Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1914 — CANDLESS’ CANDIDACY [ARTICLE]

CANDLESS’ CANDIDACY

By HENRY BERLINGHOFF.

"Then you may get the senatorehipr asked Marion. Candidas gave a little laugh. “It ought to be better than that,” he declared. “This investigation will attract attention all over the country. It might even be good for the governorship.” “But you won’t get the senatorship this election, will you?” persisted the girl. Candless shook his head. “We are only fairly getting under way,” he explained patiently. “I suspect the committee will sit after Christmas.” “But I thought you were the whole investigation,” she persisted. “What has the committee to do? Can’t you hurry it up?” . . * '' "I am only one of a committee of five,” he said. “I am doing most of the work, but these things cannot be hurried.” “You know now that they all stole,” she persisted “But the facts must be legally set forth. We cannot rush it through.” "I wish you could,” she whispered. “Then we could be married at Once.” “I know it, dear,” he answered tenderly. • “I would giv4s anything to hurry it up, but we must wait.” Harrington, strolling across the ballroom floor, beard and smiled as he asked Candless for a ten-minute chat. The* younger man went off, proud to be seen in conference with the man who really ruled the destinies of his party. Three months before Candless would have shouted at the suggestion that he might be sent to the senate from his sta.te. He was merely a young attorney whose cleverness had gained for him a place in the state legislature. Then had come the Water front investigation. He had been placed on the committee because the leaders supposed him to be “safe,” To the surprise of everyone he had developed an ingenuity at cross-exami-nation which had dragged out, bit by bit, the whole miserable story of the steal of the water front by the Cadiz and Southwestern. It had been no part of the leaders’ Intentions that the story should come out, but it was too late now to call off the Investigation. The public had been aroused. To Candless it had seemed as if he were very near his goal, for he was to make Marion his wife when he had made his way. Surely his future was assured. If only the investigation had ended in time to run for the senatorship! He wondered as he followed Harrington into the conservatory whether it were too late. An hour later, with sparkling eyes, he emerged from the conference and sought the girl. “Is it good news, Hugh?” she asked as he led her toward the library. “It couldn’t be better,” he cried excitingly. “I’ll give you three guesses.” They were inside the library now and the girl faced him. “Is it the senatorship?” she half whispered. Candless nodded as he seized her about the waist and waltzed her across the floor to the library sofa. He was like a boy in his exuberance. “Tell me all about it,” she demanded as she curled .herself upon the sofa. “Was that what Mr. Harrington wanted of you?” “Nothing less,” exulted Candless. “It has been decided that I am the most available candidate. They will run me for the state senate With the assurance that I shall be sent on to Washington.” “You’ll be awfully busy with the campaign and the investigation,” she lamented. “I’m afraid I will not see anything of you at all.” "Harrington has fixed all that,” he explained. “They realize that I cannot handle both, so Varrick will take over the investigation. I wanted to keep on, but Harrington pointed out that I could not do both and that this was too good a chance at the senate to be lost.” “And are you going to give up the investigation?” she gasped. “Give up all that has been gained?” "Varrick can carry it on,”"he said impatiently. "WfPhave to make some sacrifices.” “And you are going to giye up the fight before you have fairly begun?” Bhe repeated. “You are going to turn your back on the investigation and let that fall through that you may go to Washington?” “I told you Varrick would take my place,” he said irritably. Marion turned and faced him. “Hugh,” she said simply, “do you really think that Mr. Varrick will take your place?” “Why not?” he asked. This was so different from what ho had anticipated. , “I heard Mr: Colqhoon talking to father last night," she explained. “He said that the Investigation was a complete surprise to both parties; that they had supposed there would be the usual whitewashing, and. llllll y°u had made it a real investigation.” "What of it?” demanded Candless. “He said,” went on Marlon, “that he wondered how they would bribe you off; that he did not think money could do it. I was proud of you, then, Hugh.” “Why not now?” he asked crossly. "Is It any disgrace to be elected to congress ?” “It is a disgrace when you turn your back on the people who look to you to right an evil—when you sell your honor, for the nomination.” “But I am not selling my honor," he insisted- “I am simply obeying

my party’s call. lam doing, as lam told, for the best good of the party.” “You mean in running for congress, but the good of the party means dropping the investigation.”- --—- “Varrick will carry it on,” he persisted. “Not the way you would. Father said that if you kept on, Harrington himself would land in jail. Hugh, don’t you see that they are bribing you, jhst as surely as though they put money in your hand?” The girl watched him curiously as he sprang to his feet and began to ■pace the floor. For a quarter of an hour nothing was said, then he turned to her abruptly. ■” “Marion,” he said gently, “you are right. In my joy at attaining so soon what I have so eagerly longed for I have blinded gnyself to the real meaning of Harrington’s offer. I see now that he wanted to get me out of the way. I will go and tell him I will not run.” He tenderly bent and kissed her, then rose to his feet and left the room, while the girl buried her head in the pillows. Harrington stormed and threatened, but Candless would not be moved, and In the end word passed through the rooms that the announcement that Candless would abandon the investigation was premature. Late that evening, after the,, guests had gone, Candless lingered in the library for a good night chat. “I’m sorry you are disappointed, Hugh,” whispered Marion, “but we can wait, dear, until your honor comes without the taint of suspicion.” “Yes, he said quietly, "even though it may be a long wait, I will keep my hands clean.” “Hugh,” said Major Sharpless, entering through the curtains, “I don’t think you need to wait, my boy. You have your triumph in being willing to forego preferment for your duty. That is a far greater triumph than the winning of the senatorship. You may have Marion whenever you want jmiv'’— ——— Hugh turned to the girl. "I want her now,” he said .quietly, “for my strength lies in her.” (Copyright, 1914, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)