Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-05
CHAPTER XVIV.
(Contipued.l

The ex-president had withdrawn
and requested his friends IN the
convention to vote for Silas Wright
Ny emotions can be more readlly
imagined than described when l
heard the shouts of enthusiasm
which greeted my friends name
Tears began to roll down my
cheeks. Judge Fine lifted his hand
When order was at last restored ne
began:
Gentlemen, as a friend OF the
learned senator and as resident
of the country which is the PROUD
possessor of his home, your en-
thusiasm has a welcome SOUND 10
me; but happen to know that SEN
ator Wright will not allow his name
to 20 before the convention"
He read the letter of which l
knew.
Mr.. Benjamin F. Butler then
said:
When that letter was written
Senator Wright was not aware that
Mr.. Van Buren's nomination could
not be accomplished, nor was ne
aware that his own nomination
would be the almost unanimous
wish of this convention. l have
talked with the leading delegates
from Missouri and Virginia today
They say that he can be nominated
by reclamation. Is it possible that
he-a strong party man-can re-
sfst this unanimous call of the party
with whose help he has won i'm
mortal fame? 10. it is not so. 1t
can not be so. We must dispatch
messenger to him by horse at once
who shall take to him from his
friend Judge Fine frank state
ment of the imperious demand OF
this convention and request that
he telegraph a withdrawal OF his
letter in the morning"
The suggestion was unanimously
approved and within an hour,
mounted on one of the best horses
il Maryland-so his groom in
formed me- was on my way to
Washington with the message OF
Judge Fine in my pocket. Yes, l
had two days to spare on my sched-
ule of travel and reckoned that, by
returning to Baltimore next day
should reach Canton in good time.
1t was the kind of thing that only
q 1.-the, supple strong hearted lad
such as l was in the days of my
youth. could relish-speeding over
a dark road by the light Of the stars
and a half-moon, with a horse that
loved to kick up a wind. My brain
was in a fever, for the notion had
come to me that l was making his
tory.
The lure of fame and high place
hurried me on. With the senator
in the presidential chair | should
be well started in the highway OF
great success. Then Mr.. H. Dunk
elbeFg might think me better than
the Aegacy of Benjamin Grimshaw.
A relay awaited me % miles down
the road.
Well, I reached Washington very
sore, but otherwise in good form,
soon after daybreak. l was trem-
bling with excitement when l put
my horse in the stable and rang
the bell at our door. 1t seemed to
me that l was crossing the divide
between big and little things. A
few steps more and l should be
looking down into the great valley
of the future. Yet, now that l was
there, I began to lose confidence.
The butler opened the door.
Yes, the senator was up and had
Just returned from a walk and was
in his study. I found him there.
well, Bart, how does this hap
penn" he asked.
IT'S important business" I said
as l presented the letter.
Something in his look and man
ner as he calmly adjusted his
glasses and read the letter of Judge
Fine brought the blood to my face.
1t seemed to puncture my balloon,
so to speak, and / was falling to-
ward the earth and so swiftly my
head swan. He laid the letter on
his desk and, without looking up
and as cody as if he were asking
for the change of a dollar, queried:
We'll, Bart, what do you think
we had better do about lt?"
II was hoping - you - you
would take it." l stammered.
That's because the excitement of
the convention is on pou." he an