
new role of self-sacriflcing reform