Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-05-27

ing IT,
At the appointed time the big day
dawned. and the political wind-up held
the center Of the stage. So far as we
were concerned. II passed of very quiet
". Along in the afternoon the newspa.
per offices began to put out bulletins.
and nv evening the result was no long
or doubtful. For the first time In years
the power OF the political machine
had been smashed decisively at the
poIls. and on the following morning
the Mountalneer announced the cleo
tiop of Governor Burrell with safe
working majority in both houses OF
the legislature for the Independents.
1t was on the third day after the
election, rather late In the afternoon.
that the boss had call from min
ing promoter named Dawes, represent
ing q bunch of mine owners at Strath-
coma who were having trouble with
Smelter The smelter. one of the few
Hatch monopolies which hadn't been
shaken loose as yet. was located In
the gulch six miles below StrathcOna.
and It was served exclusively by Its
own industrial railroad, which II was
using ms a lever to pry an excessive
hauling charge out Of the mine own.
ers. Wouldn't Mr. Norcross try to do
something about 1t?
The boss said he'd do anything he
could. and asked what the mine own.
cotd fh0v ntnd
help; that they were going to hold
mass meeting In StrathcOna the fol.
lowing morning at nine o'clock. Would
1t. or wouldn't 1t. be possible for Mr..
NOrcross to be present at that meet.
ing?
OF course. the boss said he'd 60.
Dawes went away. and before we
broke off to so to dinner at the rail-
road club. l was given memorandum
order for a special.
At the club l found that Mr.. Nor
cross had an invited guest-Major
Kendrick. For a week or two Mrs.
Shella had been visiting at the state
capital, and the majors wife and
Maisle Ann were with her. So the
good old major was sort of unattached,
and glad enough, took 1t, to be a
guest at anybOdy's table.
For while the table talk-in which.
of course, Jimmie Dodds hadn't any
part whatever-circled around the late
landslide election. and what Governor
Burrells party would do. now that 1t
had the say-sO. But by and by 1t
got around to the railroad situation.
you're putting up mighty good
fight. Graham. my son, but It isn't
over yet-not by jugful. suh"-this
isn't Just the way the major said 1t,
but It's as near as can come to his
soft Southern drawl with the smoth-
cred "r's." "Tve known Mlsteh Rufus
Hatch for good many yealis. and he
has the perseverance Of the ve'y devil.
With all that has been done, you must
neveh forget, for q single hou'uh. that
youth admirable reform structchuh
stands, as yet. upon the life Of single
man. Don't lose sight Of that, Ora
ham,"
The boss looked up kind Of curl.
ously.
"You and Sheila seem to think that
point needs emphasizing more than
any other" he commented.
The majors fine old eyes twinkled
gravely.
'You are mighty safe In payin' strict
attention to whatever the little gyerl
tells you, Graham, my boy" he as.
serted. "She has way Of gettin' at
the heart Of things that puts US meah
men to shame-she has. for q fact,
subj"
"She has been very helpful to me-"
the boss put In, with his eyes In his
plate. I'm fact. may say that she
has herself suggested O good many Of
the moves In the railroad game. It's
marvellous. and I can't understand
how she can do It."
They went on for q while, singing
Mrs. Sheila's praises over In q good
many different ways. and ! thought.
wherever she might happen to be Just
then. her pretty little. ears ought to