Evening star., 1922-11-05

must be telling stories and giving an
imitation Of weary business men hav-
ing jolly time. But I'm tired Of
talking: some Of the good story-tell-
ers ought to be stirred up"
With a little prodding Fullerton
took the lead, but was able to win
only grudging laughter. Cotton was
trying his hand at diverting them
when they were startled by a knock.
Burgess was at the door instantly and
flung it open.
** X X
s. All, Tate, Como right in: the
"A party hasn't started yeti"
The newcomer was a short, thick
set man. clean shaven, with coarse
dark hair streaked with gray. The
hand he gave the men in succession
as they gathered about him for Bur
heavy. He offered 1t Imply, with an
air Of embarrassment.
Gov. Eastman, Mr.. Tate; that's
your seat by the governor. Tate"
said Burgess. We were just listen
ing to some old stories from some OF
these fellows, so you haven't missed
anything. I hope they didn't need
me at that tile meeting; / never at
tend night meetings; they spoil my
sleep, which my doctor says I've got
to have"
Might meetings." said the gov
ernor, always give me a crouch the
next morning. A party like this
doesn't. of course"
Up in the country where live we
still stick to lodge meetings as an
excuse when we want a night off,"
Tate remarked.
They laughed more loudly than was
necessary to put him at ease. He re-
fused Burgess offer Of food and drink,
and when some one started political
discussion they conspired to draw him
into 1t. He was county chairman of
the party not then In power and COM
planned good-naturedly to the gov
ernor of the big plurality Eastman
had rolled up in the last election He
talked slowly, with a kind of dogged
emphasis, and 1t was evident that
politics was a subject to his taste.
His brown eyes, they were noting,
were curiously large and full, with
bilious tinge in the white. He met a
glance steadily, with. indeed, an
almost disconcerting directness.
Where the governor sat became, by
imperceptible degrees, the head of the
table as he began seriously and
frankly discussing the points of diff
ference between the existing parties,
accompanied by clean-cut characterize
tons of the great leaders.
There was nothing to indicate that
anything lay behind his talk; to all
appearances his auditors were alb
sorbed in what he was saying. Tate
had accepted a cigar. which he did
not light, but kept twisting slowly in
his thick fingers
I'VE democrats have had 10 change
our minds about good many things"
the governor was saying. ''Of course.
were not going back to Jefferson"
Che smiled broadly and waited for
them to praise his magnanimity in
approaching SO near to an impious
admission), but the world has spun
around a good many times since JEFF
ferson's day. What think we demo-
Gratis do, and do splendidly, is to keep
close to the changing current of pub
!ic opinion; sometimes 1t seems likely
to wash us down, as in the free silver
days: but we give. probably without
always realizing it. a chance for the
people to express themselves on new
| questions, and If we've stood for some
foolish policies at times. the coun-
try's the better for having passed on
them. These great contests clear the
air like a storm and we all go peace
fully about our business afterward.'
| As he continued they were all
covertly watching Tate, who dropped
his cigar and began playing with the
| pencil before him, absently winding
| and unwinding it upon the string that
held 1t to the tablet They were
feigning an absorption in the gov
ernors recital which their quick.
nervous glances at Tate's hand belied.
Burgess had pushed back his chair to
face the governor more comfortably
and was tying knots in his napkin.
Now and then Tate nodded SOL
emnly in affirmation of something the
governor said, but without lifting his
eyes from the pencil. His broad
shoulders were bent over the table,
and the men about him were reflect
ing that this was probably an atti-
tude into which his heavy body often
| deeply.
iVIIEARYING OF the pencil-a trifie
w OF the dance-card variety-he
dropped it and drew his own from
his waistcoat pocket. Then. after
looking UP to join in a laugh at some
| Indictment of republicanism express
ed In droll terms by the governor. he
drew the tablet closer. and, turning
his head slightly to one side, drew a
| straight line. Burgess frowned as
several men changed position the bet
ter to watch him. The silence deep
ened and the governors voice rose
with slight oratorical ring.
Through a half-open window hoated
below.
The governor. having come down
to the Wilson administration, went
back to Cleveland, whom he praised
as a great leader and a great Presi-
dent. In normal circumstances there
would have been Interruptions and
questions and an occasional jibe; and
ordinarily the governor. who was not
noted for loQuacity, would not have
talked fwanfv noinrfes at q stretch