The Mena weekly star., 1913-09-11
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CHAPTER w.
The Clash.
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,,fa later lO SCC AOiAA ANS -~--G---c orce more over the rail.
 .eT got telegram from Grace" said l., oSbe sent it to me, I suppose, in. -tood of to dad or Mark because she 1,new I'd be loafing around the hotel nt .bie bour and she didn't know when oitber of them would be back from tbo capitol Says she'll be in Wash inoton at eight. But, being a woman or else thil%ling I'm a mind reade', she doeyn't say whether it'll be eight this evening or eight tomorrow morning I've been looking everywhere, since l cot if to find Mark and Excuse mel
 Ex-Governor Robertson was crossing 4be corridor toward them and Tom burried to meet him with the tele oran. Robertson's cold face, as he read the dispatch, softened in. a way .bo+ would have amazed his political foes.
 "Cood!" he said emphatically. But vhv dcesn't she tell whether she meals tonight or in the morning :! Isn't that just like Grace?"
 "U'hy not call her up on long dis tanceo" suggested Tom. If she'll be here at eight tonight she'll have left New York long before now. And if sic isat coming till morning" "Ce5d idea" assented Robertson, rM.H4 for the telephone alcove. "Gemetimes you actually show gleam of --"an intelligence, Tom, in spite 0. t., vay you've taken to incoming arc .4a ltely. I'll-'
 Fa Doped short, and the unwonted ool. k. happiness froze from his face. He aud rom. on their way to the al ce,e. rare r2ssirg the short flight of steps ,.at led down from the outer foyer to the corridor.
 Ard 8 man was coming dowt those steps A tall man, whose shoulders were slirhtly stoOped, whose dark hair was 5oriuuIus to grizzle at the ten pies, W.ase swarthy and somewhat heavy face was lined and hardened by marks that did not seem to have come from times brush alone.
 At sight of him Robertson halted. His face darkened and his hands in voluntarily clenched The newcomer glanced across and his eye met tha ex-governors lowering gaze; then passed carelessly on to Tom
 Good evening. gentlemen" he said
 Good evening. MT. Standish." an swered Tom.
 Robertson barely returned the oth- CTS nod. But as Standish made as though to pass on, he took an impul. sive step toward the insurgent chief
 Well Standish," he observed. steadying his voice by a palpable eff fort into some sembiance Of civility T understand the fights on for to- night
 Yes" answered Standish, pausing as though merely to wait until the other should move from his path. An all-night session, probably"
 Again with a nod, he started to- ward the dining room. But once moro Mark Robertson's voice checked him.
 Did it ever occur to you, Standish." !" demanded Mark. that by opposing the Mullins bill you are betraying the par ty that elected you?"
 Standish regarded him a moment with sOmber eyes from which all per. sonal emotions seemed long since to have been burned away. Then he saii in the heavy measured voice that bad Tor years been characteristic of him:
 Did it ever occur to you, Robert. son, that by trying to force the Mul- lins bill through, you are betraying the people who voted for you?"
 Oh, be sensible!" urged Robertson; i; and Tom, who knew his brotherin-law noted the mighty effort with which the attempt at conciliation was kept up. We're both politicians There's no sense in spouting noble sentiments for my benefit Keep them for your par. sons. l was promised the speaker snip. And to get 1t away from me you turned insurgent. The Mullins bill tonights battle-means nothing to you put a test of power. There's no prin- clple involved. If you can kill the bill -it Will prove only you're strong enough to depose our speaker and put yourself in his chair. That's your game. Why pose as a reformer?"
 foure quite wrong," said Standish, "ith a certain irritating patience, q haven't any pose. If I had I should no' bother to display it for your bene- n' l am not hypocrite enough to say Uon want every legitimate political ie"ard l can earn. Who doesn't? But .na' not why I'm fighting this Mullins u'ii or yours. And at heart you know lsht I'm trying to kiu this bill o0e@use 1t Is an offense to the coun. U! 5 nostrils. The bill is innocent enough on its face. Van Dyke and the ,e' saw to that, suppose. But when . cooked at it more closely saw 1t was aned .,a to legalize the over-capitaliza' S. ou ol every railroad in the United o'a'es and to undo what little good
 ie" decent lawmakers have been struggling for years to accomplish"
 Then"
 u,n nou know I'm right That is the lns so. oilrs real object. That is why ou people tried to rush 1t throuth be
 s,e We could have a chance to pick il vS and to hunt for the 'nigger in the ,v ,Ooo'piie' We'll. I've studied it close .s,s enough to make sure the pile con .As very little except niggers. And
 .., made the public see it. too"
 too eNer mind bringing in your serv nsr 10 the dear public. You get your T. iof that from them, not from me onr poiht Is, you are lining up with to Suenaes. Standish. I'm not given
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