The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-02-08
CHAPTER THREE.

Edith Mallon, a few hours after
telling Mrs. Griswold Kane it was
enough to know that John Smith
was a great man, sat before a slow
fire in the parlor of the big house
in Massachusetts Avenue and went
over in her mind that first talk
with him in which he suddenly, al
most brusquely, had avoided ex-
planning in detail his reasons for
supporting the cause of prohibi-
ton SO ardently.
His real reason" she thought
to herself; THAT is what / would
like to know, above all things. It
} is what he has never told me. 1
wonder why"
Since then he had seen her fire.
quently, and he had established
himself as a national figure. His
speeches before the committees Of
the House and Senate having con-
troll of legislation affecting the
liquor question had been carried
verbatim in the newspapers and
had found a tremendous response
from the country. His gift for or
%ganization had been of meal
culable aid to the prohibitionists.
And, most Of all, his logic, his
presentation of the question to in
dividual congressman, and his in
cessant industry in every phase of
the agitation for the movement he
represented, had brought it to the
front in public affairs. There was
nobody, OH either side of the con-
troversy, to deny now that it was
no longer a moribund matter. The
fire of his spirit had breathed
quick life into it and set it in mo-
ton.
"There is" he had told her
more than once, $50 terrific a sem
timent throughout the country
against whisky and it's evils that,
if ever the constitutional amend
ment is put to a vote, it will get
far more than the two-thirds ma
jority required in the House and
Senate to pass it. Of course there
will follow the more or less te-
dious work of getting the state
legislatures to vote for the amend
ment after it is authorized. But
that will come. My only concern
is to get prompt action by the
House. And your friend Mr.. Rich
ard Mannersley is the chief OBJ
stacle in my path-he and his
blessed committee"
!, 1t was for Mannersley that she
was waiting now. He and Smith
were equally attentive to her. Mel
lie Kane had described her as the
heroine of a political play in which
: the two men, representing opposite
sides Of a big national issue,
brought to her their various ar
[ guments.
Mannersley came in, regretting
| that congress was about to adj
journ, which would necessitate his
going back to campaign in his
: New York district. He looked
more like a stock broker than a
: statesman, his face devoid of any
hint Of imagination. In spite of
: his expression of assurance and
: self-sufficiency, his forid features
were too heavy. His light blue eyes
were hard, and seemed, somehow,
= in keeping with his white, wiry
$ hair brushed straight up from his
forehead. His waist line had begun
to disappear. He looked under.
!, trained, too much INDUCED. Edith,
while she talked to him, wondered
why her father liked him.
= Besides" he was saying, 81
1 hate to 60, because it looks like
!, leaving the field to the enemy"
The tone of his heavy baritone
voice made her wish she could ter
, inmate the interview then and
, there.
| What enemy?" she asked.
"Mr. John Smith," he replied,
succeeding in showing his real
= opinion hat he had nothing to fear
from the other man.
4 But" she objected, ignoring
any personal application of his re.
:, mark, "the Legislative field is clear
l until December. Nothing can be
done until congress reconvenes.'
Il don't mean that" he said
II dislike the idea of your-of his
annoying you so much"
a But, really" she laughed
:, lightly, ''your concern is unneces,
sary. He doesn' t annoy me at ALL
n You mean you really like
lIsn o., IL n,xJol - L.