Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-09-24

Suddenly he fcuna himself sompar.
ing his own little old fashioned wife
with this handsome, selfpossessed
woman before him. What wife Kath-
crime Strickland would be for the gov.
ernor OF state. What d picture abe
would make presiding at the head or
a mlliionaire's dinner tables! How
wonderfully such a woman would
adorn the richly furnished rooms OF
his newly built mansion. Instead OF
the work-worn fingers of his wife. con.
tinuoasly fumbling with darning
threads, he saw. i'm q mental vision.
this wonaanss lovely hands constantly
engaged in anwinding the threads OF
problematic political tangles, Here
was q woman who would be q mans
wife and comrade- the very antithesis
of the household drudge his own wife
was content to be, With no interest
outside Of the four walls OF her home
and no desire for anything bigger In
life than the daily routine OF break,
fast, dinner and supper. washing on
Monday. ironing ON Tuesday, and so
on 10 the end Of the week--week after
week In the same deadly rut. Here
was woman who would go along
with = man''p possibly . step ahead,
blazing the way fer new and greater
glories and recognizing no limit.
Slade brought his reflections TO n
sudden halt as he remembered the
girls father.
why. what has happened to you.
senatorf Your face looks different
than II did this afternoon"
''FIer fault" replied the senator,
with o smile or tolerant affection, In.
dicating bis daughter. "she made me
cut my beard this way. It's French. =
Katherine laughed . delightful.
throaty little laugh.
Nonsense. father" ahe protested.
"Of course, 1 like the West. but |
don't believe In being absolutely typ.
ieal. | was horriEed when | got back
and found you so biatantly the typi-
cal, much-cartooned Westerner.a
mfr. Slade,' resumed Strickland, "a
few influential men from different
parts OF our state are having q meet.
ing In town tomorrow. and want ycu
to meet them I'm arranging Ii little
impromptu dinner. and thought Rath,
| crime might be able to persuade Mrs
Slade and yourself to Join us..
oh, father, tell the truth Kath,
| erina interrupted These gentlemen
want to meet you, Mr.. sIade. | hear
we're to expect great things of you
You see. I've been mixed up In poll
tics ali my life, and | do love to have
a hand Ia them"
"She'd run for president II they'e
let her." leased her father.
Indeed would. the girl admitted
brazenly. 'I'ye got politics In ms
blood. and hons doesn't seem like
home unless politics are being brewet
| I'm cur dining-room. So ycu'Il both
come, won't you--you ard Mrs. Slade.
| Eiade was stammering his accept
ance when Strickland interrupted alb
| ruptiy.
How'd you like 10 be governor
Sladef"
| Slads threw back his head with /
laugh that was intended TO denots
| complete unconcern.
"oh--that taIkl Did the evening
papers put that into your head or
and he paused significantly, did 20,
put II into the evening papers2"
Stricklands laugh was q practica
| admission. #.--.
ut would mean hard fight, Slade
The waterfront crowds against You
and you can't get on without theiI
influence"
mot In this town. at least amend
ed Katherine.
You've got to have Wesley Merritt
his paper, his highfaiuting editorials
and his peechmaking--and his wife.
Strickland explained. He and hi!
crowd run the town."
/ "oh. you mean my neighbors? ?
asked Slade. They'll come around,
he finished, meaningiy.
"But, man alive! Only today Mer
ritt's attack on you was scurrilous.
demonstrated with him myself. He'i
your out-and-out enemy. I've tried Il
get him--to--to come over and shak,
hands, but he swears he'll never cross
your Threshold"
Il guess they'll come when I wan
EN- to come" Slade interrupted. with
an assurance his auditors could no
understand. "In fact. I'm looking fol
em any minute now" and he consult
ed his watch.
You're looking for them-here-to
night?" gasped Strickland, showing
plainly he thought Siade was making
joke of the matter.
Yes, tonight" replied the would-b.
governor. quietly, and turned to Kath
crime
Strickland subsided. q question
growing In his mind as TO whether b.
had fully measured the man he expect
ed to use for his own political ant
financial ends. There was In Slade'i
method Of fighting a direct and oper
quality that would make him hard II
handle In the crooked and .Hdirec
ways of political life.
Katherine Strickiand's eyes mar
rowed as she met SHADES gaze. He
quick, calculating mind saw In Thu
man the possibility Of realizing be-
highest hopes and ambitions. witt
such a man a woman could scale an
heights-reach any goal. He was hare