New-York tribune., 1921-03-20

"Well, Endicott, my assistant, ha:
been over it, and he says it's rank!'
\ returned Randolph.
"H'm!" grunted Mccall. "Endi
cottl Who's he?"
i mo one you know-just man or
my staff. But he knows graft when
he sees it," replied Randolph.
"Oh" said Mccall. II can't helr
feelin' sorry for those fellows" he
continued after pause. "They've
done the best they could. The sub
contractor laid down on 'em, anc
they've lost money by the hogshead
Amt there any way to let 'em down
little easy?"
/ Don't see any" said Randolph.
Cant you do it?" asked Mccall
Don't see how" repeated Ran
dolph. He was sorry not to oblige
Mccall, who was a good fellow.
The Senator got up and took a
few steps about the room, finally
coming to pause in front of the
window.
"Any notes of yours lyin' around
Ranny?" he asked quietly, without
turning.
"Eh" cried Randolph with a
start.
"Notes-any notes, said," mur-
INJURED Mccall, looking out of the
window. Il understand the Tide
water Company took an assignment
of quite a large one that has your
signature from a Teller named
Boyle, and they think of suing YOU
on it,"
Randolph sprang to his feet.
God" he cried. "Is that
straight?"
straight as a de-" announced
Mccall. Here's photograph of it,"
And he handed Randolph small
unmounted print of an oblong piece
Of paper.
Randolph put his hand to his fore
head. Mccall looked distressed.
Come, old man! Don't lose your
nerve! This is the only one and
the plates been destroyed. | guess
you know you can rely on me, so
long as you treat us square. WHY,
everybody is stuck on you, Ranny
We're all goin' to vote for you for
Judge next election, and there's no
end to what the right folks will do
Tor you for the askin n'-campaign
contributions and all that You're
on Easy Street, if you only knew it.
You could borrow all the money
you wanted"
Randolph had sunk down in his
chair with his shoulders hunched
and his head in his hands.
Funny thing happened once"
Mccall vent on in musing tone of
"Reminiscences. II was sittin' right
IN this room with old Tom Beech,
District Attorney along in the sos
ana man came in and had a
little chat about case with him,
and when he had gone, lying right
ON that desk, was brand new, fresh
ten-thousand-dollar bill, with not
even pinhoIe in it!"
Randolph did not seem to hear.
"Well, we'll! l must be goin',"
said Mccall, picking up his shining
tall hat and cane. "Think over
about those indictments, will you?
Don't you think the public interests
would be just as we'll served if the
grand jury handed in 'scathing
presentment' regular old-fash-
ioned sockdolager?"
Randolph arose bewildered to his
feet and mechanically took McCall's
oItstretched hand. His underjaw
was set and his face flushed.
"Aw, comet" exclaimed Mccall.
soothingly. Don't take what said
too seriously. Don't be in too much
OF rush about this thing--that's
all. See you again! S'long!" And
the Senator, putting on his hat with
the distingue manner that is char
acteristic of state Senators, but
toned his frockcoat across his
Websterian chest and, pausing to
sow few seeds among the news
paper reporters in the hall, maies-
tically. departed in cloud of cigar
smoke in the direction of the ele-
X y
RANDOLPH sat alone in the inner
office, his head still on his hands.
1t had not needed McCall's delicate
reference to the judgeship for him
to appreciate that the threatened
suit upon his note-the note given
to Boyle in payment of the losses in.
Cured at the wheel during that un-
fortunate night of revelry five years
before-would mean the end Of his
political career and the loss of the
judicial nomination promised him
by the boss. More: 1t would bring