The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-16

all you another such political boss as
Quay and German. There's nothing
lhey don't say about you"
We'll. Halle, they've been saying It
for some time; they will go on saying
it probably not only about me, but
about every other man who won't be
dictated to by impractical reformers
and pharisalcal newspapers. But
must confess that this is rather hard
luck" He held up two of the cuttings.
I've undertaken to do just what
papers like the New York Evening
Post and the Springfield Republican
are forever begging somebody with
courage to do-Ive been trying to
drive a rascal out of politics. I'm glad
Of this chance to talk to you about
Thatcher. He and I were friends for
years, as you know"
II never understood how you could
tolerate that man; he's so coarse and
vulgar that his wife stays abroad to
keep her daughters away from him"
Well, that's not my affair. I have
had all ] want OF him. There's moth
ing mysterious about my breaking
with him; he got it into his head that
he's a bigger man in this State than
I am. I have known for several years
that he intended to get rid of me as
soon as he felt he could do it safely,
and be ready to capture the senator
ship when he saw that our party was
In shape to win again. I've always
distrusted him, and I've always kept
an eye of him. When he came into
Fraser County and stopped low
enough tc buy old Ike Petit, I
thought it time to strike. You read
lot about courage in politics in such
newspapers as these that have been
phllosOphizing about me at long range.
Well, I'm not going to brag about
myself. but ii required some courage
on my part to take the Initiative and
read the riot act to Thatcher. I've
done what men are sometimes praised
for doing; but I don't want praise; I
only want to be judged fairly. I've
always avoided bringing business or
politics home; I've always had an
idea that when a man goes home he
ought to close the door on everything
but the interests the home has for
him. I may have been wrong about
that; and I'm very sorry that you
have been troubled-sincerely sorry.
But you may as we'll know the truth
now, which is that Thatcher is out
Of It altogether. You know enough
of him to understand that he's not
man to trust with power, and I've
done the State and my party a service
in turning him out Of doors"
He had spoken quietly and earnest
", and his words had not been with
out their effect. He had never been
harsh with her or the children: his
manner today was kind and consider
ate. He had to an extent measurbly
rehabilitated himself as a heroic pub
lie character, man Of honor AMI hus-
band to be proud Of; but she had not
spent a sleepless night and a gray
day without certifying herself agains-
him. All day her eyes had been fixer
upon an abandoned squirrel box ~
the crotch of an elm outside her win
dow; it had become the repository %
her thoughts, the habitation Of her
sorrows. She turned her head slight
" so that her eyes might rest upon
this tabernacle Of fear and Illusion
and renewed the assault refreshed
How is it, then. that newspaper
away off in New York and Massa
rageous fashion? They're so far away
that it seems strange they speak o.
you at all"
He laughed with relief. feeling the
question marked n retreat towar,
weaker Notifications.
You're not very complimentors
are you. Halle? They must thin
me Of some importance or they'd let
me alone. I wouldn't subscribe TO
that clipping bureau II you fear we're
too much in the limelght. I've been
taking the service of one Of these bu-
reaus for several years, and read
every line the papers print about me.
It's part of the regular routine in my
Office 10 paste them in scrapbooks."
Il shouldn't think you could burn
them fast enough; what II the chill
dren should see them some day.
wei. you may be surprised to
know that they're not all so bitter.
Once in a long while I get a kind
word. That bill I got through
the assembly separating hardened
criminals from those susceptible of
refOrm-the indeterminate sentence
iaw-was praised by penoIogists all
over the country. It's all in the days
work; sometimes you're patted on
the back and the next time they kick
you down the stairs. Without
political influence you have no chance
tohelp the good causes or defeat tha
bad schemes"
Yes, I suppose that is true" she
murmured weakly.
He had successfully met and turned
her attack and the worst had passed.
but he expected her to make some
reference to Thatcher's lawsuit for
the control Of the Courier, and he
was not disappointed. Marian, who
had a genius for collecting disagree
able information and a dramatic in.
stinct for using it effectively, had an
prised her Of If. This hazardine M
Mrs. Ovens favor became NOW the
gravamen of his offense, the oulnoina.
ton of all his offenses. She demanded
to know why he had secretly borrowed
money OF her aunt, when from the
time of their marriage it had been
understood that they should never do
go. Her own fortune he had been
free to use as he liked; she demanded
10 know why he had not taken her
own money; but to ask financial
favors OF Aunt Sally, and this. too.
without consultation. was beyond her
comprehension. She was on secure
ground here: ha had nIr,-nr,a ur.o1