The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-07
CHAPTER v.
Jim Blake.

AAC AdA "uGSS dQNSuL LuC hSS-
wick corridor caused more attention
among the loungers than would the ar
rival Of stage beauty, had at first
glance little about him. to justify such
interest. He was long rather than
tall, thin with wiry compactness, and
OF pleasant non-committal face. His
age might have been fifty. But
closer glance at his half-shut eyes al
ways gave an odd impression that they
were fully a thousand years old. Per
haps this was why Jim Blake seldom
opened them wide.
Hello, boys" repeated Jim Blake,
glancing genially and inexpressively
from one to the other, from beneath
his hanging lids. Seemed to me
smelt something burning. How are
you, Standish? What's up, Tom?"
Why" answered Tom vaguely en-
barrassed, nothing very much. Just
little political discussion
$50 I gathered" yawned Blake
Mark, you seemed to have been sup
plying the Fireworks for it. don't sup
pose IL occurred TO you that the whole
ing with reporters? Nice little story
for the morning papers, hey? High
Words Between Speakership Aspirants
in Keswick Lobby And a half col
umn more of what you both would
have said if you'd said what the re-
porters thought maybe you might have
said. Fine business. Especially at
this time"
HE called me-" burst forth Mark.
"And you showed your hand?"
hazarded Blake. Good poker, MarR.
But punk politics Mark, I'm afraid
we're keeping Mr. standfsh from his
dinner
Good night replied standish, TAX.
ing the broad hint with no. show of
feeling.
Good night-till the house meets
at ten o'clock" said Blake. Il suppose
you'll lead your gallant insurgent CO.
horts in person this EVENING""
Eyes"
Don't want to call it off and come
into the fold again, s'pose?" suggest
ed Blake quizzically.
mo, thanks smiled the insurgent,
and passed on toward the dining room.
Hello, Van DYKE" called Blake as
the lawyer, with Neligan and Gregg in
tow, came along the corridor toward
them, from the bar. What brings you
to Washington? What's up?"
That's what I'm trying to find out, -
answered Van Dyke, shaking hands
with Blake and instinctively leading
the way to the adjacent amen corner.
What is up? You're supposed to be
managing this fight, Jim. And here
we find ourselves in the very worst
hole we've been in since ninety-seven.
If you and l hadn't fought shoulder to
shoulder for years and years, I'd be
tempted to say you were lying down -
THE crowd down on Broadway
answered Blake, have handed US a
raw proposition in this Mullins bill
The bill smells so rank that even the
dear, dear public have got a Whit OF
1t. And when the public gets its senae
OF smell into good working order-Oh
what's the use, Van Dyke? You can
see what we're up against. You know
the temper Of the country. We can't
even defend that bill of yours. And
this is no time to put over such raw
one. It's like
STILL" argued Van Dyke, you said
you'd be able to put the deal through
5 And there's surely enough in it fol
US ALL
'T said I could put it through. And
could-when we started. But Stand
ish wasn't fighting it then. This ISM
the Bill versus the People. It's MAJ
Standish versus the Organization. AnC
Standish has the people-the waked-uI
people-behind him. He's their idol
He's the parsons pet. They look OF
him as the Worthy Young Man who
couldn't do wrong if he tried and whl
isn't wicked enough to try. In othel
words, he's never been found out
There's only two classes of men that
ever met-the sort that have beer
found out and the sort that haven't
If we can damage Standish in the eye
Of the people-if We can make tn
clergy repudiate him"
That's lust the point" cried Va;