The Washington herald., 1913-02-09

the events of lifetime are said in
books to fash, before the mind of a
drowning man. He recalled every
vivid detail OF the call Baldwin had
made upon him, how he entered his
private office without troubling the pale,
pimpled Office boy to announce 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 p
He could see Baldwin as he sat in the
solid oak chair that stood intimately
beside his roll-top desk, tanning his
ruddy face with the hat, which had
impressed a broad red band on his
forehead. Underwood had been glad
enough to close Cooley on Taxation"
and revolye in his chair to face Bald
win, just as if he had been a client,
for Baldwin was the most important
politician who had ever called upon
him professionally.
Underwood remembered clearly how
Baldwin's excellent teeth glistened
when he smiled, how he lighted a
Turkish cigarette, and, fitting up his
chin, blew 4 long, airy stream of blue
smoke through the thick hairs of his
mustache. He could even remember
how carefully Baldwin sheltered the
fame of the match for Underwood's
cigarette, in that curious spirit of
economy men always practice with re-
gard TO matches, much as if there were
only one match left in the whole
world. And then he could recall al
most word for word their conversation.
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, il
it were not for his recent quarrel with
Malachi Nolan. Underwood remem-
bcred that during all this frankncss
he had rehectively 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 transfxing him with an eye
that could read the mind of man
when it was impinged on politics-that
is, practical politics-as easily as 1t
could a poker hand across a table
stacked with blue chips.
He knew Baldwin mad 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 rcformer, and
that the silk stocking 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 candidaturc 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 4
mans honor alone. and 50 they had
sent Baldwin to suggest that Under
wood meet them at luncheon, and talk
matters over. Baldwin, with MS love
OF case and luxury. had preferred a
dinner over at the Cardinals in the
evening. but Mr. Peabody had some
thing on hand with the trustees OF his
church and couldn't met them then.
Baldwin had taken out his watch at
this point, with the air of man who
suddenly remembers some important
cngagcment-the details all came back
with a fidelity that was painful-and
stood awaiting Underwood's reply, with
the open watch tickling impatiently in
his palm.
or course, Underwood had under
stood-and he wished ardcntly to be
nominated and elected He could see
himself swinging idly in a big chair
behind a walnut desk in the Senate
chamber, Just as an actor sees himself,
with an artists ecstatic. halffrightened
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 Chicago and
Springfield on pass, it would be so
pleasant to he addressed as Senator, TO
be consulted. to head delegations in
State convention; and cast the sold
vote for any one he pleased; besides, it
would be a good training for Washing
ton, he could practice in oratory and
parliamentary law just as he practiced
on frienGless paupers over in the GRIM
inal court when his father influenced
some Judge to appoint him to defend
an INDECENT prisoner. 1t meant only
one little word, he could be wary of
promises. His heart had expanded, he
had turned half around in his chair to
face Baldwin, when suddenly the re-
former within him rose to object,
jointed to his ideals, ref1earsed the
speech on "The Tendencies of Mod
ern Politics." recalled all the good
words the independent papers had
spoken of Him, urged the beauty of
great sacrifices for principle. At the
idea of self-sacrifce. Underwood had
felt a melting seif-pity, he admired
himself in this new role of a self-sac-
rifcing reformer And so he flung the