Wallowa County chieftain., May 20, 1909, Image 5

A GENTLEMAN
FROM MISSISSIPPI
By THOMAS A. WISE
Novelized From the Play by Frederick R. Toombs
COPYRIGHT. 1909, BY THOMAS A. WISE
CHAPTKIl II.
TUB WARS OP rKACX.
klQ BILL" LANG DON won the
term by which the new sena
tor from Mississippi hnd been
affectionately known to bis Id-
Minutes for years. He carried bis 230
pounds with ease. bespeaking irreut
muscular power In spite of his gray
hairs. His rugged courage, unswerv
ing honesty nnd ready belief In bis
friends won him a loyal following,
some of whom frequently repented
what was known as "Bill Langdon's
Coldcn Rule:"
There never was a man yet who
didn't have some good In him. but
most folks don't know this because
their own virtues pop up and blind 'em
when they look at somebody else."
At the reunions of bis old war com
rades Langdon waa always depended
ou to describe once again how the
Third Mississippi charged at Craw
fordsville and defeated the Eighth Illi
nois. But the stirring events of the
past had served to Increase the plant
er's fondness for bis home life and bis
children, whose mother bad died years
before. At times be regretted that his
unexpected political duties would take
him away from the old plantation even
though the enthusiastic approval of
Carolina and Hope Georgia proved con
siderable compensation.
Although not sworn In as senator,
Colonel Langdon's political duties were
already pressing. A few days after
Congressman Norton's visit he sat in
his library conferring with several
prominent citizens of his county re
garding a plan to ask congress to ap
propriate money to dredge a portion
of the channel of the Tearl river,
which would greatly aid a large sec
tion of the Btate.
During the deliberations the name
of Martin Banders was announced by
Jackson, the colonel's gravely deco
rous negro bodyguard, who boasted
that he wuz brung up by Cunel Murse
Langdon, sub, a flgbtln' Mississippi
cunel, suh, Bence long befo de wah
and way befo' dat, suh."
"Show Mr. Sanders right in," com
manded Colonel Langdon.
"Good day, senator," spoke Sanders,
the boss of seven counties, as be en
tered. Glancing around the room, he
continued, bending toward the colo
nel and muffling bis now whispering
voice with his band: "I want to speak
to you alone. I'm here on politics."
That's all right, but these gentle
men here are my friends and constitu
ents," was the reply In no uncertain
voice. "When I talk politics they
have a perfect right to bear whatI,
as their senator, say. Out with It, Mr.
Banders." -
As Sanders wns Introduced to the
members of the conference he grew
red In the face and stared at Langdon
a ma led. At last be had discovered
something new In politics. "Say," he
finally blurted, "when 1 talk business
I"-
"Are you In politics as a business?"
quickly spoke Colonel Langdon.-
"Why 1 er no, of course not," the
visitor stammered. "I am inx politics
Carolina Langdon had an austere lone
liness. mJ Party's sake, Just like every
day else," and Sanders grinned sug
ravely at his questioner.
?ve yo anything further to sayr
awed Langdon in a tone hinting that
ne would like to be rid of his caller.
"ell, since you are so very new In
this g0me senator, I'll talk right out
w meetln, as they call It. I came to
sk about an appointment an to tip
you off on a couple o propositions. I
nt Jim Hagley taken care of
Jou've heard of Jim was clerk o' Fen
imore county. A $2,000 a year Job Ml
00 'or him; $500 o' that he gives to the
organization."
"You're the organization, aren't you?"
Queried Langdon. .
"why, yes. Are you Just gettln'
VtmmW Had Handm "HKVon'r I .got
fellers, voters, voters, VOTERS, d
It. hangln' on to me that needs to be
taken enre of! An' so I make the fel
lers that work help those that don't
Why, Langdon, what "n h are you
klckin' an' questlonln' about? Didn't
you get my twelve votes In the legisla
ture? Did you have a chance for sen
ator without 'em! Answer me that,
will you? Why, with 'em you only
had two more than needed to elect
an the opposition crowd was solid for
Wilson," cried the angry boss, pound
ing the long table before which Lang
don sat.
"I'll answer you almighty quick," re
torted the now thoroughly aroused sen
ator elect rising and shaking his
clinched fist at Sanders. "Those
twelve votes you say were yours
yours?"
"Yes, mine. Them noble legislators
that cast 'em was an' is mine, mine.
I tell you, jest
like I bad 'em In
my pocket an'
that's where I
mostly carry 'em,
so as they won't
go strayln aroun'
careless-like,"
"You didn't have
to vote those men
for me. I told
you at the capl
tol that I would
not make you or
anybody else any
promises. You
voted them for
me of your own
accord. That's my
answer."
"Them noble legisla- At this point the
tors wna mine." - gentlemen of the
county present when Sanders entered
and who bad no desire to witness fur
ther the unpleasant episode rose to
leave. In spite of the urgent request of
Colonel Langdon that they remain.
The only one reluctant to go was Deu.
con Amos Small wood, who, coming to
the plantation to seek employment for
bis sou, had not been denied of his de
sire to join the assemblage of his
neighbors.
Lnst to move toward the door, he
stopped In front of Sanders, stretched
bis live feet three inches of stature on
tiptoe and shook a withered fist in the
boss' firmly set, determined face.
"Infamous!" shrieked the deacon.
"You're a monster! You're unright
eous! You should have belonged to the
political machine of Cataline or Pon
tius mate!"
"Never heard tell o' them," muttered
Sunders, deeply puzzled. "Guess they
was never in Mississippi in my time."
His accompanying gesture of per
plexity caused the deacon to hasten his
exit. Tripping over the leg of a chair,
be fell beadloug into the arms of the
watchful Jackson, who received the
deacon's blessing for "uplifting the
righteous in the hour of their fall."
Relieved at the departure of the wit
nesses, Sanders showed Increased ag
gress! I'ouess. "To be sure, senator,
you were careful not to personally
promise me anything for my support
at the election, m you say," the leader
sneered, "but you bad Jim Stevens to
muke promises for you, which was
smooth, absolute an' artistic smooth"
"Stop, sir!" Langdon furiously shout
ed. "You forget, sir, that your insinu
ation Is an insult to a man elected sen
ator from Mississippi, an insult to my
state nnd to my friend Senator Ste
vens, who 1 know would make you no
promises for me, for be bad not my
authority."
"Certainly you're a senator, but
what's n senator anyhow? I'll tell you,
Mr. Colonel Langdon, a senator Is a
man who holds out for bis own pocket
as much us us fellows that make him
will stand for. When we don't get our
rightful share, he's through."
With a sudden start, as though to
spring at Sanders' throat, Langdon,
with compressed lips nnd eyes blaz
ing, grasped the edge of the table
with a grip that threatened to rend
the polished boards. With Intensest
effort he slowly regained control of
himself. His fury bad actually weak
ened him. His knees shook, and he
snnk weakly into a chair. When he
finally spoke his voice was strained
and laborious. "Sanders, you nnd I,
sir, must never meet again because I
might not succeed again In keeping my
hands off you. What would my old
comrades of the Third Mississippi say
If they saw me Bitting here nnd you
there with a whole body, sir. after
what you have said? They would not
believe their eyes, thank God, sir.
They would all go over to Stuart City
and buy new eyeglasses, sir." A sus
picious moisture appeared on the colo
nel's cheeks which be could not dry
too quickly to escape Sanders' observa
tion. "But I had to let you stay, sir, be
cause you, the aole accuser, are the
only one who can tell me what I must
know." ... , .
"What do you want to know?" asked
Sanders, who had realized his great
mistake In losing bis temper, In talk
ing ns openly and as violently as he
hod and in dragging the name of Sen
ator Stevens into the controversy. He
must try to keep Stevens from hearing
of this day's blunder, for Jim 8tevens
knew as well as be. didn't he. that th
" - 0
Zi: , 0,8 P. e tne
fn Clitics ,8ofno "
rl1. knW how J-0" f-mcd
Tour opinion of political matters-of
nenators. Is It possible, sir. that you
have actuil knowledge of actual hap
iwnlngs that give you the right to talk
as you have? 1 wuut to know If I
must feel shame, feel disgrace, sir. to
be a senator from Mississippi, that
state, sir, that the Almighty himself,
sir, would choose to live In If be came
to earth."
"There, there, senator, don't take too
seriously what I have said," Sanders
replied In reassuring tone, having out
lined his course of action. ' I lost my
haari haopiiao vnn wnjiMn't nrnmloe me
something I needed that appointment
for Hagley. What I said about sena
tors an' such was all wild words
nothln' In 'em. Why, how could there
le, senator?" This query was a happy
afterthought which Sanders craftily
suggested in a designedly artless man
ner. .
"Just what 1 thought and know!" ex
claimed Langdon sharply. "It couldn't
be: it Isn't possible. Now you go, sir,
and let it be your greatest disgrace
that you are not fit to enter any gen
tleman's house."
"Oh, don't rub It in too hard, senator.
You may need my help some day, but
you'll have to deliver the goods before
hand." "I said, 'Gor "
"I'm goln', but here's a Up. Don't
blame me for fightin' you. I've got to
fight to live. I'm a human beln', an'
humans are pretty much the same all
over the world, U except you you're
only half natural. The rest of you Is
reformer."
After Sunders' departure the colopel
sot at his table, his head resting In his
hand, the events of the day crowding
his brain bewilderingly.
"The battles of peace are worse than
any Beauregard ever led me into," he
murmured. "Fighting to conquer one
self is harder than turning the left
flank of the Eighth Illinois In an en
filading fire."
But the uew senator from Mississippi
did not know that for him the wars of
peace bad only just begun, that per
haps his own flesh and blood and that
of the wife and mother who had gone
before would turn traitor to his colors
In the very thickest of the fray.
CHAPTER HI.
BOW TO PLEASE A SENATOR.
THE International hotel In Wash
ington was all hustle and bustle.
Was It not preparing for its
first senator since 1885? No
less a personage than the Hon. Wil
liam H. Langdon of Mississippi, said
to be a warm personal friend of Sen
ator Stevens, one of the leading mem
bers of bis party at the capital, had
engaged a suit of rooms for himself
ana two daughters.
"Ain't It the limit?" remarked the
chief clerk to Bud Haines, correspond
ent of the New York Star, "The sen
ator wrote us that be was coming here
because bis old friend, the late Sen
ator Moseley. said back in '75 that this
was the best hotel In Washington and
where all the prominent men ought to
stay."
Haines, the ablest political reporter
In Washington, had come to the Inter
national to Interview the uew senator,
to describe for his paper what kind of
a citizen Langdon was. He glanced
around at the dingy woodwork, the
worn cushions, the nicked and uneven
tiles of the hotel lobby, and smiled at
the clerk. "Well, If this Is the new
senator's idea of princely luxury be
will fit right Into the senatorial atmos
phere." Both laughed derisively. "By
the way," added Haines, "1 suppose
you'll raise your rates now that you've
got a senator here."
The clerk brought bis fist down on
the register with
a thud.
"We could have
them every day
if we wanted
them. This fel
low, though, we'll
have all winter, I
guess. His son's
here now. Been
breaking all rec
ords for drink
ing. Congress-
H"
m uau nvuvu vi
- yl Mississippi has
"Well, can't you tec been down here
what you're duiny IT with him a few
tiuies. There young Langdon Is now."
Haines turned quickly, Just in time
to bump into a tall, slender young
man, who wns walking unevenly in
the direction of the cafe.
"Well, can't you see what you're do
ing?" muttered the tall young man
thickly.
Haines smiled. The chap who has
played halfback four years on his col
lege eleven and held the boxing cham
pionship in bis class Is apt to be good
natured. He does not have to take of
fense easily. Besides. Randolph Lang
don was plainly under the influence of
whisky. So Haines smiled pleasantly
at the taller young man.
"Beg your pardon my fault," Haines
said.
"Well, don't let It occur again," mum
bled Langdon as he strolled with un-
Professional Duectory of Wallowa County
THOS. M. DILL
ATTOKXEY'AT-LAW J
OfTlce first door south of New f
Fraternal BldgH Enterprise, Ore.
I BURLEIGH & BOYD
I ATTORNEYS-ARAW
f Practice In all State Courts and
J Interior Department. Caret ul at- k
teniion to all business.
I D. W. SHEAHAN
I LAWYER - ENTERPRISE
t Practice in State and Federal
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f ' C. T. HOCKETT. M. D.
J PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON
Of f 1 n ii.mtnl l Tf 1 n M j
j uuoiuia 111 U111IU.
ing. Ind. Home phone in office A
and residence. 4
Haines laughed.
"I guess young Langdon Is going to
be one of the boys. Isn't he?"
"ne's already one of them when It
comes to a question of fluid capacity,"
laughed some one behind Win. nnd Bud
whirled to meet the gaze of his friend,
Dick Cullcn, representative of one of
the big Chicago dallies.
"You down here to see langdon,
too?" commented Bud.
Cullen nedded. "Queer roost where
this senator Is to bang out. Isn't It?"
"It can't be a rich one, tbeu," sug
gested Haines.
Cullen chuckled.
'Perhaps he's an honest one."
"1 ouan t mougnt or tout lou al
ways were original, Dickie." comment
ed Haines dryly. "By the way, what
do you know alio at him?"
"Nothing, except that the Evening
Call printed a picture of bis eldest
daughter says she's the queen daugh
ter of the south, a famous beauty, rich
planter for a father, mother left her a
fortune"
"She'll cut quite a social caper with
this hotel's name on ber cards, won't
she!" broke lu Haines as he led Cullcn
to a seat to await the expected legis
lator, whose train waa late.
'I don't know very much about him
myself," said Haines. "All I've been
able to discover Is that Stevens said
the word which elected him, and that
looks bad. Great glory, when I think
what a senator of the right sort has a
chance to do here In Wushlngton a
nonpartisan, straight out from the
shoulder man!" He paused to shake
bis bead In disgust "You know these
fellows here in the senate don't even
see their chance. Why, If you and I
didn't do any more to hold our Jobs
than they do we'd be flred by wire the
Urst day. They know Just the old po
litical game, that's all."
"It's a great game, though. Bud."
sighed Cullen longingly, for, like many
"Big BtU" Langdon, "A Gentleman from
ltllslppl."
newspaper men, he bad the secret feel
ing that he was cut out to be a great
politician.
"Sure, it'a a great game, as a game,"
agreed Haines. "So is bridge, and stud
poker, and three card monte, and flim
flam generally. Take this new man
Langdon, for instance. Chosen by Ste
vens he'll probably be perfectly obedi
ent, perfectly easy going, perfectly
blind and perfectly useless. What's
wanted now Is to get the work done,
not play the game."
Thoroughly a cynic through bis
years of experience as a newspaper
man, which had ahown the Inside
workings of many important phases
of the seemingly conventional life of
this complex world, Cullen pretended
unbounded enthusiasm.
'Hear! Hear!" he shouted. "All you
earnest citizens come vote for Re
former Haines. I'm for you. Bud.
What do I get In your cabinet? I've
Joined the reformers, too1, and, like all
of them, me for P U R I T Y as long
asshe gives me a meal ticket"
(Continued next week.)
We are the sellers of the E. How
ard watches, the best on the market.
Call for them at Martin Larsen's.
SCHOOL BOARD GIVES
CREDIT TO WHOM DUE.
At a recent meeting of the Enter
prise school b3ard the following reso
lutions Mere aloyted:
Mr. and Mm. W. M. Sutton: We
the undersigned board of directors
of school district No. 21. of Wallowa
county. Oregon, In behalf of the pat
rons of this dlitrk't and also onr
elve, wish to extend to you our
thanks and appre lation of the good
servhej you have rendered in our
school. We also wish to say that
our school now has the reputation of
being one of the best in Eastern Ore
gon, aud we consider that to your
e is due the credit of its gaining
his high standing. Hoping that you
will be. successful In your new voca
tions, we remain,
Yours very truly,
M. A. HOLMES
E. J. FORSYTHE
Wm. MAK1N
Hoard of Directors.
For a burn or scald apply Chamber
Iain's Salve. It will a'.lav the pain
almost lnstautly and quickly hoal the
Injured parts. For sale by Hurnaugh
and Mayfield.
Read the advertisements.
Hill Farm Sold.
The Enterprise Real E&tate com
pany has sold Ole Engelbretson's
160 acre hill farm near Wallowa to
H. E. IJlsner for $1100.
Sma:hea All Records.
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Red Front Livery and
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ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF
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MAIL AND PASSENGER
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Wallowa. Appleton. Flora lo Paradise,
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Lived 152 Years.
Wm. Parr Ensland's odast man
mnrrlod the third time at lit), work
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20 yoars longer. People slouU be
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