_ CHAPTER XIV. WHEN A DAUGHTER BETRAYS HER FATHER
Bud returned to find Miss Langdon and Norton still in the room. New buoyancy, new courage, thrilled in his veins. He would give this Congressman the battle of his life for this prize, of that he was confident.
"I have an engagement with Mrs. Holcomb, Senator Holcomb's wife," she said, "so I must hurry away, but I expect to be back to see father."
"I think I'll just wait," suggested Norton. "I have to see the Senator as soon as possible, and he ought to return from that ways and means committee meeting pretty soon."
When Carolina had gone a slight feeling of constraint settled over the two.
"The Senator's pretty busy these days with his naval base matter coming up, isn't he?"
"Yes; keeps him pretty busy receiving delegations from Altacoola and Gulf City and patting them both on the back," said Haines. "Had a man from Gulf City in this morning with some pretty strong arguments."
The secretary watched Norton keenly to note the effect of this hint in favor of Gulf City."
"Gulf City!" Norton sneered. "Shucks! Who'd put a naval base on a bunch of mud flats? I reckon those Gulf City fellows are wasting their time."
"Think so?" suggested Haines. "Are you absolutely sure?"
Norton started.
"Why, you don't mean to tell me," he exclaimed, "that Senator Langdon would vote for Gulf City for the naval base?"
"I don't mean to tell you anything, Congressman," was the cool rejoinder. "It's not my business. The Senator's the one who does the talking."
An ugly sneer wrinkled the Congressman's face.
"Well, I'm glad he attends to his own business and doesn't trust too many people," he said pointedly.
The secretary smiled in puzzling fashion.
"That's exactly why I don't talk, Congressman," he said pleasantly. "The Senator doesn't trust too many people. If he did, there might be too much money made out of land speculation. Senator Langdon doesn't happen to be one of those Senators who care for that kind of thing."
"I suppose you think you're pretty strong with the Senator," ventured the Mississippian.
"Tell you the truth, I haven't thought very much about it," replied Haines, "but, if you come right down to it, I guess I am pretty strong."
"Suppose you've influenced him in the naval base business, then."
Still the secretary smiled, keeping his temper under the adroit attack.
"Well, I think he'd listen to me with considerable interest."
"But you're for Altacoola, of course."
Haines shook his head.
"No, I can't say that I'm for Altacoola. Fellow who was in here this morning put up a pretty good argument, to my mind, for Gulf City. In fact, he made it pretty strong. Seemed to show it was all to my interest to go in with Gulf City. Think I'll have to investigate a little more. I tell you, Norton," spoke Haines in a confidential manner, "this land speculation fever is a frightful thing. While I was talking to this fellow from Gulf City I almost caught it myself. Probably if I met the head of the Altacoola speculation I might catch the fever from him too."
"Why don't you put your money into Gulf City and lose it, then?" replied Norton, nodding his head scornfully. "That'd be a good lesson for a rising young politician like you."
Senator Langdon's secretary peered straight into Norton's eyes.
"Because, Congressman," he said, "if I were to put my money in Gulf City perhaps I wouldn't lose it."
The Southerner took a step forward, leaned over and glared angrily at Haines. His face whitened.
"You don't mean that you could swing Langdon into Gulf City?" he gasped.
Haines smiled.
"I can't say that, Norton, but I guess people interested in Altacoola would hate to have me try."
"I didn't know you were that kind, Haines," said Norton, his virtue aroused at the thought of losing his money. "So you're playing the game like all the rest?"
"Why shouldn't I?" shrugged the secretary. "I guess perhaps I'm a little sore because the Altacoola people haven't even paid me the compliment of thinking I had any influence, so they can't expect me to work for them. The Gulf City people have. As things stand, Gulf City looks pretty good to me."
"Is this straight talk?" exclaimed Norton.
"Take it or leave it," retorted Bud.
The Mississippian leaned with his hands on the desk.
"Well, Haines, if you're like the rest and are really interested in Altacoola, I don't know that you'd have to go very far to talk."
"You know something of Altacoola lands, then, Norton?" said Robert, tingling with suppressed excitement. He felt that he was getting close to real facts in a colossal "deal."
Norton was sure of his man now.
"Well, I am in touch with some people who've got lands and options on more. I might fix it for you to come in," he whispered.
Haines shook his head.
"You know I haven't much money, Norton. All I could put in would be my influence. Who are these people? Are they cheap little local folks or are they real people here who have some power and can do something that is worth while?"
"Do I look like I'd fool with cheap skates, Haines? They're the real people. I think, Haines, that either Senator Stevens or Senator Peabody would advise you that you are safe."
"Ah! Then Stevens and Peabody are the ones. They'll make it Altacoola, then sell to the Government at a big advance and move to 'Easy Street.'"
"That's right," agreed Norton.
Bud Haines straightened abruptly. The expression on his face gave Norton a sudden chill--made him tremble.
"Now I've got you," cried the secretary. "You've given yourself dead away. I've known all along you're a d--d thief, Norton, and you've just proved it to me yourself."
"What do you mean?" Norton was clenching his fist. "Words like that mean fight to a Southerner!"
"I mean that before Senator Langdon goes one step further in this matter he shall know that his colleagues and you are thieves, Mr. Norton, trying to use him for a cat's-paw to steal for them from the Government. I suspected something this morning when Gulf City tried to bribe me and a visitor from there gave me what turns out to be a pretty good tip."
"So that was your dirty trick," exclaimed the Congressman as he regained his composure.
"Set a make-believe thief to catch a real one," laughed the secretary. "Very good trick, I think."
"I'll make you pay for that!" cried Norton, shaking his fist.
"All right. Send in your bill any old time," laughed Haines. "The sooner the better. Meantime I'm going to talk to Langdon."
He had started for the door when Carolina Langdon re-entered, followed by her brother Randolph.
"Wait a minute," said Norton, with unexpected quietness. "I wouldn't do what you're about to do, Mr. Haines."
"Of course you wouldn't," sneered Haines.
"I mean that you will be making a mistake, Haines, to tell the Senator what you have learned," rejoined the Southerner, struggling to keep calm at this critical moment when all was at stake. He realized, further, that now was the time to put Haines out of the way--if that were possible. "A mistake, Mr. Haines," he continued, "because, you see, you don't know as much as you think. I wouldn't talk to Langdon if I were you. It will only embarrass him and do no good, because Langdon's money is in this scheme, too, and Langdon's in the same boat with the rest of us."
Haines stopped short at this astounding charge against his chief.
"Norton, you lie! I'll believe it of Langdon when he tells me so; not otherwise."
Norton turned to Randolph.
"Perhaps you'll believe Mr. Langdon's son, Mr. Haines?"
Randolph Langdon stepped forward.
"It's true, Haines," he said; "my father's money is in Altacoola lands."
Haines looked him up and down, with a sneer.
"
Your money may be," he said. "I don't think you're a bit too good for it, but your father is a different kind."
Carolina Langdon stood at the back of the room, nervously awaiting the moment when, she knew, she would be forced into the unpleasant discussion.
"I reckon you can't refuse to believe Miss Langdon," drawled Norton, with aggravated deliberation.
"Of course," stammered Haines, "I'd believe it if Miss Langdon says it's so."
The Congressman turned toward Carolina as he spoke and fixed on her a tense look which spelled as plainly as though spoken, "It's all in your hands, my fortune--yours."
She slowly drew across the room. Haines could hardly conceal the turmoil of his mind. The world seemed suddenly snatched from around him, leaving her figure alone before him. Would she affirm what Norton and Randolph had said? He must believe her. But surely it was impossible that she--
Carolina played for time. She feared the making of a false move.
"I don't understand?" she said inquiringly to Norton.
He calmly began an elaborate explanation.
"Miss Langdon, this secretary has discovered that there is a certain perfectly legitimate venture in Altacoola lands being carried on through certain influential people we know and by me. The blood of the young reformer is boiling. He is going straight to your father with the facts.
"I have tried to explain to him how it will needlessly embarrass the Senator and spoil his own future. He won't believe me. He won't believe your brother. Perhaps you can make it clear."
At last Carolina nerved herself to speak.
"You had better not go to my father, Mr. Haines. It will do no good. He--is--in--the deal! You must believe me when I tell you so."
The girl took her eyes from the secretary. He was plainly suffering. _