Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-17

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the night before and established head
quarters in a nearby hotel, and Of Colo
mel Moulton, the chairman of the state
committee, who kept the run Of things
from his office on the second floor OF
the capitol. Both believed they had
the situation well in hand until they
heard about Kittinger. Then they talk
ed with each other over well guarded
telephones, and Moulton sent for the
| senator.
Neither the first nor a second mes
| sage brought him. The chairman put
on his hat and walked to the COVER
nor's room.
I'VE are beaten. 1 suppose you
know" Moulton said without preface,
as he sat down.
"Kittinger has been here" answered
the governor.
What excuse did he givef"
! 81 did not hear him give any"
Didn't you discuss the bill with
him: Didn't you ask him what is the
matter with him?"
| No
Then I'd like to know what did you
talk about?'
HE did most of the talking. I told
him that he was foolish not to see
| you"
| HE isn't coming, then?"
mo. He said he wouldn't"
George, do you know what this
means to us?" the colonel demanded.
Il know what you think it means"
Eyes, and I'm right. 1t means that
you lose the United States senatorship
and that we go out of business. That's
what it means"
The governor swung around in his
chair YEARLY.
II suppose you didn't come here just
to tell me that again. he said.
mo, 1 didn't. l did not know that
you had seen Kittinger. Anyway, it
does not matter. Send for him now,
and ask him to vote for the merger"
The governor walked to the window
and looked out across the long stretch
of dull brown lawn.
II guess I'll keep out of it, Fred"
he answered presently without turning
around
Just then the door opened, and a girl
of twenty stood on the threshold. She
held her long riding skirt in her hand.
Joe said it was important and that
I mustn't interrupt, but father prom
ised to go riding with me this morning
as soon as he finished his mail. You
will forgive me, won't youT"
II.
A little later, when the merger bill
was reached on the senate calendar,
the majority leader blandly asked that
the measure be laid aside for the pres
ent. Nobody objected, and the disap-
pointed crowd filed Srumblingly out of
the galleries. Though they did not IN
derstand the delay, few believed that
the merger was really beaten. This
was the outside view. On the inside
Colonel Moulton, Sanderson, head OF
the promoting syndicate; the governor
and two or three others knew that
without Kittinger's vote there was
tie. If he voted no the bill was lost.
'eWell. find out what he wants."
growled Sanderson when the situation
was explained to him.
But nobody cared to undertake the
task. Kittinger did not understand
the game, they felt; and, besides, he
might be against the bill on principle.
They had heard of such things.
Cant you call it up when kittinger
is ABSENT" suggested Sanderson.
They considered this, but not hope
fully. The lieutenant governor could
be depended upon for the casting vote,
but KittinGer was never absent.
III.
Within half an hour after her re-
turn from the ride with her father
Kitty Willard knew that in respect to
the merger bill she mad unwittingly
put her dainty little foot into it. Such
details of the situation as she failed
to get from her father she Skillfully
extracted from Colonel Moulton. She
took at face value all that the colonel
said about the bearing of the merger
bill on her fathers political fortunes.
This is the reason why she marched |
into Moulton's office the next morning |
and offered her services to help pass
the bill.
I'm afraid. though" she admitted, /
that l can't do much with father. |
He has made up his mind not to in |
terfere He told me that
Il don't just see, then began |
MouIton.
NO. / know you don't" answered I
Miss Willard. though you are an old /
dear. I'm going to capture your sena-
tor for you. I've made up my mind"
DO you know him.
lust. I've met him Mt dinner once
OF twice. How much time do you give
meT'
Moulton was ready TO catch az
straws which accounts for his answer
ing seriously,
IF we cannot pass the bill by this
time next month we never can" he
said
VERY WELL" said Miss Willard.
81 wish you luck" said the colonel.
kittinSer was young. and at tirst
things went swlmmingly. He was as
signed 10 tnke her into dinner an evnn-