Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-03-09

things
That's why we have to work quick"
Sledge Informed him.
What do you want?" asked Allerton.
Fifty year franchises-free."
Good Lord!" exclaimed Allerton.
why, Sledge, the man who would pro-
pose that might just as well retire from
politics forever"
'Sure" agreed Sledge.
The senator stopped, with a shock,
and reflected.
THE street car interests in the state
are large, that's q fact he acknowl-
edged.
Great game" approved sledge. 81
want stock all over the state. You'd
better invest"
ut might be attractive," considered
the senator. How much stock do YOU
think 1 should secure?"
Million"
Even the seasoned senator, used as
he was to private and personal discus
sions involving comfortable figures,
was startled at the sound of that word.
That listens very cheerfully,' he
conceded. do you suggest that buy
up-that amount Of stock for myself in
the various street car companies of the
state Or that myself and friends should
club together for that amount?"
Hundred thousand extra for Them"
responded Sledge with the promptness
OF a man who has done all his figuring
beforehand.
Allerton spent some minutes in quiet
thought.
There's the legal business. too"
Sledge reminded him.
That's So" agreed Allerton. "An at
torney who is also a large stakeholder
could control that clientagc. Suppose l
see Buckley about this? Send him in,
will you?"
Approaching the convenience Of hay
ing no witnesses to conversations
which SO intimately concern the serv-
ing of the public, Sledge loafed out
and stood nonchalantly over the table.
The five men looked up at him keenly,
but Sledge was staring into Cap Dig
glesby's hand. Buckley finished his
deal and glanced up again. He imme-
diately arose.
Take my hand. will you. Sledge?"
he begged. and he removed Sledge's
stein from the sideboard to the table.
Sledge sat down and fingered Buck
ley's chips while he drank at his beer.
Hope you break him." observed CAL
vim Z. Luther as he presently dealt the
cards. 'Buckley's too all fired lucky,
and I think he plays crooked myself"
House committeew yelled Franchise
Walters. '"That's unclublike language"
Sledge looked at his cards and put ia
chips and drew and bet with the air of
a man who is confirmed in the opinion
that the general average will "get'' u
square player in the end, no matter
how he guards himself. and, since not
caring whether he won or lost Buck
ley's chips, he bet the same on a flush
as he did OH a pair Of deuces. He had
increased Buckeyes stack slightly when
that gentleman returned. Sledge was
about to rise. but Buckley sat in Aller-
toms place instead.
Keep your seat, Sledge," he observ-
ed as he nodded to Cap Digglesby,
Sledge's bitterest and most relentless
foe on the floor Of the house Of repre-
Sentatives.
Yes. keep it five handed urged
Digglesby. II want to stretch my legs
il few minutes. and a four handed
poker game is about as exciting as a
prayer meeting"
Digglesby walked around the room
two or three times and looked at the
patriotic pictures with which the walls
were plentifully decorated for the ben
eft Of Buckley's earnest constituents,
then he sauntered into the hall and
stretched his legs into the next room,
where the senator, in deep thought,
awaited him.
Digglesby returned to the poker
game by and by, and as he sat down
smiled cheerfully at Buckley. Buckley.
who mad been playing casino, seven-up
and %pinochle with his poker cards and
making a mad havoc in Allerton's
chips in consequence, Immediately
drew a pair to his triplets and ''bet his
head off" with keen Zest.
Digglesby gave nc sign or glance at
Sledge, but nevertheless. after an
other deal, Sledge arose stolidly from
the table, and, without making any
bones about it, walked directly into
the bedroom. Allerton was lounging
in a cushioned window sill, smoking q
cigarette, and with his foot pushed the
big leather rocker around to a more
inviting position.
1.-THE old veteran found a way" he
comfortably explained. eff we at
tempted to railroad u bill empowering
the granting Of fifty year franchises
without remuneration it would be
showed under so quickly that the tell
err couldn't keep track Of the votes.
There aren't ten men in the capitol
building who would dare go hGSpe to