Mr. Crewe's Career -- Volume 2

eed, and not alone in name, can snap their fingers at it, and liken it to the crackling of thorns under a pot. Confucius and Martin Luther must

t part of this flattering personal attention, the editorials which contained the most spice were copied at the end of the week into the co

mong the twenty signers of the new Declaration of Independence) had been interviewed by the Tribu

."-Congress

Honourable Adam B. Hunt

tc

farce."-Ex-Gov

tredge. (Ah ha! Senator, this w

are in the field."-Mr. Augustus P. Flint, president of

do not know much about him. They tell me he is a su

k-not to be taken ser

iel Bi

ch of the twenty to Leith. (This likening of Mr. H-n T-g to a star caused much merriment among that gentleman's former friends and acquaintances.) The Tribune could not account for this phenomenon by any natural laws, and was forced to believe that the thing was a miracle-in which case it behooved the Northeastern Railroads to read the handwriting on the wall. Unless-unless the twenty did not exist! Unless the whole thing were a joke! The Tribune remembered a time when a signed statement, purporting to come from a certain Mrs. Amanda P. Pillow, of 22 Blair Street, Newcastle, h

Mr. Crewe's feelings when he read this drivel? When he perused the extracts from the "Book of Arguments" which appeared (

within a dozen miles of each other, the one beginning 'Political conditions in this State are as clean as those of any State in the Union, and the United

rewe, "never mind readin

ed. "I'd have put that in Avalon County, and Weave, and Marsha

o see what the enemy is

ot

tire press of the State. "Flint gave 'em out all this stuff about the railroad bein' a sacred institution. You've got 'em on the run right now,

time ago," replied Mr. Crewe,

, "there's the best campaign material we've had yet. Say, I'll b

ok the extra

nounced himself as a candidate for the Republican nomination on a platform attacking the Northeastern Railroads. Mr. Humphrey Crewe declares that the No

rmitted hims

into our hands,

e spirit in which the ri

is Humphrey Crewe?" A biography (in pamphlet form, illustrated,-send your name and address) is being prepared by the invaluable

de world has paused to draw breath at the spectacle, and members of the metropolitan press are filling the rooms of the Ripton House and adding to the prosperity of its livery-stable. Mr. Crewe is a difficult man to see these days-there are so many visitors at

Crewe had been inaccessible for four hours, Mrs. Po

p on the porch through her gold-mounted lenses; these awful people are always here when I come. I wonder if the

lice, "except when you tell me not to b

the door, and the irreproachable

et, "I suppose Mr. Crewe

entlemen waitin' here" (he eyed them with no uncertain disap

n Mr. Crewe has been public-spirited and unselfish enough to undertake such a gigantic task. Tell him Miss Pom

im, madam,"

t give the signal for h

tead, at the pa

g, gentlemen

d Alice, "what are

ntleme

an press. Not a man of them who had not seen Mrs. Pomfret's important movements on both sides of the water chronicled

heir cigars from one hand to th

take such a thing, to subject himself to low criticism, and to have his pure motives questioned. Mr. Crewe has ra

o was quick to see his opportunit

help Mr. Crewe in his

o so much if they only would. You know," she added, in her most winning

dies will go around to

. Crewe has no objection?

nization of society lad

raised judicially. "Women in what you call I society are, I am glad to say, taking

nd now would you mind if I took a

sted Alice, "you wo

graphed in every conceivable pose for political purposes.

ake a hand in the gubernatorial campaign of Millionaire Humphrey Crewe!" "Noted social leader, Mrs. Patterson Pomfret, declares it a duty, and saga tha

ment when he saw it. "I spent two valuable hours with that reporter givin'

man, all right. She knows her job. And here's more advertising," he continued, shoving another sheet across the desk, "a fine likeness of you in caricature labelled, 'Ajax

he Ripton Record was a man after Emerson's own heart: "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds"-and Mr. Pardriff did not go to Wedderburn. He went off on an excursion up the State instead, for he had been working too hard; and he returned, as many men do from their travels, a conservative. He listened coldly to Mr. Tooting's impassioned pleas for cleaner politics, until Mr. Tooting revealed the fact that his pockets were full of copy. It seems that a biography was to be printed-a biography which would, undoubtedly, be in great demand; the biography of

that it cannot support his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. We are not among those who seek to impugn motives, and while giving Mr. Crewe every credit that his charges against the Northeastern Railroads are made in good faith, we beg to differ from him. That corporation is an institution which has stood the test of time, and enriches every year the State treasury by a large

tious remark when he read this editorial. But, bearing in mind a biblical a

d over the public-spirited citizens awaiting

" said Mr. Tooting. "H

Get a hu

commanded Mr. Tooting to order his automobile-an occasional and rapid spin over the country roads being the only diversion th

just drop a line to Austen Vane, will you, and tell him I want to see him up here within

he indulged in a long and peculiarly significant whistle through his teeth, rolled his eye

e day before he had met Mrs. Pomfret, who had held up her

on't frighten,

u are becoming so important that nobody ever has a glimpse of you. I wanted

a plain duty, and nobody else

et's eyes

he answered. "But you'll win. Yo

ll win," sai

e is taking such an interest. Every day she asks, 'When is Humphrey g

onsense in the New York

e mistake of despising what women can do. They elected the Honourable B

n calling on no

mfret h

w to see about Mrs. Flin

. Crewe demanded, with

ioned the subject to her, but she wanted to know all about it. It na

in that direction now. Slow to make up his mind in some things, as every eligible man must be, he was now coming rapidly to the notion that he might eventually decide upon Victoria as the most fitting mate for one in his position. Still, there was no hurry. As for going to Fairview House, that might be awkward, beside

chway when Mr. Crewe (without any signal this time!) threw on his brakes. An exhibition of horsemanship followed, on Victoria's part, which Mr. Crewe beheld with admiration. The five-year-old swung about like a weathercock in a gust of wind, assuming an up

remembered that she was quite so handsome, or that her colour was so vivid; or that her body was so straight and long and supple. He liked the way in which she gave it to that hor

ut off your power? Don't sit there like an id

lent. He even liked the notion of being commanded to do a thing; there was a relish abou

uffeur. "You've got no business to have an a

machinist's fear of a high-spirited horse. "You've got no business to

ight. I'll say that fo

her up the threads of the situation, the irresistibly comic aspect of it grew upon her, and little creases came into the corners of her eyes-which Mr. Crewe admired. She recalled-with indignation, to be sure-the conversation she had overheard in the dining room of the Duncan house, but her indignation was particularly dir

eyes still bearing witness to the indubitable fa

till in session?" Vic

id Mr. Crewe, in surprise. "How long have you bee

swered, "and I'm afraid I've been som

ard it, anyway. I'll send you up a few newspapers wh

leaned over to brush a fly

Humphrey," she said. "Do you

s an overwhelming sentiment among the voters of this State for decent politics. It didn'

giving him a steady loo

ents of strength was his impervi

lready forgotten that first talk with Mr. Hamilton Tooting. "Not that I want to take too much credit on myself," he added, with becoming mode

" said

n get off, I will. I'd like to talk to you.

hrey. Compliments sound

int to take a little time off to talk to you. You see, so many men are interested in this thing

of encroaching," V

e in your judgment. By the way," he asked suddenly, "you have

ew perceived that the exercise had heightened her colo

"You seemed to take an interest in him, for some r

etly. "But I haven't seen him since I came back. Nor do I

to be in this campaign. If you happen to see him, you might men

him as to what course he should take politically-that would even be straining my friendship for you, Humphrey. On ref

d you've never been afraid to use it, so far as I know. If you shoul

ng to do?" inquire

tell you about it, and I'll send you the newspapers to-day. Don't be in a hurry," he cried, addressing over his shoulder two

is low speed. The five-year-old whirled, and bolted down the road at a pace which would have seemed to challenge a

ne of the farmers; "don't go to foll

entrance, and backed into the road again, fa

off towards Leith, wondering how it was that Mr. Flint had

enough," said the farme

rength by pulling on the curb, but sought rather to quiet him with her voice, which had no effect whatever. He was beyond appeal, his head was down, and his ears trembling backwards and straining for a sound of the terror that pursued him. The road ran through the forest, and Victoria reflected

e side where it stood, in the clearing, was a white mass which Victoria recognized as a pile of lumber. She saw several men on the to

he could rise, a man was leaning over her-and in the instant she had the impression that he was a friend. Other people had had thi

t, Miss Flin

ringing to her feet to prove the co

ised but honest admiration. Whereupon he became suddenly embarrassed, and

the process herself. Her new acquaintance plied the

," he remarked, so fervently that Victoria stole

k and shaking her skirt, "I'm ever so much obliged.

ood view of it, and he flung you like a bean out of a shooter. That'

, and crossed the road, and sat down on t

t wait," she said, "and to thank yo

aylord," h

Austen Vane's particular friend, whom he had tried to put out of his window. A Herculea

, Miss Flint," he remarked, appl

schievous impulse prompted her to answer. Perh

emanded To

w on Ripton Square. It looked, for a time," she continued, "

er in confusio

too, of dangerous ex

me from that?" he exclaimed. "Oh,

ledge the acquaintanc

ave the same queer way of saying things that he has." Here he was conscious o

oria. She turned, and l

a lot of trouble in catch

What were we talking about? Oh, Austen Vane. You see, I've known him ever since I was a shaver, and I think

saw of young Tom, the better she liked him, although

sten's the kind of man who doesn't care what anybody thinks, if he takes it into his head to do a thing. It was a great

ictoria, "I b

er his skin. There's some things I wouldn't talk to him about. I've learned that. I

; and she added, "I

ly, "but I guess if he'd wanted me

lapsed since she had found herself on the roadside, gazing up into

ed to him again," she said, with the air of finally dismissing a subject already too pr

at Victoria. Apparently some of the aspects of this now signi

id Victoria, briefly, seeking fo

't expect me to sit here and look at you a

ing between laughter and exasperation. She had got herself into a quandar

along the easy road, as most fellows are, he would have been counsel for the Northeastern. Instead of that-" her

Victoria felt herself suffering wi

itics. I've tried to find out what they think, but it is so difficult for a woman to understand. If matters are wrong, I'm sure my father will right them when he kn

f her was heighten

me, anyway," he said. "When Ham Tooting, Crewe's

burst out

ch Mr. Vane commits," she said, "and yet he see

ked him downstairs. Ser

een an element of justice

since he left his fathe

Where-has

d anything about money, he never would have broke

sked Victoria, not taking the tr

he West he stayed here to please old Hilary, when he might have gone to New York and made a fortune at the law, with his

s eyes gr

does Hilary Vane p

d began to mop h

mind me," Vi

Tom, "I'll tell you the

t to make y

Gaylord," she said, "by telling

d not understand. Afterwards, when he reflected

made up his mind that there was no reason why he should grow up that way. He says that a lawyer should keep to his profession, and not become a lobbyist in the interest of his clients. He lived with the old man until the other day, because he has a real soft spot for him. Austen put up with a good de

quarreled about?" asked

e went right in to Hilary and showed him the section, told him that suit was going to be brought, and offered to resign. Hilary flew off the track-and said if he didn't bring suit he'd publish it all over the State that Austen started it. Galusha Hammer, our senio

" said

men approaching with a horse; then she remembered the fact that s

one me a great favour by-telling me these things. And thanks for lett

bled and moved him strangely, for he was not an analytical person. "I didn't mean t

repeated Victoria. She

e exclaimed. "I'll take you up in

examined the girths and bridle, and stroked the five-

r," she said. "If you'll pull him over to th

is thoughts. As for the five-year-old, he was quiet enough by this ti

she said, and smiling back at him,

after her, while the two men

, "just fetch my buggy and follow