Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-02-15

accumulated in his visit to the
Occur d'Alene mining strikes; a
rich Persian rug presented to him
by an importer in New York; a
revolver used by a murderess
curiously embroidered hangings,
a gift from an appreciative friend
at the Chinese legation; books
and magazines everywhere; a
photograph of st. Gaudens' "Nir-
vana;" paper knives, pipes, ciga-
ret cases, quaint japanese Jars of
tobacco-all in apparent disarray.
1.-The people I've had to know
and cultivate" he added, as if he
regretted the fact, "reach round
the world. They're so many that
| got tired long ago. There are so
few that / like"
He lit a cigar and sank into the
chair near Smith.
"But you're different" he ex-
cepted. "And it's because you're
real. You re a disturbances dis
turbance that really disturbs. You
know, Washington is walked up
every morning by the cry that a
real reformer is in its midst. And
it goes to bed every night with the
knowledge that it has been fooled
again. You are the exception to
the rule"
He smiled broadly.
I'm a son Of a gun if I don't
believe you're going to last" he
said, affection in his voice.
Smith s impotence broke forth.
"But tell me-" he said, striking
the arm of his chair lightly,
what difference can be made in
this fight by what l divulge or do
not divulge concerning myself9''
Waller pulled his cigar twice
before he answered:
Il know you pretty well. It's
my business to size up men as far
as | can. And l know there never
has been anything particularly
bad about your past-but not ev-
erybody is as charitable as / am.
Remember that. Furthermore,
the whisky lobby goes on the
theory that, when it hurts you. it
hurts what you stand for"
IF they can produce anything
to my discredit, Waller, they re
welcome to it."
There was in the emphatic de
livery of this sentence utter final
ity.
Waller returned to the attack.
Honestly" he said, . puzzled
look on his face, "why don't you
end all this Internal gossip about
your mysterious past? You We
gotten by in society thus far sim
ply because anybody with brains
can get by that way in Washing
ton. A man who can entertain a
dinner crowd need never pay for
a meal in this town-even if he S
an escaped convict. But there
too much speculation and whis-
pering about you even there. And,
as for the political end Of it, it
just won't do-that s ALL"
Smith leaned back in his chair,
the late sunlight full on his face.
1t was the only time Waller had
ever seen him look tired.
Let them gossip if they wish"
he answered the Others protest.
Waller got up and put his hand
on Smiths shoulder.
cold man. he said with quiet
forcefulness, "you can't ignore
them. The moment they convince
the public that there really is
something in your past life Of
which you are afraid and ashamed
that moment you will begin to
slip. And the public is q fool. 1t
will believe anything if you print
it in the newspapers often
enough"
Smith made no reply. The
memory of the woman swaying in
the doorway, for the moment con-
trolled his thoughts.
you're all wrong on this"
Waller persisted. "Take my word
for it. This isn't because / want q
story. Strange to say, I'm inter
ested in this movement of yours
the first time I've been interested
in anything Of the kind for / dom
know VIII IN. want to see you get
away with it. But you can't do
it in this way. know the fellows
who write the stuff the people
read, and they can't get their
hearts into stuff about q man who
has lungs mystery about his neck
Particularly when his enemies
claim the mystery covers some
thing criminal or shameful
Smith felt the convincing sin
cerity back Of what he mid.
tim SORRY Int fhoro,a nn%hinu