Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-12-04

ming, Mrs. Merritt, your husband 10
certainly making 1t warm for Mr..
Slade."
Indeed" laughed Mrs. Merritt, graf
flied for the moment.
Dear, dearl" she exclaimed as she
watched Hayes gazing vistfully at
Katherine and looking very handsome
and manly in his well-made evening
clothes. "It's quite like old times to
see you together" Unhappy herself,
1t gave her a certain pleasure to make
other people unhappy. The jealousy
she had long felt for the younger and
more beautiful woman found express
sion now in her purring tones, as, with
amiable cruelty, she reminded them
Of their earlier intimacy. She took
delight in making Bob writhe and
Katherine whlten as she recalled their
passionate young love when only the
senator's stern interference had kept
them from wedding.
Let me see." she recollected, when
I was your confidante, you were
twenty-one. Katherine. and you. Rob.
were twenty-four. can feel Rob's
hands gripping mine yet: o, Fannie
please see her for me-the senator
/, doesn't approve OF It. And the tears
you shed on my shoulder. Katherine
why, It feels wet to think Of It,"
20! Fannie!" Katherine's voice was
not as firm as usual.
II always said," the woman per-
sisted, Rob, she'll come home to you
in the end"
Il think I'll go back and listen to
the discussion" and Bob flung dis
gustedly out Of the room. At the door
he almost collided with Merritt. Kath-
crime had hurried out to see reporter
who wanted the wherefores and the
why's of the dinner party to Slade.
u can't possibly get away. dear"
Merritt explained to his wife. "Tve
been buttonholed by some men from
up the state. Shall you wait or go
home-frst?"
Mrs. Merritt refused to be dis
missed In that peremptory fashion.
I'll walt" she returned with acid
sweetness. Then II you are not ready
I'll run along"
SHADES had an ovation tonight"
Merritt informed her, nodding toward
the smoking.room. THE big out-of.
town men are all here. Some of 'em
in there yet. He's big. Fannie. Hes
big. We cant deny that. The brute
attacks his point with all the force OF
sledge hammer"
"Yes, that's what you lack
punch!" his wife turned on him petu
lantly.
You're showed under" she com
planned. bitterly. III you'd taken my
advice you wouldn't have come to thii
Slade feed tonight. What's your pa
per for" she demanded. If you can
attack your rival candidate in its col
umns? Anyone would think you want
ed to make him governor-instead o
yourself"
Il can't attack him publicly" Mer
ritt retorted. He'd put UP glue fac
: tories facing our property and, wit
: lake breeze blowing our way
phew! My position is very difficult
or course. elections long way aheat
but I'm the only stick In his puddle.
. Yes. you're q big stick!" sh
taunted. why don't you do SOM
. thing?"
What can l do?" he groaned. "I'y
been told tonight by no less than fou
D. men that they won't support me agaiI
l. And Strickland's speech introducin
;. Slade was a masterpiece"
"Yes-Strickland's masterpieces ar
concocted by his daughter. we a
know that. Just as write your stun.
she finished with hateful emphasis o
u the posseseive.
MY dear. wish you'd be NOR
I carefull" warned Merritt. maxim
n sure that the door leading into tn
smokingroom was closed.
o Your Message to the Farmer'-tha
made you famous! What did ! eve
a get for writing IT." and with selfsatii
j. fed deliberateness she arranged he
II self carefully In a low-seated chal
near the fireplace.
II never denied that you had
D. mans BRAIN" placatingly. drawlinsl!
. mockingly, darling"
n "Yes-Im the family mosquito thf
IL buzzes behind your ears. God hel
us II II wasn't for me. Did you as
o. the senator for the $4,000 want
o she demanded.
e He can't" Merritt was huddled
10 the nearest chair. The subject ha
N been causing him appetiteless day
n and sleepless nights. When woma
% Of Fannie Merritt's persistency IN
Ig tenacity wants something man can
Ig get then that man is very likely to
L nagged into desperation.
ID "You look out, Wesley" she Al
a. swered, alarm breaking the cnref'
ID meditation OF her voice. That's Il
m first time he ever refused u.s."
he Hes broke-dead broke. l don
re know how he can keep this up TT
lie senator's nearly out That's wi
'h he's sticking to Slade."
ID To BE coNTINuED)