The Washington herald., 1913-01-19

die in the poorhouse. I'll be buried In
the potters' field. God knows whatll be-
come of that woman and them children
He nodded his head as in assent to
an indisputable proposition. and his eyes
widened as IL in fright They were look
ing down the barren years before him.
and / felt in that moment glad OF my
power to brighten them
".Hallen" we heard Hen call.
mo"
Henderson OF Efingham-
".Ayer
"The old man Strengthened out his
long. lank figure. and then suddenly he
turned and looked me in the eyes.
But Baldwin, he said. I come here
last January an honest man. and to-
morrow I'm goin' back, back to OIL
Greene, back to my people. back to that
woman an them children, an Baldwin
he gulped the word-'Baldwin, I'm goin'
back an honest man.
Henderson of Greene" Hens voice
called, and the old man stalked into the
corridor and thundered No" In trum-
pet note"
The lobbyist ceased. The train had
stopped at Chenoa. and they could hear
the breathing of the engine, breathing as
living thing when It rests. The noise
ceased presently. and the silence of the
wide country night ensued. They heard
only the notes that came from the
throats OF frogs and the stridulent drum
ming OF the cicadae. Baldwin looked at
the two politicians. expecting some COM
ment. The oscitant Healy looked out OF
the window. into the vast darkness brood
ing over the prairie town. Jennings sat
meditatively pulling at his moist mus
tache. an expression OF perplexity in his
countenance. the wrinkles Of increasing
concentration of mind gathering in his
brow. Presently. without a word, he
rose and left the compartment. When
he returned he was treading in his stock
ings. his coat and waistcoat and collar
had been removed, his suspenders mere
hanging at his hips. He was evidently
preparing for his berth.
Baldwin. meanwhile, had pressed a
button, and Kent Gentry, the aged Dor
ter. now in white Jacket. for his bag.
and laid out on the seat beside him his
pajamas. and a travellers case filed with
silver toilet articles. Jennings lifted his
| own big valise to his knees. and from
its depths drew a bottle, wrapped
| heavily In a newspaper. He held one
| Of the heavy little glasses under the
faucet OF the watercooler, and allowed
the water to trickle into it Then peel
| ing back the paper from his bottle, he
! took a long pull from its naked neck.
and passed 1t to Baldwin. As he did
so. his brows still knotted in perplex-
| ity. he asked:
''whatd you say that feners name
was?"
Henderson"
Henderson OF Greene, chr
Yes"
Jennings threw back his head and
tilted the water. deadly cold from the
ice and tasting OF smoke. into his throat,
and when he rinsed his mouth, he said.
with the happy expression OF a man
who has resolved a doubt:
"Oah, yes, John Henderson Of Greene.
He lived out at Rabb's Corners. Yes.
that's him; the governor p'inted him pub
lie administrator Of Greene county right
after that session
The train lurched. and Jennings. brac-
ing himself. wrapped up his hottie and
slowed IL carefully away in his valise
And swinging the valise in one hand and
with the other holding up his trousers.
now beginning to drag at his heels. he
stepped away in his stocking feet to
his berth.
Baldwin began to wind his watch, and
the Limited, with its three hundred tons.
and its tossing heads full Of the schemes
OF politics, went careering away on It's
paper wheels toward the capital Of
Illinois