The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-02
cANDLEss' CANDIDACY
By HENRY BERLINGHOFF.

1T ought to be better than that"
he declared This investigation will
attract attention all over the country.
1t might even be good for the COVER
norship."
But you won't get the senatorship
this election, will you?" persisted the
girl. Candless shook his head.
I'VE are only fairly getting under
way" he explained patiently. Il sus-
pect the committee will sit after
Christmas"
But thought you were the whole
investigation" she persisted. What
has the committee to do? Can't you
hurry it up?"
Il am only one Of a committee Of
five," he said. Il am doing most OF
the work, but these things cannot be
hurried"
You know now that they all stole"
she persisted
but the facts must be legally set
forth. We cannot rush it through"
Il wish you could" she whispered.
Then we could be married at once"
81 know 1t, dear" he answered ten
derby. 81 would give anything to hur-
ry 1t up. but we must wait"
Harrington. strolling across the ball
room floor. heard and smiled as he
asked Candless for a ten-minute chat.
The younger man went off, proud to
be seen in conference with the man
who really ruled the destinies Of his
party. Three months before Candless
would have shouted at the suggestion
that he might be sent to the senate
from his state He was merely a
young attorney whose cleverness had
gained for him a place in the state
legislature. Then had come the water
front investigation. He had been
placed on the committee because the
leaders supposed him to be safe, !"
To the surprise of everyone he had
developed an ingenuity at cross-exami-
nation which had dragged out, bit by
bit, the whole miserable story Of the
steal of the water front by the Cadiz
and Southwestern
1t had been no part OF the leaders
intentions that the story should come
out, but it was too late now to call off
the investigation. The public had
been aroused.
TO Candless it had seemed as If he
were very near his goal, for he was to
make Marion his wife when he had
made his way Surely his future was
assured If only the investigation had
ended in time to run for the senator
ship!
He wondered as he followed Har-
rington into the conservatory whether
it were too late An hour later, with
sparkling eyes, he emerged from the
conference and sought the girl.
rs it good news, Hugh" she asked
as he led her toward the library.
1T couldn't be better" he cried ex-
ultingly. I'll give you three guesses. /"
They were inside the library now
and the girl faced him. Is it the SEN
atorship?" she half whispered.
Candless nodded as he seized her
about the waist and waltzed her
across the floor to the library sofa.
He was like boy in his exuberance
"Tell me all about it, she demand
ed as she curled herself upon the
sofa. WAS that what Mr.. Harring-
ton wanted of YOU"
Nothing less" exulted Candless.
TT has been decided that am the
most available candidate. They will
run me for the state senate with the
assurance that ! shall be sent on to
Washington.
You'll be aWfully busy with the
campaign and the investigation" she
lamented. I'm afraid will not see
anything Of you at all
Harrington has fixed all that" he
explained. They realize that | can
not handle both, so Varrick will take
over the investigation. wanted to
keep on, but Harrington pointed out
that ! could not do both and that this
was too good a chance at the senate
to be lest"
And are you going to give up the
Investigation she gasped. Give up
all that has been gained?"
"Varrick can carry it on" he said
impatiently I'VE have to make some
sacrifices"
And you are going to give up the
fight before you have fairly begun"
she repeated. You are going to turn
your back on the investigation and let
that fall through that you may go to
Washington"
Il told you Varrick would take my
place." he said irritably. Marion turn
ed and faced him.
Hugh" she said simply, do you
really think that Mr.. Varrick will take
your place."
why not?" he asked. This was so
different from what he had antici-
pated.
Il heard Mr.. Colqhoon talking to
father last night" she explained. HE
said that the investigation was a COM
plete surprise to both parties; that
they had supposed there would be the
usual whitewashing, and that you had
made 1t a real investigation