Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 299, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1912 — CALEB CONOVER, RAILROADER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CALEB CONOVER, RAILROADER

BY ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE

Author of "SjnU from die SeAfe,” “Cel—tee Sim" Eie. \l . / 'f, ' 1. Cearngk. 1907, Albert Totuee

CHAPTER IH. Caleb Conover Regrets. T"g~s IALEB CONOVER, Railroader, I J was in a humor when all jns&sj the household thought well ray*! to tread softly. It was the morning after his “debut” ’He paced his * study intermit tently, s stopping now and again at a window to watch laborers at work In die ground ' below, dismantling the strings of Chinese lanterns, and carting away other litter of the festivities. A pile of newspapers filled one of the study chairs. On the front page of each local journal was blazoned a garish account of the Conover reception. Yet Caleb, eager as he had once been to read every word concerning the fete, had not so much as glanced at any *of the papers. In fact, he seemed, in his weary pacing to and fro,' to avoid the locality of the chair where they lay. For an hour —In fact, ever since he had left his bedroom —he had paced thus. And none had dared disturb him For the evil spirit was heavy upon Saul, and the javelin of wrath, at such times, was not prone to tarry in fts Sight. Caleb’s black mood this morning came from within, not from objective causes. He was traveling through that deepest, most horrible of all the multi-graded Valleys of Humiliation — the Vale of Remembered Folly. He had madei a fool of himself. An arrant fool. He had drunk until he was drunken. And in that drunkenness he had spoken blatant words of idiocy. He had made him Self ridiculous in the eyes of the very class he had sought to cultivate. His had not been the besottedness that babbles, sleeps and forgets. Even as bis drink-inspired tongue had betrayed no thickness nor hiatus during his drivelling speech, so the steady brain had, on awaking, remorselessly told him of his every word. And, over and above all, his declaration of candidacy for Governor — A knock at the door of his study broke in on the audible gioan of selfcontempt this last and ever-recurrent thought Wrung from Uls tight lips. Caleb stopped midway down the room, his short red hair bristling with fury at the interruption. “What do you want?” he snarled. The door opened and A nice" Lanier earn# in. She was very pretty and

young, in her simple white morning frock. She carried a set of tablets whereon it was her custom to tran scribe notes of Caleb’s morning in structions for refernco or for Isim amplification by his two sic..: *iv phers. "Well!” reared Corfofer. glow.across the rpom at her, “wh;n m do you want?” “To tender *my resignation,” waa the unruffled reply. "Your what?" he gasped, stupidly. "My resignation,” in the same level, lmperso&BKtgnee. "To take effect at once. Good morning.” She was half-way ont of the room before her employer could harry after and detain her. "What’s —what’s the meaning of this?” asked Caleb, the brutal belligerency trailing ont of his voice. Then, before she could answer, he added: “Because I spoke like ‘that just now? Was that| it? Because I said—And you’d throw over a good job just because of a few cranky words? Yes, t believe you would. You’d do it. It

isn’t a bluff. Maybe that’s why you make such a hit with me. Miss Lanier. You're not scared every time 1 open my month. And you stand up for yourself.” He eyed her in a quizzically admiring fashion as one might a beautiful but unclassified natural history specimen. She made no reply, hut stood waiting in patience for him to move from between her and the door. Caleb grinned. “Want me to apologize. I s’pose?” he grumbled. * “A gentleman , would not wait* to ask.” “Maybe yon think a gentleman wouldn’t of said what i did in the first place, eh?"* “Yes, Ido thipk so. Don’t you?” £ “Well, I’m so|rjr. Let It go at that Now let’s get td work. Say”—as they moved across to their wonted places at the big centre table, “you oughtn’t to take offence at anything about me this morning. You must know how sore I am.” “What’s the matter?” “As if you didn’t know! You saw how many kinds of a wali-eyed fool 1 made of myself last Digilt Isn’t that enough to make a man sore? And to think of it being taken down by those newspaper idiots and printed all over the country!” He gave the nearby ebajr a kick, avalanching the morning papers ’o the floor. “Have you read those?” queried Anice. “No. Why should I rub it in? 1 know what they—” “Why not look at them before you lose your temper?” Caleb snatched up the Star, foremost journal of Granite. He glanced down the last column of the front page and over to the second. “Here’? the story of the show Just as we dictated it beforehand,” he com mented. ‘List of guests— Where in thundfer is that .measly speech? Have they given it a column to itself? Oh—way down at the bottom. ‘ln a singularly happy little informal address at the close of the evening Mr. Conover mentioned his forthcoming candidacy for governor.' Is that ail any of them have got about it?” “They have your pledge to run for Governor blazoned over two columns of the front page of nearly all the pa pers. But nothing more about the ‘speech Itself.” “But how—” • “I took the liberty of stopping the reporters before they left the house, and telling them it would be against your wish for any of your remarks tc be quoted.” “You did that? Miss Lanier, you’re fine! You’ve saved me a guying in every out-of-State paper in the East I want to show my appreciation—" “If that means another offer to raist my salary, I am tfery much obliged. But, as I’ve told yob several times before, I can’t accept it Thank you S just the same.” “But why not? I can afford —” “But I can’t Don’t let’s talk of It, please.” “And every other soul in my employ spraining his brain to plan foi • a raise! The man who understands women—if he’s ever borh —won’t need tp read his Bible, for there’ll be noth ing that even the Almighty can teach him. “(But Miss Lanier, let all the routine go over for to-day. I’ve a biggei game on, and I’ve got to hustle. That Governorship business-—” “Yes?* * “That was the foolest thing I ever did. It seemed to me at the minute a grand idea as a wind-up for my crazy speech. But I guess I’ll have to pay my way all right before I’m done with Last evening. The free list’s suspended as far’s I’m concerned.” “You mean there’s some doubt of your getting the nomination ?” she asked a sudden hope making her big eyes lustrous. “Doubt? Doubt? Say, I thought you knew me better than that. Why, the nomination’s right in front of me on a silver salver and trimmed with blue ribbons. And the election, too. for that matter.” “Then—the hope dying—“why dc you speak as you did just now?” “It’S, this, way: I’ve held Granite and the Mountain State by the nare -of the neck for ten years. I’m the Boss. And when i give the word folks come to heel. But all this time I’ve been standing in the background while I pulled the strings. It was safer that way and pleasanter. That’s why I've never took public office since 1 was Mayor. And then it was only a step-ping-stone to the Leadership. Now I’ve got to leave the background and pose in the CapitoL There’s nothing in it for me. except • better social position. That’s a lot, I know. But I’m not so sure that even such a raise is worth the price.” “Then why not withdraw?" “Not me! Withdraw, and Da laughed at by my own crowd a* well as the society click? it’d smash me forever. No. sir! I’m in It 1 gol to swim strong. The nomt»»tlon and -he election’s east «aou(k But jurt a ‘won handily* won'* fill MIL I'v. e->r tr sweep the ‘■“•-te jrrth the , all-firedest landslide ever' sliddteu since 'U. S. Grant ran around the track twice before Horace Greeley got on speaking terms with his* own stride, I’ve got to start in right away.” “Any orders?” ‘Yes. When you go down stairs, please send for Shevlin and Bonrke and Raynor and the rest on this list, and telephone the editors I’d like to see ’em this afternoon. I’ll have the ball rolling by night. Say, Miss Lanier, the campaign’ll mean extra work for yon. I want to make it worth your while. Come now, don’t be silly. Let me make your nlary—” "I beg you won’t ipeak of that any more. I cannot accept a raise' of salary from yon.” f

CHAPTER IV. Oerald Conover’s Wile.

rSHHE door was here flung onj I ceremoniously open and Gerggvfllj aid slouched in, his pasty face unwontedly sallow from last night’s potations. For, with a few of the mushroom crop of the jeuneese doree of Granite, he had prolonged the supper-room revels after the departure of the other guests. “Hello, Dad!” he observed. "Thought I'd find you alone.” Caleb, his Initial temper softened by his talk with Anice, greeted his favorite child with a friendly nod. “Sit down,” he said. “I’ll be at leisure In a few moments. And, say, throw that measly blend of burnt paper and Egyptian sweepings out of the window. Why a grown man can't ■moke man’s-sixed tobacco is more’s I can see." The lad, with sulky obedience, tossed away the cigarette and came back to the table. “Hear the news?” he aßked. "It seems you’ve got a rival for the nomination.” t "Hey?” "Grandin was telling me about It last night. His father’s one of the big guns in the Civic League, you know. It seems the League’s planning to spring Clive Standish on the convention.” "Clive Standish? That kid? For governor? Lordl” "Good joke, isn’t it? I—” "Joke? No!" shouted Caleb. ‘lt’s £3t the thing I wouldn’t have had ppen for a fortune. He’s poor, hut he belongs to the oldest family In the State, and his blood so blue you could ose it to starch clothes with. Just the sort of a visionary young fool a k>t of cranks will gather around. He’ll yell so loud about the ’people 1 * sacred rights' and ‘ring rule’ and aH that rot, that they’ll hear him clear ever in the other States. And when they do, the out-of-State papers will til get to hammering me again. And the very crowd I’m trying to score with, by running for Governor, will rote for him to a man. He’s one of them.” "So you think he has a chance of winning?” asked Anice. “Not a ghost of a chance. He’ll die (n the convention —if he ever reaches that far. But it will stir up just the Apposition I've been telling you I was Afraid of. Wdll, If it meant work before, it means a twenty-flve-hour-a-day hustle now. I wish you’d telephone Bhevlin and the others, please, Miss Lanier. Tell ’em to be here In an hour." As the girl left the room, Caleb iwung about to face his son. The glow of coming battle was in his face. “Now’s your chance, Jerry!” he began, hot with an enthusiasm that failed to find the faintest reflection in Ihe sallow countenance before him. "Now’s your chance to get back at the old man for a few of the things he’s done for you.” "I—l don’t catch your meaning,” nattered Gerald, uncomfortably. "You’ve got a sort of pull with a certain set of young addlepates here, because you live in New York and get four name in the papers, and because you’ve a dollar allowance to every penny of theirs: I want you to use that pulL I want you to Julhp right In and begin working for me. Why, you ought to round up a bunIred votes in the Pompton Club alone, to say nothing of the youngsters on the fringe outside, who’ll be tiokled to death at having a feller of your means and position notice ’em. Yes, you can be a whole lot of help to me this next few weeks. Take off your eoat and wade in! And when we win—"

“Hold on a moment, Dad!” interrupted Gerald, whose lengthening face had passed unnoticed by the excited elder man. “Hold on, please. You Mean you Want me to work for you in the campaign for Governor?” “Jerry, you’ll get almost human one of these days if you let your intelligence take flights like that Yes, I —” “Because,” pursued Gerald, who was far too accustomed to this form of sarcasm from Ms father to allow it to ruffle him, “because I can’t” "You —you —what?" grunted Caleb, Incredulously. "I cant stay here in Granite all that ttmet I —l must get back to New fork this week. I’ve important business there.”

"Well, I’ll be —gasped Conover, finding his voioe at last, and with it the grim satire he loved to lavish on this son, so nnllta himself. "Buslness, eh? Important business!' Borne restaurant waiter you've got an appointment to thrash at 2.45 a. m. on Tuesday, or a hotel window you’ve made a date to drive through in a hansom? From all Fve read or heard yf your life there, those were the two most Important pieces of business you ever transacted in New York. And it was my money paid the fines both times. No, no, Sonny, your ‘important business’ will keep, I guess, till after November. Anyhow*, in the meantime you’ll stay right here and help Papa. See? Otherwise you’ll go to New York on foot, and have the pleasure of living on what the three-ball specialists will give you for your hardware. No work, no pennies, Jerry. Understand that? Now go and think ,It over. Papa’s too busy to play with little boys to-day.” To Caleb's secret delight he saw he had at last roused a spark of spirit In the lad. “My business in New York,” related Gerald hotly, “is not with waiters or hotels. It is with my wife." Caleb sat down very hard. “Your—your—” he sputtered apoplectically. "My wife,” returned the youth, a sheepish prHte in look and wade “B

was that I came up here to speak to you about this morning. You were so busy yesterday when I got to town that—” “Jerry, you ass! Are you crazy or only drunk?” “Father,” protested Gerald with a petulance that only half hid his growing nervousness, “I do wish you’d call me ‘Gerald,’ and drop that wretched nickname. If—” He got no further. Conover was upon him, his tough, knotty hands gripping the youngster’s shoulders and shaking him to and fro with a force that set Gerald’s teeth clicking. "Now then!” bellowed the Railroader, mighty, masterful, terrible as he let the breathless lad slide to the floor and towered wrathful above him.

“Are you going to tell me about this thing?” “Are you going to tell me about this thing, or have I got to shake it out of you? Speak Gulping, tnp spirit momentarily of him, Gerald Conover lay staring stupidly up at the angry man. “I’m —I’m married!” he bleated, “I - -I meant to tell you when —” "Who to?” demanded Caleb in an agony of self-control. “Miss Enid Montmorency. She —*’ “Who is she?” "She is—she’s my wife. Two months ago we—” “Who is she? Is she in society?” “Her family were very famous b# fore the war. She —” “Is she in good New York society?” “She —she had to earn her own livtng and —” “And what?” “She —I met her at Rector's Her company—” “You MARRIED a chorus girl?" "She —her family before the war—” Caleb had himself In hand. “Get up!” he ordered. “You haven’t money enough nor earning power enough to buy those boards you’re sprawling on. Yet you saddle yourself with a wife—a wife you can't support. A woman who will down all your social hopes. And mine. You iet a designing doll with a painted face dupe you into—” •„ “You shan’t speak that , way of Enid! ” Aired up the boy tearfully. f “She is as good and pure as—” “As you are. And with a damned 0 sight more sense. For she knows a legal way of grabbing onto a livelihood; and you don’t. Shut up! If you try any novel-hero airs on me, you young skunk, I’ll break you over my knee. Now you’ll stand up and you’ll listen to what I have to say.” Gerald, cowed, but snarling under hie breath, obeyed. "I won't waste breath telling yon aH Td hoped for yon,” began Conover, "or how I tried to give you all I missed In my own boyhood. You haven’t the brains to understand —or care. What Fve got to say is all about money. And I never found you too stupid td listen to that You've cut your throat. Nothing can mend that We’ll talk about the future at another time. It’s the present we’ve got to ’tend to now. You’re going to be of some use to me at last The only use you ever will be to anyone. Your allowance, for a few months. Is going on just the same as before. But you’ve got to earn it And you’re going to earn it by staying right here in Granite and working like a dog for me in this campaign. If you stir out of this town, or if your —that woman comes here, or if you don’t use yOur pull in my behalf with the sapheads you travel with at the Pompton Club—if you don’t do all this, I say, till further orders—then, for now and all time, you’ll earn your own money, For you’ll not get another nickel out of me. I guess you ' ”cw me well enough to understand •i 50 by what I say. Take your o>e. You've got an earning ability -> -e"k. You’ve got an allowance of $48,000 a year. Now, tffi after election, whlchfll *t be?” Father and son faced each other In silence for a full minute. Then the latter’s eyes telL “I’ll stay!’ he muttered. “I thought so. Now chase! I’m busy." Gerald slouched to the door. On | the threshold he turned and shook his I flat in impotent fury at the broad back turned cm him. *Tli stay!” he repeated, his voice scaling an octave and breaking in a hysterical sob, ‘Til stay! But, before God, I’ll find a way to pay you off for this before the campaign Is over.” (To he Continued.)

Batter Wrappers, plain or printed at this office.

She was very pretty and dainty and young.