Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-14

to decide now which you will be. You
are going to hold great office. Pub
lie office-I think you've found this out
already-isn't rs simple rs it seems to
those who haven't held 1t. The man
who would fill 1t with unfailing wis
dom and justice. with exact honesty
and still be useful-must be as stern
and unyielding as the forces of nature,
and as strong"
And l am not that" But the bit
terness was lacking now.
mo man is," Murchell said gently
"1've got you the nomination through
methods you won't consider clean. I've
made promises you won't like. but thai
you must keep. or Well both be de
stroyed politically"
Without excusing or concealing &
single maneuver he narrated the story
Of the campaign and the convention.
The shutting Of feet In the outer
room gave John the excuse to leave
He was heard Diminishing the visitor
But many minutes Jew by before he
returned.
It was little enough time for what be
had to decide.
A marvel had been wrought. To
..urchcM had been given a new pur.
pose. But Murchell. the workman,
could never change; he was too old.
His lack Of respect for the people and
popular impulse, the habit of judging
means by the end. fixed through a
lifetime. would persist. And he was
the stronger man, his the greater gen.
ius. The instinct for mastery must
be served. Who Joined him did 80 as
a follower. to be dominated by the
leaders ideal and philosophy.
III only could answer him" John
cried within himself.
But his experience. silencing inspira.
ton, had not taught him that answer.
There vas but one way for him to
decide. The trap Of circumstance
sprung by his own weakness. held him
fast. Having accepted advancement
at the hands Of that which he believed
to be wrong. he might no longer open
~ fight against 1t. As an enemy to
the machine. whose beneficiary he had
become, he would be discredited. I'M
convincing. His only hope for useful
ness lay in the proffered alliance, in
Murchell's new purpose.
For a little Haig sat in the unwonted
silence Of embarrassment. Then he
said abruptly:
Senator Murchell. I'd like to apollo
pixo n vou will lot mo"
'For telling the truth? It isn't nee
essary.".
mo. for believing my impertinent,
theatric Intervention responsible for
your action
"You don't believe that now:'
II do not. And Haig hesitated
in the masculine awkwardness before
sentiment. "And know Dunmeade
can trust your offer"
Soon John returned He held out his
hand to William Murchell.
II haven't the right to refuse"
He was no longer voice. he had
passed from the wilderness to the
haunts of men. where action. not
Observation-Disclosures. not proph.
ecy-are the currency of life.
Was he weak. the theory Of life snd
growth he accepted wrong! To this
day John Dunmeade often asks the
question. Sometimes he doubts. But
then, looking back over what has been
done and foreseeiug fuller triumph.
be puts away the question. For the
compact, that day struck. held. Under
Murchell's tutelage, he learned to COM
promise, to substitute craft and in
nigue for the honorable. open methods
he loved. But he has never lost sight
Of his purpose and. though there have
been hats and detours and even re-
treats, the general direction has been
forward. When his time came William
Murchell died. not greatly honored by
. cynical world that looked for no good
thing from Nazareth, but content in
the belief that the forces by him set
In motion would In the end undo his
evil As for Dunmeade, he Is still q,
compromiser. but still fighting, an able
lieutenant in new movement whose
end Is not yet He is glad to believe
that upon his foundation other men
shall be able to build with clean hands.
.
And he found one source Of happi-
ness over which no cloud has lowered.
When Murchell and Haig left him
that afternoon, to escape kindly In
truders he went out into the country.
He walked for two miles or more and
then. turning. went swiftly homeward.
But as he skirted, the foot Of the
knob he was brought to IN abrupt
halt. For there, tethered to q bush,
stood a horse that he recognized-Cru
sader. less hery than Of yore, but
sleek as ever and with many q fast
gallop left in his sturdy muscles.
For moment John looked. hesitant,
at the path up which she doubtless had
climbed. Then In sudden resolution.
he went up.
She was standing by the big bowlder
looking away at the hills that rose.
rank upon'rank. until the last. become
mountains, were-iost n the -blus knxA