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Show eg 1 HI I Politics and Priscilla By STACY E. BAKER (Copyright, ign, by Asoociated Literary Press.) Andy Morgan bought a controlling interest in the Arlington "Morning Arrow," and realized a cherished ambition am-bition by settling down to the nono too prosaic life of an editor. Arlington was a thriving little city of about 12,000 population. The "Arrow," "Ar-row," under the old editorial management, manage-ment, had long been a sluggish dispirited dis-pirited sheet, with limited patronage and little voice in civic affairs. The town smiled broadly when Morgan fortified himself behind this decadent timber. Before Andy Morgan had gone away to complete his college course he had been more than ordinarily interested in-terested in pretty Priscilla Wilson. His return to the home town found Priscilla blossomed to as dainty a flower as ever he had hoped to see. Morgan's subjection was complete. Dan Wilson, father of Priscilla, was a politician of some note in the community, "rionest Dan" was his sobriquet, and his "square" methods were matters of pride with his con-etituents. con-etituents. Wilson was one of the first callers at the "Arrow" sanctum under the new control. "Congratulations," he said, as he enteied the presence of the young editor. Morgan laughingly waved the older man 'o a seat. 'Wait until I've made good," he cautioned. "It isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world to stoer the water-logged old craft into the current of present times and methods, and even when this is done, no one will care to ship on her until she has proven herself seaworthy." sea-worthy." "Juft so." agreed Wilson. "But I. for one, have confidence in your ebilitv to handle the tub. Just how, If the question isn't personal, do you stand in politics?" Wilson stared straight at the young man. "I shall affiliate myself with no party," came from Morgan. "The 'Arrow' will be for the best man, always." al-ways." "Quite right," approved Wilson, with a keen glance analyzing the new editor. "But sooner or later, my boy, you will find that influence will be brought to bear upon you to bring you He Could Not Understand It. to the editorial aid of men not capable. capa-ble. I have a pretty keen insight into things, and I can see it coming. You must remember your best man platform plat-form then." "Trust me," promised Morgan, and ''Honest Dan" left the office. Andy Morgan called often upon pretty Priscilla Wilson. Their friendship spring into an intimacy that bade fair to lead to matrimony. The tall youth with his serious ideas -of life, and his strong affection for her too plainly seen in his eyes, was encouraged ty the trim little maid. Priscilla Wilson, despite her daintiness dainti-ness and littleness, was also of a erlous trend of mind. The "Arrow," under its new manager, man-ager, prospered from the start. Advertisers Ad-vertisers increased their space and Morgan's fair methods and the improved im-proved appearance of the paper added new subscribers. "Priscilla," began the youth one evening, "it is now almost a year since I took the 'Arrow,' I have succeeded, suc-ceeded, even beyond my expectations and they were not modest. There la only one thing in the world now that can make my happiness complete." com-plete." The girl blushed. It Is more than possible thai she surmised the ques tion to come. The feminine instinct is capable of much. "And that is " she asked, bravely. "You!" Priscilla's lips were silent, and the flush suddenly faded from her cheeks, leaving them strangely pale. After a little she spoke. "You wish to marry me?" she asked in a low voice. "Priscilla," breathed the man hoarsely. "Why do you ask? You know I do." A little hand stopped his advance. "You love me, then? Do you love me well enough to do something for me? To sacrifice something for my sake?" "Ask me," cried Morgan. "Are you positive that you will grant me this favor?" "Dearest, how can I help it?" "Then listen!" The girl's clear eyes were on the youth. "You are championing Anderson Dorn for congressman con-gressman from this district, are you not?" "Yes, but " "I want you to turn against film, and support David Kennedy, the candidate can-didate on the other ticket." "You want me," exclaimed Morgan, Mor-gan, hardly believing his own ears, "to 'knife' the logical man for the office, and work for that that scoundrel, scoun-drel, Kennedy?" "Just so," answered the girl coldly, cold-ly, "but I already know what your answer will be. Your love for me is not strong enough to allow you to grant me this slight favor." "Slight favor," repeated Morgan, ironically. "I would hardly call it that, Priscilla. If I acceded to your wishes, I would be put down as a political sharper immediately, and all my prestige in the community, my hard-won reputation for honesty and square dealing. and,vabove all, clean politics would be gone. I can't do it, girl. I love you, and I will do anything any-thing in the world within reason for you, but I can't besmirch my own name. I don't understand it. What put such an idea into your head?" "All that is immaterial," came from the girl crisply. "It is sufficient suffi-cient for you to know that I asked and you refused a favor. I want you to believe me when I say that I will never ask anything more from you. From now on, we are strangers." stran-gers." "Priscilla, you can't mean it!" "O but I do On 6econd thought, however, I will give you a chance. I will allow you until Saturday to think it over. If you decide to do as I ask, come to me and and I will love you forever, otherwise " Morgan took his hat and' plodded dismally from the house. He could not understand it. To his knowledge "Honest Dan" Wilson and this Kennedy, Ken-nedy, a crook politician of the worst type, could have nothing in common with each other. The next day Wilson called at the "Arrow" office. "My daughter," the politician began bluntly, "asked a favor of you last evening. Don't you think it would be wise for you to grant it?" "I do not," came from Morgan shortly. "Nor do I care to talk about the matter." "Honest Dan" bowed curtly and left the office. "Now," ruminated Andy, as he watched the older man stride past the window, "I have antagonized antag-onized him. Well, he may as well know how I stand." On Saturday evening a disconsolate Andy called at the Wilson home. Priscilla glanced at the visitor keenly. "Well?" she interrogated. They were alone in the parlor. "I have come to say good-by," announced an-nounced the youth sadly. "I can't do as you wish me to do, Priscilla. I wouldn't be fair to myself, if I did." The girl came swiftly across the rcom, and to the astonishment of I Morgan, her fair head suddenly bent over his shoulder. "Nor did I believe be-lieve you would, you big boy," she cried exultingly. "Father is so skeptical skep-tical in reference to political honesty that I I wanted to show him that you couldn't be bribed, and and you couldn't." Two arms were suddenly thrown around the youth's neck and a flushed face hid itself from his happy eyes. |