Part 3 (2/2)

”Of course I know the representative of the _Morning Star_! How do you do, Haines?”

”I wonder if we're not all here on the same errand,” suggested the newspaper man.

Senator Peabody appeared to be all candor.

”We came to call on Senator Langdon, Senator Stevens' new colleague,”

he said.

Bud Haines opened his eyes wide. ”By Jove! Langdon stock is going up when the chairman of the naval committee drops in to welcome him.”

”You see, Langdon went in on a naval base platform,” explained Stevens. ”Our section of the South is red hot in favor of the Government spending its naval base appropriation right there.”

”Certainly,” interrupted Haines, ”but--”

”And, there being a vacancy on the committee on naval affairs,”

continued Stevens, whose dignity was offended by the reporter's interruption, ”the friends of Senator Langdon are working to have him appointed on that committee, because he comes from the State where the naval base will be located and will, like myself, be more familiar with the availability of the various sites suggested than a man from another State.”

Haines nodded.

”Yes, of course. What town's going to get it, Senator?”

Senator Stevens paused judiciously.

”Well,” he said, ”Altacoola and Gulf City are the chief candidates. I suppose you had better talk to Langdon about it.”

The reporter smiled.

”That's just what I came for, Senator, but I have to go up to the War Department now. When Senator Langdon comes will you be kind enough to tell him I want to interview him?”

Stevens bowed cordially.

”Indeed I shall. I'll tell him he's in luck to have the smartest young man in Was.h.i.+ngton on the job.”

”All right,” laughed Bud, ”only don't make it so strong that he won't recognize me when he sees me. Good-day.” And he hurried away to keep a belated appointment.

”Clever boy,” said Stevens as the newspaper man disappeared.

The boss of the Senate agreed.

”Yes, only I'm not sure it's a good thing for a newspaper man to be too clever. Spoils his usefulness. Makes him ask too many confounded questions.”

Stevens acquiesced, for it would never do to disagree with the boss.

”It's very kind of you, Senator,” he began, changing the subject, ”to come with me to welcome the new Senator from my State, my old friend and colleague.”

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