Middletown transcript., 1871-11-18
Srlttt storp.
THE TICK-kNOB DEBATE

Jolham Jones aud Didymus Dox were
rival candidates iur Cnneress in tie Pen.
uyrnyal district The district was close
and the contest hot and personal. After
u ratiling fire ai long range for more than
month without result, it was resolved To
try the effect Of bringing the comba,an,s
to close quarters: in other words, it was
arranged TIM, they should meet and dis
ens '.the issues of the hour ut Tick
kuph, GENITAL and accessible point til
lay before the election
Both parties, in ,Nanng their srmer,
boaslcd Us nnly hr should h1as, who ,akelh
/, off Dnx aud his friends were sure
jones would sknlk and Jsiirs aud his
were quite u certain box would .ver come
10 the scratch. lin, il neither backed "ui
IN, a ascasn spot nf either would he left
il the nthrr was Ia b. believed
An anbnscale Of sccret ufllasi,s 10 ihr
effect that nox.s wif's si.ter-in hw ;
hra,her-in.l law. who kep, srneery N,
sorehnndale. sold sani in his sugar. con-
.tliaied a principal feature in the Jnne-
tactics Dox an the other hand. Wa
supplied with an equally convincing ar
ray Of ptont- that jones s,epmn,hcrs I'M
tle's ann,'- cousin BY marriage. bal u
halt sister no better than she ought 10 lie
fhese masked batteries. held carefully in
reserve on either silr. whrn opened u, the
la>l mnmtni, was confidently expected. by
thnse in the secret. woull pu, tnnl set.
tier ~ 'tihe issue of the hour
For the time being. Tick knob became
the centre of ini resi- Every bndy WI,
making really II ~ In ihr remete,t cor.
ners nf ,he district. ihe din If pr palulion
sounded iltad. II hansehaIs afranged
10 take lhf innili.s. aud swain. theit
-weeihear,s csrr,all-. huegies. wagons
sulkics, l.nlfce. mulrs. sni,l,s. sidr--ad.
dies. and pillians, were all in demand
10 see u couple pt Politicians worry and
flesuur each ather" was ,rrai tnu rare ia
be fureunar
The dawn of thu uvrntful day wns u.
htlsh, US lhe hopes it heralled As Jones
walked The pl.tf'rm. seeming the morn.
ing mir. and waiting fur the train iha,
was Ia curry him 10 Tick Knox and vie
inry. his reyerics were disturbed by u
touch on the shoulder
Turning ahnui. hr saw nm elderly gen.
llcn,an---nn, We can hardly say he saw ,h,
elderly gentleman, for On the lattcrs arl,
hung n creature Of more surprising beaut,
than II had ever before entered the hear
Ut jones to conceive
Going mn the train. sir 7" the elderly
gentleman asked
Jones bowrd withou, removing his eye,
from the ohj.o, thai riyetcd them.
Nigh, ask yon To take charge Of ,
lady rs far as the next station r. the gen
/ ilcman continued.
Nigh, he?" the question transported
Joucs to the heaven Of the hourics II.
stammered something about being only to,
happy, and was saved from making n com
plc.e goose Of himself by the arrival Of tn
train.
Recovering himself he handed tho lad,
ON hoard, where another piece Of good for
tune awaited him---ihe crowded state q
the car compelled him to 81. BY his charge
side. and the road was a narrow guagc
When il vas building Jones had gone will
the broad gusgc party; be saw his erro
now.
For tho next half hour, Dox and the IL
sues of tho hour slipt from Jones' memo
ry. He had never struggled for populn
applause as be now laid himself out 70 wi
favor In the hight Of 4 pair Of lussrous dsrl
eyes " fsf lesllse b their strength" thai
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