Evening star., 1935-05-18
CHAPTER XLVIII.
SCANDAL.

~ " UdIIlCo ulO lAOb cpCild GIL lllo
time before his marriage with
n Leslie. He realized only too
IL well that he had to bestir
himself If he was ever to sue
ceed in fulfilling the fine promises he
had made on certain Summer after
noon on a Kansas hilltop.
AS yet James asked for no favors,
but he started edging in at political
gatherings, both State and local. and
lined up with the progressive and
balky younger Republicans-those
determined to kick free from the
domination of the "Old Guard" and
start a new deal for others and the
selves.
He took an active part in the Fall
primaries. He began, Under cover, to
pry into the use and disbursement
of the city and county monies. He
found them shamelessly misused. The
local bosses discovered that Jim Slim
son was shifting around the court
house and laughed at him brazenly.
They had laughed at him for years.
"Of course, I may not be able TO
prove a thing" James explained to
Leslie. They're rotten as hell. but
they've got everything sewed up tight.
Going through with it may mean po-
litical suicide. It's certain to mean
a big loss Of business; they're already
blackballing me right and left. But
if you're willing to take chance, to
live on half my present income"
Leslie was not only willing, but
stirred and excited. James promptly
went to work in earnest and in
short time uncovered one Of the
ugliest scandals in all New Concord's
history. James got nothing out Of
it in a money way. In fact, as he
predicted. for while he lost money.
But beforr James got through an
erstwhile county attorney was in the
penitentiary and several eminent
citizens were frozen with terror lest
they be sent to keep him company.
And the big boys, although they dis
trusted James, began to conciliate
him.
And then just few weeks before
the date set for his second wedding
the American Legion held national
convention in Kansas City and James.
to his delight and surprise, was in
vited to make the opening speech.
rhe announcement came on the heels
of James rather spectacular success
in cleaning up local affairs in New
Concord.
The newspapers, even the Kansas
City newspapers, chose to reprint
this. One paper sent reporter up
to New Concord to interview James.
James had gone with Leslie to call
on number of his farmer clients.
The reporter, not wishing to waste
his day, decided to interview the old
timers who remembered Gov. Slim
son.
There were not many old-timers
left. One of them, by the grace Of
God, sent him to call on Miss Julia
Pratt. Miss Julia gave him a won
derful interview. Later she took him
out to see Miss Sarah and the re-
porter photographed the mansion.
photographed Miss Sarah and Aunt
Lou. The result was a full page in
the Sunday paper. Other papers
printed bits of it. A syndicate used
much of the best Of 1t. And SO 1t
happened that James had his first
taste of the potent wine of publicity.
1t went perhaps little to James
head. Leslie, radiany with pride and
Joy, made the most of it and insisted
that he be proud of himself. It was
splendid preparation for the day
when he was to make his momentuous
speech and prove to his home town
that he, poor James," was after all
worthy OF their confidence and worthy
of their votes.
For James had made up his mind
to run for Congress in 1928. James
knew that he had to make good in
Kansas City. If he succeeded they
were ready to make much of him. If
he failed there would be chorus of
I-told-you-sos.
Practically every man attending
that convention would be the son or
grandson of q pioneer. James de-
cided to make the pioneers his sub
ject.
If James idealized those earlier
times he was not aware of it. James
believed with his whole heart and
soul in every word Of his speech.
It was not long; James was not to
be the principal speaker. Finally he
committed it to memory. But after
he had it all by heart he suddenly
turned shy and could not bear to let
Leslie hear him speak 1t aloud. In
the early mornings or late afternoons,
alone in the fields or the mansion
grounds, he repeated his speech again