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About The news=record. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1907-1910 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1909)
A GENTLEMAN FROM MISSISSIPPI By THOMAS A. WISE Novelized From the Play by Frederick R. Toombs CHAPTER II. . TDE WARS OF PEACE. "Tlia BILL" LANGDON was the I term by which the new pena I I tor from MlnsiHHlppI bud been affectionately known to his lu- tlmates for years. lie carried bis 230 pounds with ease, bespeaking great muscular power In spite of his gray hairs. His rugged courage, unswerv ing honesty and ready belief In bis friends won him a loyal following, some of whom frequently repented -what was known as "Bill . Langdon's Golden Rule:" "There never was a man yet who didn't have some good In htm, 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 his old war com rades Langdon was always depended on to describe once again how the Third Mississippi charged at Craw- fordavllle and defeated the Eighth Illi nois. But the stirring events of the past had served to Increase the plant er's fondness for his home life and his children, whose mother bad died years before. At times he 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 Id bis library conferring with several prominent citizens of bis county re garding a plan to ask congress to ap propriate money to dredge a portion of the channel of the Pearl river, which would greatly aid a large sec tion of the state. During the deliberations the name of Martin Sanders was announced by Jackson,' the colonel's gravely deco rous negro bodyguard, who boasted that he "wuz brung up by Cunel Marse Langdon, sun, a flghtln' Mississippi cunel, sun, sence long befo' de wan and way befo' dat, sun." .. "Show Mr. Sanders rltrht 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 tbe colo nel and muffling bis now whispering voice with bis 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 tbe reply In no uncertain voice. "When I talk politics they have a perfect right to hear what I, aa their senator, say. Out with It, Mr. Sanders.". As Sanders was Introduced to the members of the conference be grew red In the face and stared at Langdon amased. At last ne oad discovered something new In politics. "Say," be Anally blurted, "when I talk business I" .."Are you In politics as a business?" quickly spoke Colonel Langdon. "Why I er no, of course not," the visitor stammered. "I am In politics Carolina Langdon had an avMtert love lines. tor my party's sake. Just like every body else." and Sander grinned sug gestively at his questioner. . "Have you anything further to say V asked Langdon in a tone hinting that he would Uke to be rid of his caller. "Well, since you are so very new la this game, senator. Ill talk right out to meetln', aa they call It I came to ask about an appointment an' to tip you off on a couple o' propositions. I want Jim Hagley taken care of you've heard of Jim was clerk o Fen lmore county. A $2,000 a year Job '11 do for him; $500 o that be gives to the organlxatlon. "You're the organization, aren't you T queried Langdon. -Why. yea. Are you Just gettln Uar rrto Urn nA arm nTn't I cot COPYRIGHT, 1909. BY THOMAS A. WISE fellers, voters. votem. VOTERS, d It, bangln' on to me that needs to be taken care of! An' so I make the fel lers that work kelp those that don't. Why, Langdon, what 'n h are you klcklu' an' questionln' 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 tbe 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 bis clinched flst at Sanders. "Those twelve votes you say were yours yours?" "Yes, mine. Them noble legislators that cast 'em was an' la mine, mine. I tell you, JeRt like I had '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 leglsUir At this point tbe tors was 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 tbe urgent request of Colonel Langdon that they remain. The only one reluctant to go wns Dea con Amos Smnllwood, who, coming to the plantation to seek employment for bis son, bad not been denied of bis' de sire to join the assemblage of bis neighbors. Last to move toward tbe door, be b topped In front of Sanders, stretched bis five feet three Inches of stature on tiptoe and shook a withered fist In tbe boss' firmly -set, determined face. "Infamous!" shrieked tbe deacon. "You're a monster! you're unright eous! You should have belonged to the political machine of Catallne or Pon tius Pilate!" "Never heard tell o' them," muttered Sanders, deeply puzzled. "Guess they was never In Mississippi In my time." Ills accompanying gesture of per plexity caused tbe deacon to hasten bis exit. Tripping over tbe leg of a chair, be fell headlong Into tbe arms of the watchful Jackson, who received the deacon's blessing for "uplifting the righteous in the hour of their fall." Relieved at tbe departure of tbe wit Bosses, Sanders showed increased ag gressiveness. "To be sure, senator, you were careful not to personally promise me anything for my support at the election, ud you say," tbe leader sneered, "but you bad Jim Stevens to make 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 and 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 a senator anyhow? I'll tell you, Mr. Colonel Langdon, a senator Is a man who holds out for bis own pocket as much as 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 Hps and eyes blaz ing, grasped tbe edge of the table with a grip that threatened to rend tbe polished boards. With Intensest effort he slowly regained control of himself. His fury bad actually weak ened him. His knees shook, and be sank weakly Into a chair. Wben he finally spoke bis voice was strained and laborious. "Sanders, you and L sir, must never meet again because I might not succeed again In keeping my hands off you. What would my old comrades of tbe Third Mississippi say If they saw me sitting here and 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 tbe colo nel's cheeks which be could not dry too quickly to escape Sanders' observa tion. "But I bad to let you stay, sir, be cause you, tbe sole accuser, are tbe only one who can tell me what I must know." "What do you want to know?" asked Sanders, who bad realized his great mistake in losing bis temper. In talk' lug as openly and as violently as be bad and In dragging the name of Sen ator Stevens Into tbe controversy. He must try to keep Stevens from bearing of thle day's blunder, for Jim Stevens knew as well as he, didn't be. that the IE 0 muu ftnu loses ma temper, uue tne man who talks too much,' is of no use In politics. "I want to know how you formed your opinion of political matters of senators. Is It possible, sir, that you have actual knowledge of actual hap penings that give you the right to talk as you have? 1 want to know if I must feel shame, feel disgrace, sir, to be a senator from Mississippi, that ntate, sir, that the Almighty himself, Kir, would choose to live In If he 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 hood honnnoA vmv wroiMn't nrnmlnp 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 be, senator?" This query was a happy afterthought which Sanders craftily suggested In a designedly artless man uer. "Just what I 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 bard, senator. You may need my help some day, but you'll have to deliver the goods before hand." "1 said, 'Go!' " "I'm goln', but here's a tip. Don't blame me for flghtln you. I've got to fight to live. I'm a human beln', an' humans are pretty much the same all over the world, all except you you're only half natural. Tbe rest of you Is reformer." - After Sanders' departure the colonel sat at bis table, his head resting In his hand, tbe events of tbe day crowding his brain bewllderlngly. "Tbe battles of peace are worse than any Beauregard ever led me Into," be murmured. ."Fighting to conquer one self Is harder than turning the left flank of tbe Eighth Illinois In an en filading fire." But the new senator from Mississippi did not know that for him tbe wars of peace had 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 bis colon In tbe very thickest of the fray. CHAPTER III. HOW TO FLEABB A SENATOR, THE International bote! in Wash ington was all bustle and bustle. Was it not preparing for Its first senator since 1885? No less a personage than tbe Hon. Wil liam H. Langdon of Mississippi, said to be a warm personal friend of Sen ator Stevens, one of tbe leading mem bers of his party at the capital, bad engaged a suit of rooms for himself and two daughters. Ain't It the limit?" remarked tbe 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, tbe late Sen ator Moseley. said back in '75 that this was the best hotel in Washington and where all tbe prominent men ought to stay." Haines, the ablest political reporter In Washington, bad come to tbe Inter national to interview tbe new senator, to describe for his paper what kind of a citizen Langdon was.. He glanced around at tbe dingy woodwork, tbe worn cushions, the nicked and uneven tiles of tbe hotel lobby, and smiled at tbe clerk. "Well, It this Is the new senator's Idea of princely luxury he will fit right Into the senatorial atmos phere." Both laughed derisively. "By the way," added Haines, "I suppose you'll raise your rates now that you've got a" senator bere." The clerk brought bis fist down on tbe register with a tbud. "We could have J W "!f lnera every ua' kg hi Ay If we wanted U M yr them. This fel- A y. I low, though, we'll 4 -JLJ . have all winter, I guess. His son's bere now. Been breaking all rec ords for drink ing. Congress- : p. man Norton of P Mississippi has "Well, enn't you let been down bere what you're WiAngf with blm a few times. There young Langdon Is now." Haines turned quickly, Just in time to bump Into a tall, slender young man, who was- walking unevenly in tbe direction of tbe 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 bis col lege eleven and held tbe boxing cham pionship In his class Is apt to be good aatured. He does not have to take of fense easily. Besides, Randolph Lang don was plainly under tbe 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 be strolled with on- Professional Directory of Wallowa County THOS. M. DILL ATTORNEY-AHAW Office first door south of New Fraternal Bldg., Enterprise, Ore. BURLEIGH & BOYD ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW f Practice in all State Courts and f Interior Department. Careful at- teiuion to ail business. D. W. SHEAHAN I LAWYER ENTERPRISE I Practice In State and Federal f Courts and Interior Department. I C. T. HOCKETT. M. D. f PHVMrl AN AND CIIDflcnN A ai iwivinil nut eJUIUlVll I Office upstairs in Bank Build- ins. ina. nome pnone in ornce and residence. 0?eit C 1) 11 1 1 J ivnaiu uuut. uuu Haines laughed. 'I guess young Langdon Is going to be one of the boys. Isn't he?" "He's already one of them when It comes to a question of fluid enpaclry," laughed some one behind blm. and Bud whirled to meet tbe gnze of his friend, Dick Cullen, representative of oue of tbe big Chicago dallies. "You down here to see Langdon, too?" commented Bud. Cullen nodded. "Queer roost where this senator Is to hong out, isn't It?" "It can't be a rich one, then," sug gested Haines, Cullen chuckled. "Perhaps he's an honest one." "i naan t tnougnt oi taut, iou al ways were original. Dickie," comment ed Haines dryly. "By the way, what do you know abont him?" "Nothing, except that the Evening Call printed a picture of his eldest daughter says she's the queen daugh ter of the south, a famous beauty, rich planter for a father, mother left ber a fortune" "She'll cut quite a social caper with this hotel's name on her cards, won't she!" broke in Haines as he led Cullen to a seat to await the expected legis lator, whose train was late. "I don't know very much about him myself," said nalnes. "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 tbe right sort has a chance to do here in Washington a nonpartisan, straight out from the shoulder man!" He paused to shake his head In disgust. "You know these fellows here in tbe senate don't even see their chance. Why, if you and I didn't do any more to bold our Jobs than they do we'd be fired by wire the first day. They know Just tbe old po litical game, that's all." "It's a great game, though. Bud," sighed Cullen longingly, for, like many "Dig BW Langdon, "A Gentleman from MtisUitpiti." newspaper men, he had tbe secret feel ing that be was cut out to be a great politician. "Sure, It's 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 ens be'U probably be perfectly obedi ent, perfectly easy going, perfectly blind and perfectly useless. What's wanted now la to get tbe work done, not play tbe game." Thoroughly a cynic through his years of experience as a newspaper man, which had shown tbe inside workings of many important phases of the seemingly conventional life of this complex world, Cullen pretended unbounded enthusiasm. "Heart Hear!" be 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, too, and, like all of them, me for P-U R I T-Y as long as jihe gives me a meal ticket." (Continued next week.) . Mr. and Mr. W. M. Sutton will leave Saturday morning for their tiome at Springlleld, Oreg. SCHOOL BOARD GIVES CREDIT TO WHOM DUE. At a recent meeting of the Enter prise school board the following reso lutions were adopted: Mr. and Mrs. 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 (11 strict and also our selves, wish to extend to you our thanks and appreciation of the good services you have rendered in our schools. We also wish to say that our school now has the reputation of Using one of the best in Eastern Ore gon, and we consider that to your ji is due the credit of its gaining Jj'.b high standing. Hoping that you will be successful in your new voca tions, we remain, Yours very truly, M. A. HOLMES E. J. FORSYTIIE Wm. MAKIN Board of Directors. 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