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Updated: June 3, 2025
He was sure of triumphing over Altacoola, and he was willing to pay the price. Haines sank back into his chair. "I wonder what Washington 'insiders," he murmured, "are speculating in Altacoola land. Telfer mentions Norton's name. I wonder " The door opened, and before him stood Carolina Langdon. "Ah, Miss Langdon," he exclaimed, "I am glad to see you!"
Why, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd even let one of you girls marry him if he wanted to marry you." "We'd have something to say about that," Carolina laughed, amusedly. "Do you think that Hope or I could ever care for a man like this fellow? Of course not. This Altacoola business must go through right. It would be too cruel not to have it so. And then "
"I came to warn you, Langdon," he said, "that Senator Peabody's patience is nearly exhausted. You must come to see him at once if you expect the South to get a naval base at Altacoola or anywhere else. If you do not agree to take his advice this naval bill and any other that you are interested in now or in future will be trampled underfoot in the Senate.
"I've got Senator Langdon interested financially interested," he said. His two hearers exchanged a significant glance. "How?" asked Peabody, sharply. Norton smiled shrewdly. "Well, I just let his son invest $50,000 of the Senator's money in Altacoola land. That ought to help some." Stevens stared in amazement at his Congressman, his eyes threatening to bulge out of his head. "What!" he gasped.
"Most certainly I do, and, as I said during the senatorial fight, the whole country as well will be the gainer," responded Langdon. "Don't you think the people who want Altacoola chosen as the site have the best arguments?" was the visitor's next question, the reply to which he anxiously awaited.
The three Senators seated themselves. "I suppose you wouldn't consider yourself so important, Langdon, if you knew that we now find we can get another member of the naval affairs committee over to our side for Altacoola?" began Peabody. "That gives us a majority of the committee without your vote."
I have discovered that you were not working for yourselves alone in the Altacoola deal, but that you intend to turn your land over to the Standard Steel Company at a big profit as soon as this naval base bill is passed. Then that company will squeeze the Government for the best part of the hundred millions that are to be spent." The Senator sank back in his chair and gazed at his two opponents.
"You got Langdon's money in Altacoola, through his son?" "I sure have, Senator," chuckled Norton. "He's in to the extent of fifty thousand, and I've promised that the fifty shall make a hundred by spring." "It'll make three hundred thousand at least," snapped Peabody. "Norton, you've done a good day's work.
Norton laughed sarcastically. "Gulf City is a big bunch of mud flats. Besides, I'll tell you something else. Just between us, remember." He waited for the boy's eager nod before he went on. "The big men are behind Altacoola. Standard Steel wants Altacoola, and what Standard Steel wants from Congress you can bet your bottom dollar Standard Steel gets. They know their business at No. 10 Broadway.
If yo' ain't in, yo' can easy get a latchkey. Young man, yo'll find out things some day, and yo'll drop to it all. "I guess I was too late with yo'. That's about the size of it. I guess Altacoola'll talk to yo'," went on the Mayor. "If that feller Fairbrother of Altacoola had been able to hold his tongue maybe I wouldn't know so much. But now I know what's what.
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