Lifted Masks

House, on the stairways and in the corridors, in every office from the Governor's to the custodian's they laid down

lows?" asked the attorney-gener

one of the men, wit

ke of

r One," replied the man, kin

heard

" said the carpet-tack

expressively, then inqu

tive council that runs the State

e your d

ble

ou figure it out that you

ernoon. Now you know yourself that rush work is hard on the nerves. Did you ever get rush work done at a laundry and not pay more

d his audito

ident-we elected Johnny McGuire president last night

miled-he knew the Governor prett

n election next fall; maybe the tu

r Carpet-Tackers' Union Number One will wield, but the Go

om its splinters. "Well, there's one thing sure. When Prince Ludwig and his train-load of big guns show up

pretty bum," he reflected. "I wonder," he added, as the man was half-way out of the door,

ker, "as he does about American generosity. And he may think a

do that," agreed t

p. They were getting extra money as it was, but you see they just figured it out we'd pay anything rather than have these wretched floors for the reception this afternoon. They thought the Governor would argue the questi

on?" asked a strang

of course they were invited to stop. Last week Billy Patton-he's running the whole show-declined the invitation on account of lack of time, and then yesterday comes a telegram saying the Prince himself insisted on stopping. You know he's keen about Indian dope-and we've got Indian traditions to burn. So Mr. Bill Patton had to make over his schedule to please the Prince, and of course we were all pretty tickled about it, for more reasons than o

vene, and the members who were beginning to saunter in

o that. The biggest furniture dealer in the city was afraid of the plumbers. "Pipes burst last night," he said, "

nian cry, and when the Governor at last gave it up and walked out into the rotunda he was about as disturbed as he permit

. "By George, Governor," he burst forth, after a minute'

or's laugh stopped suddenly, and

ob, but there are a lot of us. We've all put down carp

d not. "Say, Weston," he said, "I'd give a lo

!"-and he was l

things. The Governor smiled knowingly as he noted the men Weston was approaching, and his different manner with

rmal meeting, but it's a mighty important one. It's a clear case of Carpet-Tacker

ies of "No!"-"Well

other men and can't get them. Now the next thi

or a minute, and the

e of us, and the principle of carpet-tacking is the same, big building or little one. Now my scheme is this-Every fellow his own carpet-tacker! The Governor's office puts do

ws than anybody else," cri

ridors and stairways. The House, as usual, stands ready to do

odied men; the Prince is coming at four-by his own request, and the proposition is just this: Are

enough to drive a tack or two." That brought applause and they drew closer together, and the atmosphere warmed perceptibly. "I've fought for the State in more ways than one,"-Senator Arnold w

uation. "By his own request he is to visit our Capitol this afternoon. I must say that I, for one, want to be in shape for him. I don't like to tell him that we had a labour complication a

the House and Senate met at nine o'clock motions to adjourn be entertained. "And as to the

ld do the best job, and get it done most quickly, became intense. Early in the day Harry Weston made the rounds of the building and announced a fine of one-hundred dollars for every wrinkle. There were pounded fingers and there were broken backs, but slowly, steadily and good-naturedly the State-house carpet was going down. It was a good deal bigger job than they had anticipated, but that only added zest to the undertaking. The news of how the State officials were employing themselves had

other times would fairly have gone on official record were now passed almost unnoticed, so great was the surfeit. Instead of men going out to lunch, lunch came in to them. Bridget Haggerty, who by reason of her long connection with the boarding-house across the street was a sort of unofficial off

America in undress uniform! Here was-not a thing arranged for show, but absolutely the thing itself! Prince Ludwig had come with a sincere desire to see America. Every one knew that he was not seeing it at all. He would go back with memories of bands and flags and people all dressed up standing before him making polite speeches. But would he carry back one small whiff of the spirit of the country? Again Senator Bruner looked about him. The Speaker of the House was just beginning laying the stair carpet; a j

made that Senator Patton might receive a long telegram from Senator Bruner. "I figure it like this," the Senator told the vice-president. "They get to Boden at a quarter of one and were going to stop there an hour. Then they were going to stop a little while at Creyville. I've told

ton: "Too good to miss. Will rush through. Arr

in with a good thing. And he's right about missing the station cr

ege than like a United States Senator and a big railroad man. "You don't think the

make it before three. We'll come in just in time for the

loor"-the Senator was chuckling with every sentence-"so I guess they won't be carpeting it. There's a little stairway running up from the tunnel--and say, we must telephone over and arrange about those keys. There'll be a good deal of climbing, but the Prince is a good fellow, and won't mind. It wouldn't be safe to try the elevator, for Harry Weston would be in it taking somebody a bundle of tacks.

bile cap and did not suggest anything at all formidable or unusual. "You've saved the country," Senator Patton whispered in an aside. "He was getting bored. Nev

hat's just the point. He'

tunnel, "that I am a little boy who has run away from school. Only I have a terrible fear

and a member who had recently denounced the appropriations committee as a disgrace to the State was presiding at the hammer. They were doing most exquisitely harmonious team work. A railroad and anti-railroad member who fought every time they came within speaking distance of one another were now in an earnest and very chummy conference relative to a large wrinkle which had just been discovered on the first landing. M

ging a picture down there? He's president of the First National Bank. Came over a little while ago, got next to the situation, and stayed to help. And-say, this is good! Notice that red-headed fellow just getting up from his knees? Well, he's president of the teamsters' union-figured so big in a strike here last year. I call that pretty rich! He's the fellow they are all so afraid of, but I guess he li

rince, and he looked a

ve back! No-too late. The Gove

g that-and gave a long, steady stare. First, Senator Bruner waved; then Senator Patton waved; then Mr. McVeigh waved;

worked all day to get in shape," grumbled Harry Weston, "and then you

ced to concede the move had been a success. And he said to the Governor as he was leavin