Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-10-23

by The Bobbs- Merrill Compan,

greasy wall OF the little hall on low
or Clark street this morning, the
whole campaign flashed before him,
just as the events Of a lifetime are
said in books to flash before the mind
of q drowning man. He recalled ev-
cry vivid detail Of the call Baldwin
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 fdddy face
with the hat, which had impressed
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.
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
Ioalyad upou him nc a raforroor ond
that the silk stockings were not prac-
teal enough to help him, Underwood
had felt that at last it 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 compahy 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 4 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 a fidelity that
was painful-and stood awaiting I'm
derwood's reply. with the open watch
ticking impatiently in his palm.
OF course, Underwood had under
stood-and he wished ardently to be
nominated and elected. He could sec
himself swinging idly in a 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 woult
be riding back and forth between Chi
cago ana Springfield on a pass, Il
would be SO pleasant TO be addressed
as senator, to be consulted. to heat
delegations in state conventions ant
cast the solid vote for any one he
pleased; besides, 1t would be a goot
training for Washington. he coult
! practice in oratory and parliamentar!
law just as he practiced on friendlesi
paupers over in the criminal cour
when his father influenced somt
judge to appoint him to defend AZ
INDECENT prisoner 1t meant only ont
little word, he could be wary of prom
ises. His heart had expanded, he hat
turned half around in his chair to fac
Baldwin, when suddenly the reforme
within him rose TO object, pointed {,
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 sacrifice
for principle. At the idea of self-saC
rifloe, Underwood had felt a melting
self-pity, he admired himself in thi
new role of a self.sacrilclng reform
er. And so he flung the cigarette GU
OF the window, watched It whirl dow
to the melting tar of the roofs below
and said firmly:
81 have an engagement this morn
ing, Mr.. Baldwin. I'm sorry, but
guess | cant come"
Once more Underwood saw tn,
pleasantness leave Baldwin's face
saw him feck fake of ash from th,
white waistcoat he wore with his sum
mer suit Of blue, and swapping the III
of his watch shut, he once more hear
him say in a final and reproachfu
tone:
well, all right; sorry, my boy"
Underwood wondered that mornin
In the noisy convention hall, whether
II he had the decision to make owe
again, he would decline such Unfit
ence. II had been the cause of niue
doubt and some regret at the time
The boss within him had protested
surely It was n political mistake-an
the boss was louder than the reform
err, and more plausible. He came fol
ward with q brilliant scheme. lie n
called Baldwin's reference to tn
rivalry between Nolan and Conwa!
Underwood remembered that when
suggested the possibility of Nolan
running for the nomination himsel
Baldwin had shaken his healthier
! wasn't enough in it, he said, Nola
could do very much better in the coul
Gil, whore he was. Besides, Mr.. Wee
and Mr.. Peabody disllked him.
Underwood thought out his schem
, that afternoon whiIa buntipo a, Ga